Can I bring my dog to my senior photoshoot?

Delaney and her labrador Sully

Bennett and his English cream retriever Bosco

A question I often get from teens when they book their senior pictures:

“Can I bring my dog?”

Yes! I encourage you to bring your furry friend to your senior session. If Fido is a big part of your life, he deserves a place in your senior portraits.

Other animals are welcome too. From horses to hamsters, I’ve photographed lots of pets — but dogs are the most popular.

There are lots of dog-friendly locations in Minneapolis and the Twin Cities for your portrait session. You bring the dog and a person to manage the dog when not on camera. I bring dog treats for your buddy and a lint roller for you.

Lauren and her dog Stormy

We’ll get pawsitively memorable shots to remember this time of your life.

Stone Arch Bridge Senior Portrait Session | Anthony

Anthony loves photography and videography, but not just with a camera. He uses a drone to capture aerial photos and videos of sports, events, and nature.

He is preparing to earn a FAA Part 107 license to become a commercial remote pilot.

At school, he will be a photographer for the yearbook. He also enjoys science and plans to study mechanical engineering in college.

Anthony is on the track team where he competes in hurdles and pole vault. He plays soccer too.

In his free time, he likes cooking (pancakes are his specialty), hanging out with family (including their dalmatian Spot), listening to music (he has over 500 songs on his playlist — Arctic Monkey and Mac Miller are among his favorites), and catching up on sleep.

And he will continue to capture moments with his camera and drone, influencing how others see the world- one image at a time.

Minneapolis Senior Portrait Session | Bryn

Bryn adores animals and spends a lot of time caring for her pets — 2 dogs and 2 birds — as well as any other critter who happens to show up in her life like a certain squirrel named Mort.

In addition to being responsible for animals, she also cares for children. She is a nanny for a family with 3 kids. Her go-to method for settling sibling disputes: Rock-Paper-Scissors!

Fun facts about Bryn:
•She rides dirt bikes.
•Her favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
•She can speak pig latin.
•Her favorite class is Literature.
•She turns 18 soon and will cast her first vote this fall.

In a world of divisiveness, Bryn’s empathy, compassion, and sense of fairness is a great example for us all.

Excelsior Senior Portrait Session | Bennett

On Friday nights in the fall, it’s time for football!

Bennett is a defensive end on the varsity football team. His size, strength and agility have helped the team remain undefeated. His game day ritual? Eating a Subway sandwich before each game.

At school, Bennett is a member of the St Jude Leadership Society which raises funds for sick children treated at St Jude hospital. He also participates in the First Mates program, helping freshmen navigate high school.

When he isn’t in class or on the football field, Bennett enjoys playing poker with his brothers (he claims “I never lose”), golfing with friends, listening to rap or country music, and hanging out with his English cream retriever, Juno.

Whatever Bennett tackles in life, his focus and discipline will help him score wins on and off the field.

Millennium Garden Senior Portrait Session | Emmerson

Emmerson’s senior photos not only celebrate her final year of high school, they also pay tribute to her beloved grandmother who passed away.

Emmerson wore several pieces of Nana’s jewelry in her senior photos, including Nana’s wedding ring. I love when seniors bring something meaningful to their session.

Emmerson works at a preschool and plans to become a teacher, possibly focused on special education. She says “I love working with kids.” Teaching runs in her family- she will be the third generation in her family to teach.

At her high school, she is in the Earth Club which promotes a healthy environment, and Best Buddies which pairs students with and without intellectual disabilities to form friendships and advocate for inclusion.

Now that Emmerson has retired from competitive dance (after 11 years!), she has more free time to listen to country music (Kenny Chesney is her favorite), ride horses, and watch sunsets.

As she goes out in the world, Emmerson’s compassionate creativity and warm personality will benefit the children fortunate enough to call her Teacher.

Senior Photo Session | Jack

“The eye never forgets what the heart has seen.” ~ African proverb

Jack and three of his classmates founded the Rwanda club, which raises funds for schools in East Africa.

This summer they earned enough money to travel to Rwanda where they focused on building relationships with the young people and working in preschools. A highlight for the boys was biking with athletes training for the national cycling team.

Jack knows a thing or two about sports. He plays varsity football, basketball, and baseball. And if he isn’t on a field or a court, you’ll find him on a golf course. He likes to golf and he works as a caddy at a local club.

Jack represents his classmates on the campus council and he volunteers in a hospital as a “path finder” helping patients navigate the building.

In his free time, Jack likes to hang out with friends, whether it’s playing poker and blackjack or going to a concert. He also enjoys reading the news and staying informed on national and global issues.

