Waterfall Senior Pictures & Vintage Country Vibes
There are some senior sessions that are beautiful… and then there are the ones that turn into an entire ADVENTURE. Kiana’s Garden Girl solo session was definitely the latter. As one of my Sweet Magnolias Garden Girls, Kiana wanted her senior portraits to feel like her—and she chose one of my absolute favorite locations for senior pictures near Wichita, Kansas: Chase Lake Falls. If you’ve followed me for a while, you probably already know how much I love this location. It’s only about an hour from Wichita, but it feels like you’ve driven much farther away from Kansas. The waterfall, creek, rocks and greenery make it one of my favorite locations for outdoor senior portraits and adventurous senior photography. The last three times I had been there, the waterfall was FLOWING. Beautifully.
So naturally, I showed up to Kiana’s session expecting the same thing. And there was basically… a trickle. But did that stop us? Absolutely not!
Sometimes the best senior pictures happen when things don’t go according to plan.
Instead of being disappointed that the waterfall wasn’t flowing like I had hoped, we decided to adventure farther into the creek and see what we could find. Honestly, I think it made the senior photo session even better. We were able to explore areas I probably wouldn’t have photographed if the waterfall had been rushing like normal. We climbed around, searched for different angles, found little pockets of greenery and water, and basically turned the entire area into our playground. Kiana wore this STUNNING long coral dress, and the color against all of the greenery was absolute perfection. The lower portion of the falls was doing its very best to flow, and it was just enough to create the dreamy waterfall senior pictures we had envisioned. Sometimes you don't need everything to go perfectly to create something beautiful. You just have to be willing to get a little creative. And maybe get barefoot and wet. I swear, my favorite senior photography sessions are the ones where my girls are willing to adventure with me. Senior portraits don't have to mean standing in a field and smiling at the camera. They can be messy, spontaneous, adventurous, and completely YOU. And Kiana was ALL IN.
From waterfall senior portraits to vintage country vibes
Once we had explored every inch of the falls we could, we hopped back in the car and headed toward Wichita. But I had a few more stops planned. There was a little place I had been eyeing for a while called Cottonwood Springs, an old ghost-town-style area right along the highway. And the best part? It was basically on our way home, so we didn't have to sacrifice any of our senior session time to make the stop. I had actually been here before with my husband, just exploring and discovering all of the little pieces of this old town. I immediately knew I wanted to photograph a senior portrait session here. There are these two old gas pumps sitting right along the road, surrounded by greenery, with an old iron fence behind them. HELLO. It was basically made for my style of senior photography.
Kiana changed into a denim dress, and suddenly her session went from waterfall adventure to vintage country senior pictures, and I was completely here for it.
We photographed around the old buildings, played with the greenery, and even found an old Pepsi vending machine that made for some of my favorite images from the entire senior photo shoot. And then came the moment where I thought we might have just gotten ourselves kicked out. An older man pulled up and asked what we were doing. I explained that Kiana was a senior and that we were taking her senior pictures. He looked at us and said, “Well, we charge $10,000 for you to shoot here.” I laughed nervously because I was REALLY hoping he was joking… although his face was saying otherwise. And then he broke his poker face. He was totally messing with us and said they didn't care that we were photographing there, just as long as we didn't take his fishing spot.
Well played, sir.
Well played.
One more stop before we called it a day
We took a few more photos around the old mill and were finally ready to head home. Except… We still had ONE MORE spot.
I can't remember the name of the little town we stopped in, but there was this old white garage with a bright red door and vines growing EVERYWHERE around it.
The second I saw it, I knew it would be perfect for Kiana's country-chic vibe. She changed one last time into the CUTEST pants with little white bows and a white top, and we squeezed in a few more senior portraits before completely draining every last ounce of sunlight from the day.
This is what I want senior portraits to feel like.
Kiana's session is going to be one of my favorites for a LONG time.
It was adventurous. It was full of laughter. It was full of discovering new places. It was full of vintage treasures, unexpected moments, muddy feet, gorgeous dresses, and a whole lot of personality. And Kiana? She absolutely KILLED it. Her senior pictures are stunning, but what I love most is that they feel like an experience rather than just a photoshoot. That's what I want for every senior who steps in front of my camera as a Wichita senior photographer. I want your senior pictures to feel like YOU. If you're adventurous, let's go somewhere we've never been. If you love vintage things, let's find an old ghost town. If you love the outdoors, let's get in the creek. If you have a favorite hobby, let's build your senior photography session around it. And if the waterfall decides not to cooperate?
We'll find another way to make magic. Because sometimes the best senior portrait locations in Kansas aren't the obvious ones. Sometimes you have to get off the beaten path, explore a little, and be willing to get your feet wet. And those are usually the sessions you'll remember forever.
Senior Rep Teams
Kiana is just one of the amazing 2027 Garden Girls, and I cannot wait to share more of this year's Senior Rep Team with you!
If you're a 2028 senior in Wichita or anywhere in Kansas and you're wondering what being part of a senior rep team can actually look like, keep watching.
You're going to get to see the adventures, the sessions, the friendships, and all the fun that comes with being a Sweet Magnolia.
The waitlist for applications for my 2028 Senior Rep Team, the Sweet Magnolias, launches December 1st!
If you're looking for a Wichita senior photographer who wants your senior pictures to be more than just pretty photos, you're going to want to keep an eye out.
Because your senior year only happens once. Let's make the pictures feel like an adventure you'll never forget.
