When Thomas and his mom started planning his senior pictures, they knew they wanted something different.


Not “slightly different. or the same location everyone else uses, but perhaps we stand three feet to the left.”


No, they wanted scenery that looked completely unlike anything available back home in Tennessee. After finding my work on Instagram, they planned a trip from the Nashville area to Tucson specifically for Thomas’s senior photos.


No pressure, right!?


Thomas is a 2026 graduate of Gallatin High School—home of the Green Wave—and will soon be heading to Western Kentucky University. He came to Tucson with a clear vision for his session: giant cactus, urban locations, greenery and as much variety as we could reasonably fit into one experience.


So what was my game plan for such grand expectations?  Naturally, I  turned it into a multi-day adventure across Tucson of course!

Woman in green coat walks on desert path beside tall saguaro cactus with yellow wildflowers and mountains.

 

Day 1


Senior Pictures That Look Nothing Like Everyone Else’s?


Not for this East Coast kid. In fact, that was the only requirement he had for his entire session!




Thomas didn’t want senior pictures that looked like everyone else’s back home. He wanted something that felt different, memorable, and completely unlike the usual backgrounds his classmates had access to in Tennessee.


That was a huge part of why he and his mom chose Tucson.


Of course, while the giant saguaros were a major draw, Thomas also had one very valid concern: what if the desert looked too dead? Thankfully, March showed off a little (uh, actually alot). The yellow wildflowers were blooming EVERYWHERE, the mountains were showing off in the background, and the desert ended up looking anything but lifeless!


(I guess you could say the desert did me a solid, since I had already promised them “pretty.”)


Booking a photographer across the country is basically like buying a house or car sight unseen—except with fewer inspections and significantly more cactus and scorpions, ew.


In fact, Thomas and his mom were both completely blown away seeing the saguaros in person for the first time. And when I say first time, I mean neither of them had ever stepped foot in Arizona. Ever. Now that they’ve experienced the abundant beauty of Arizona, I take great personal pleasure in knowing I’ve probably ruined Tennessee scenery for them forever.


(Well, except for the never-ending greenery they’re lucky enough to have—and the fact that watering the lawn there doesn’t require selling your firstborn.)


Back to the cactus—pictures really don’t prepare you for just how massive saguaros are until you’re standing right next to one. Thomas was even surprised to learn they have woody, trunk-like supports growing inside, so naturally his senior session also came with complimentary Arizona fun facts. Because apparently I offer educational programming now, too!


(So, if photography doesn’t work out for me, keep an eye out for this advertisement: “Book your guided Tucson tour with Chisum Portrait Co.”)

 

Two people pause on a desert road surrounded by cacti and mountains, one standing holding a green bag while the other crouches nearby.
Woman in green blazer sitting on rocks surrounded by desert plants and mountains at dusk.

More Than Just Desert


As much as Thomas wanted the giant saguaros, he was just as clear about one other thing: he did not want every photo to look like it came from the exact same patch of desert.


He wanted urban. He wanted green. He wanted variety. Basically, he wanted Tucson to prove it had range.

This generation doesn’t choose an aesthetic—they order the sampler platter. And as a creative professional, I. AM. HERE. FOR. IT!

(Although, in hindsight, I’m pretty sure I was the one who dragged them from one end of Tucson to the other.)


So instead of trying to cram everything into one rushed evening—which would not have been possible anyway—we turned his senior photos into a multi-day session. Obviously.


We started in Barrio Viejo, then headed toward northwest Tucson to check out a couple of other possible locations. One was that strangely tall, grassy pond tucked behind Mattress Firm right off the interstate—which looked promising in theory, but in person felt eerily like a cross between Area 51 and The Twilight Zone.

(Not exactly the vibe)

We also tried Urban Grove, but it wasn’t open. Bummer. So, like any highly organized creative professional with a carefully planned itinerary, I smiled, pretended this was all part of the plan, and kept us moving, because at this point we were in desperate need of sustenance.

(That’s just fancy talk for hungry.)



Which led us straight into another Arizona first: In-N-Out. Now, I know what you’re thinking—how had they gone their entire lives without trying In-N-Out? It seemed so irrational, but thankfully, we handled the situation, and they are now fully functioning members of society.


By the end of day two, we had the bold color and urban feel Thomas wanted from Barrio Viejo, had officially ruled out a couple of locations that were better in theory than in person, and had corrected a serious In-N-Out deficiency.


More importantly, we were not just collecting random backgrounds. We were building a gallery that actually felt like Thomas—specific, varied, and very intentionally not like everyone else’s back home.


(The sampler platter was really coming together quite nicely.)
Woman in blue shirt and white pants walks past colorful building with cacti in sunny Southwest setting.
Smiling blonde teen boy in blue shirt and white pants leaning against white wall with red bougainvillea flowers.
Person with short white hair walks along a colorful Southwest-style path with cacti, carrying a green folder.

What the Session Looked Like Behind the Camera



Of course, the final images are only half the story.


Thomas’s mom also documented plenty of behind-the-scenes moments along the way (don't you just love when that happens) which means there is now photographic evidence of me crouching in the dirt, giving oddly specific directions, and doing whatever was necessary to get the shot.


Glamorous? Not always. Effective? Absolutely.


Every location required something a little different. These images offer a peek at what was happening outside the frame—and how each final portrait came together.

Two people stand among tall saguaro cacti in the Sonoran Desert at sunset with vibrant clouds overhead.
Two people stand near a tall saguaro cactus at sunset in the Sonoran Desert with mountains in the background.
Woman photographing a stunning sunset over a calm lake surrounded by tall palm trees.
Woman photographing a friend on a colorful Southwest-style sidewalk lined with yellow blooming shrubs and agave plants.
Historic red brick building with verandas, manicured gardens featuring red and purple flowers, and sculptures along a paved pathway.
Person posing on stone bench surrounded by tall palm trees in a lush green park under cloudy skies.

