Jada — Northeast Mpls senior session

This Northeast Mpls senior session is one of my all-time favorites. Scroll to see some images that capture the lovely Jada amidst a rugged urban backdrop.

From the moment Jada’s inquiry came in, I knew the shoot had to be in the city. There’s just something about Jada—her quiet, shy demeanor belies a fierce inner strength—that demands a unique backdrop. We settled on an urban decay feeling for her Northeast Mpls senior session and decided the Arts District was the best location to explore this theme.

Behind the Scenes

Whenever I shoot in an urban environment, I have a rough idea of the route we’ll take. Perhaps there are a few backdrops within a two-block radius. Or maybe we’ll walk further with no exact location in mind. For Jada’s Northeast Mpls senior session, we explored an area known as the home of artists and the epic annual Art a Whirl event. Jada’s hair and style inspired the first stop, at a yellow wall, and the rest was just playing with various backdrops and poses.

A train passed by at a convenient point, inspiring a set of photos that look almost rural. Then a few outfit changes as the sun went down. I love that Jada chose three diverse outfits; a cute top with tennis skort, a casual crop top with wide-legged jeans with a floral pattern and a slim black dress. Each outfit says something different and offers a new take on the theme. Another strong factor that makes me love these outfits is that each piece is a muted, neutral color. This meant we could shoot pretty much any attractive backdrop—plus the shades complemented Jada’s skin + hair so well.

I curate each senior session to fit the human I’ll be photographing—from location to poses. Jada oozes confidence and strength, and this is shown in her tipped back chin, soft smile and steady gaze. We spent about an hour wandering around, but I could’ve kept going. That’s pretty usual for me!