I see politics in Jack’s future. His ability to advocate for and connect with others can make a big impact, at the local and global level.

Noerenberg Garden Senior Portrait Session | Alexis

Alexis’s favorite place is behind a boat on the lake. She loves to wakesurf.

When she’s not on the water, she’s probably on a soccer field. She has played soccer since she was little and now she’s a striker on the varsity team. In the spring, she plays lacrosse.

Alexis is an ideal teammate. She sets high standards for herself and encourages others to aim high. And she’s fun too—- her hidden talent is “making serious situations funny.”

At school, Alexis likes business classes and she might study finance at college. Her mom thinks she should go to veterinary school because Alexis loves animals and she’s not squeamish. Nothing grosses her out.

When she isn’t working at her job at a local restaurant, Alexis likes to listen to country music (she is going to the Zach Bryan concert this weekend!), sip sweet coffee drinks, hang out with her 3 dogs, and go on the lake with friends.

Whether she’s surfing a wake or chasing a dream, Alexis will carve her own path.

Lake Minnetonka Senior Portrait Session | Este

Este’s favorite subject in school is History. If she could have one historical figure over for dinner, she would invite Jane Austen or Alexander Hamilton.

I’m pretty sure they would have fun as Este’s dinner guest. Este is witty and charming (like Emma, the heroine of the Jane Austen novel) and she knows all the songs from Hamilton the musical!

At school, Este is president of the Giving Back club. Students in the club do community outreach projects like making and distributing sandwiches for a homeless shelter. Este also leads the Student Business club and is considering studying business in college.

Fun facts about Este:

•She is Lithuanian and wears an amber ring from the Baltic sea of Lithuania.
•She works at a sushi restaurant and loves sushi. She recommends the “pink panther” (tuna and shrimp).
•Este is on the school tennis and lacrosse teams. In the winter, she plays ping pong.
•She enjoys coffee and her usual is an oat milk latte.
•She is really good at parallel parking.
•She listens to a variety of music. At the top of her playlist is 60s singer Lesley Gore (known for “It’s My Party and I’ll Cry if I Want To”).
•Este loves to dance and has been known to drag her friends onto the dance floor.

As Jane Austen’s Emma said, “Without music, life would be a blank to me.”
I think Este would agree.

Lake Senior Photo Session | Teddy

You can tell Teddy’s had a fun summer, by the tan lines on his legs (from golfing) and the rope burns on his arms (from tubing on the lake with friends).

Despite all that, he looks dapper!

At 6’4”, Teddy often gets asked if he plays basketball. He does, and his team is the current state champion. He also enjoys going to Gopher basketball games with his family.

Basketball isn’t his only sport- Teddy loves to golf and is on the varsity golf team. His favorite course is Windsong.

Music is a big part of Teddy’s life. He’s been playing saxophone since third grade and is in the school band. He also plays guitar. His signature song on guitar is “Linger” by the Cranberries.

At school, Teddy’s favorite subject is “whatever history class I’m taking.” He enjoys learning about historical events and influential leaders.

But for now he is focused on the future, and making his own impact.

Noerenberg Garden Senior Portrait Session | Audrey

This summer, you’re likely to find Audrey on the golf course.

Her dad taught her to play golf when she was younger and now Audrey is captain of the varsity team and works at a golf shop. Her favorite pro to watch is Nelly Korda.

At school, Audrey’s favorite class is biology and she is interested in becoming a doctor. This fall, she will shadow physicians in clinic for her senior project.

Giving to others is important to Audrey which is why she serves as president of Letters of Love, a club that makes encouraging cards for seriously ill children. Letters of Love is the largest club at her school. Fun fact: Audrey can write in calligraphy and often includes calligraphy on the cards she makes for kids.

Music is a big part of Audrey’s life and she plays the flute in the school band. She also volunteers at a local nursing home, playing flute for residents to bring joy through music.

In her free time, Audrey enjoys golfing, being on the lake (on a wakeboard or a jet ski), listening to country music, reading (she recommends “Better Than the Movies” as a good summer book), and traveling (Hawaii is her favorite destination).

As she tees up for adulthood, Audrey’s motivated and compassionate spirit plus her ability to connect with others will lead her to great places and benefit her future patients.

Minnesota Arboretum Senior Portrait Session | George

When you’re named after a famous baseball player (George Brett), you’ve got to like sports.

George plays varsity football and basketball. He also coaches differently-abled athletes through the Unified club.

In addition to sports, music is a big part of George’s life. He is in the school choir and also plays drums. He loves listening to music and always has headphones with him. His current favorite artist is Sade.