The final images make everything look calm, polished, and perfectly planned.


The behind-the-scenes version includes a lot more walking, directing, checking the light, moving three feet to the left, changing my mind, and then moving two feet back to the right.



It may not look glamorous from the sidelines, but there is a method to the madness—and thankfully, Thomas and his mom were willing to trust the process.

 

Day 3


The Final Day: University of Arizona + Agua Caliente Park


For the third and final day, Tucson decided to give us its best California impression—and Thomas was more than ready for it.


Between the palm trees at the University of Arizona and the water, greenery, and even more palms at Agua Caliente Park, the entire day had this very laid-back West Coast feel. The mood was chill, the light was dreamy, and at some point we all agreed that Thomas was giving Ken Barbie vibes.


Which, to be clear, was exactly what he was going for.


We started at the University of Arizona, where the red-brick buildings, classic columns, wide walkways, and rows of palm trees gave us the perfect California-campus look. And here is another little tour-guide tidbit: tucked away on campus is a walkway lined with lemon trees.


(Yes, actual lemon trees. My mind was equally blown)


Because we photographed in March, Old Main was quiet and we had no trouble getting all the iconic shot that you get in the UofA campus. Within about 60 days of commencement, it will start to feel like you need to call ahead, reserve a time, and prepare for the graduation-photo version of taking a number at the deli counter. So, when choosing your session date, decide how badly you want Old Main staircase photos—and how committed you are to waiting your turn.


A HELPFUL NOTE FOR FUTURE GRADUATES: THE CLOSER YOU GET TO GRADUATION, THE LONGER THE LINE AND WAIT CAN BE TO GET PHOTOS IN FRONT OF THE OLD MAIN LIBRARY. 


 

Graduate in green robe poses joyfully in crosswalk lined with palm trees on empty urban street.
Young man with blonde hair walking on street holding green graduation cap and gown near palm trees.
Young blonde man in navy shirt and white pants sitting on brick steps of a classic building with white columns.
Young blond man in navy shirt and white pants leaning against a white column outdoors, smiling.
Graduate in cap and green gown sitting on stone steps outside a university building with fountain backdrop.
Graduate in green cap and gown sitting on stone bench surrounded by palm trees on college campus.
Graduate in green cap and gown balancing on curb, arms outstretched, smiling on tree-lined campus street.
Graduate in green cap and gown walks confidently along a tree-lined path wearing white pants and sunglasses.
Graduate in green cap and gown sits confidently outside a brick university building, wearing white pants and sandals.
Young man in graduation cap and gown sitting on steps outdoors at a university campus.

From there, we headed to Agua Caliente, where the water, greenery, and even more palm trees carried our California-vacation vibe right through the end of the day.


At Agua Caliente, we leaned into the California vibe hard. Between the palm trees, water, and soft greenery, Thomas already looked like he belonged in a sun-soaked West Coast campaign—but then his mom brought out the real stars of the session: his childhood lovey.


Yes, that little baby made its senior-photo debut.


And honestly? It was perfect. Beneath all the polished outfits, grad photos, and very intentional Ken energy, those images brought everything back to who Thomas has always been. They were funny, sweet, slightly ridiculous in the best possible way, and exactly the kind of photos that will matter more with every passing year.

Person in white outfit standing among tall palm trees beside a reflective pond in a desert oasis landscape.
Blonde man in white linen outfit leaning against palm tree near serene pond in tropical garden setting.
Young blond man in white linen outfit sitting on rocks near a palm tree outdoors.
A woman sits on a rock near a serene pond surrounded by tall palm trees and mountains in a desert oasis.
Young man in white linen outfit and sunglasses sitting on rock by palm tree lake.
Serene desert oasis with calm reflective lake surrounded by lush palm trees at dusk.
Elegant older woman in green coat leaning on wooden bridge railing surrounded by palm trees at sunset.
Young man in green graduation gown holding cap on wooden bridge with palm trees.
Graduate in green cap and gown standing by a serene palm tree-lined lake.
Stylish person in green coat and white outfit stands by a palm-lined lake, wearing sunglasses at dusk.
Graduate in green cap and gown sits on park bench surrounded by palm trees near a serene lake.
Young man in white outfit and green graduation cap sitting on bench with palm trees behind him.
Graduate in green cap and gown stands by a reflective lake surrounded by palm trees at sunset.
Graduate in green cap and white outfit holds hands with companion while walking on wooden bridge.
Young man in green graduation cap and gown smiling outdoors with palm trees in background.
Person with short blonde hair sitting on a bench holding a teddy bear, overlooking a tranquil pond with palm trees.
Two stuffed animal toys rest on a park bench railing at sunset near a tranquil lake surrounded by palm trees.
Person standing on a desert road holding a small doll and jacket, with cacti and mountains in the background.

More Than Just Senior Pictures



By the end of our three days together, we had photographed Thomas against saguaros, colorful historic streets, university architecture, palm trees, water, lemon trees, and just about every other version of Tucson we could fit into one senior experience.


But the best part was never simply the variety. It was the way every location, outfit, inside joke, family detail, and tiny piece of childhood helped tell a fuller story of who Thomas is right now—standing at the edge of something new, while still carrying pieces of where he came from.


That is what senior portraits feel like to me. Not a rushed hour of smiling at the camera, but an experience built around the person in front of it.


Thomas brought the vision. His family brought the heart. Tucson brought the scenery.

And somehow, we turned it all into one very ambitious, slightly Ken-coded, beautifully personal senior-session sampler platter.


And if your senior wants a session with a little bit of everything, I am always here for the sampler platter.