Fun facts about George:
•His dog is named after a baseball player too.
•His favorite class is chemistry.
•He is a picky eater. Among the many things he won’t eat is mashed potatoes.
•His favorite ice cream flavor is java chip.
•George’s favorite basketball memory is the game that went into double overtime with 3 buzzer beaters to send his team to State.
•He is a Packers fan.

In sports and in life, George chooses the path less travelled. And it makes all the difference.

Plymouth Senior Photo Session | Kate

Kate loves to sing. She sings in her school’s chamber choir (as well as in the shower and the car.) She is an alto, and Adele is one of her favorite singers.

Kate is also on her high school soccer team, playing defense. She has been playing soccer since she was 3.

As a volunteer at a local hospital, Kate stocks supplies and does other tasks to help the medical staff. She plans to study nursing in college. She is applying to colleges in warmer climates because she is “done with Minnesota winters!”

But she loves Minnesota summers. Kate enjoys going on the lake with friends, teaching swim lessons at the pool, going on rides at the State Fair, and spending time with her family including their dog Sunny.

Although she loves her dog, Kate would like to have a capybara (a rodent native to South America) because “they’re cute”. (I Googled them and they are pretty cute.)

Kate’s friendly personality and kind heart will make her a great nurse. And she will do it in her own special way.

“You’ve got to make your own kind of music,
Sing your own special song.
Make your own kind of music,
Even if nobody else sings along.”
~ Cass Elliott

Orono Senior Portrait Session | Libby

Libby was a competitive gymnast throughout childhood, but in high school she switched to tennis. The freckles on her pretty face are a result of many afternoons on the tennis court. Her tennis skills also come in handy on the pickleball court!

Fun facts about Libby:

• She has a twin brother. She is 2 minutes older than him.

• She likes to listen to indie music.

• She works at DQ. The most popular item she serves is Blizzards.

• Her favorite class is ceramics.

• She enjoys riding bikes.

• Her go-to snack is Goldfish (xtra cheddar).

• She can do a backflip.

Wherever likes takes you, Libby - remember, the ball is in your court!

Noerenberg Gardens Senior Photo Session | Jon

Jon’s senior photo session ended with a backflip. He’s a gymnast so I asked him if he could do a flip. Gymnastics is a sport that requires strength, discipline and flexibility. That’s Jon.

His best event is the floor exercise. When he’s not in the gym, he plays club soccer and volunteers as a gymnastics coach for Special Olympics.

An ideal weekend for Jon would include playing basketball with friends, going out on the lake, having a bonfire, and watching a superhero movie or a show like Criminal Minds or Arrow.

At school, Jon’s favorite class is physics. He is considering studying kinesiology in college. And after that, he will get a dog. Ever since his beloved Bernese, Daisy, passed away, Jon looks forward to having his own dog someday.

But until then, he will use the discipline and focus learned in the gym to vault him to success after high school.

Minnetonka Senior Photo Session | Hayden

Hayden likes trying new things and learned to wake board this summer while he was in Minnesota visiting family. He is the guy who is always up for a challenge.

On weekends, he works at an event catering company in his home state, North Carolina. He also loves sports (especially basketball), video games (his favorite is Minecraft), thrifting, and music (Bruno Mars tops his playlist).

His favorite subjects in school are science and history. After graduation, he is considering a trade like electrician or plumbing as a career.

It will be fun to watch Hayden go out into the world, meet new challenges, and make an impact.

Noerenberg Garden Senior Portrait Session | Grace

At night when most of us are settling down with Netflix, Grace grabs her telescope. She likes to look at stars and planets.

Her favorite planet is Neptune because it appears blue. And she recently took an amazing photo of the moon, using her telescope and phone.

At school, her favorite subjects are History and English. Grace is on the speech team where she competes in the discussion category. She also volunteers in the community through Youth in Action. She is considering a career in law.

Grace likes to stay active. She is on the soccer team. In sports she’s ambidextrous, kicking and throwing both ways. She also likes taking her dog Finn on walks.

Faith is the cornerstone of Grace’s life. If she could invite one historical figure over for dinner, who would she choose? “Jesus,” she replied.

She is also creative. Last December, Grace and her mom won a gingerbread house contest. They constructed a grandfather clock out of gingerbread and decorated it with fondant mice. It took 9 days to make and there were power tools involved! Their effort paid off because they won a trip to Norway.

Never stop reaching for the stars, Grace!

Lake Minnetonka Senior Portrait Session | Lauren

Lauren radiates energy and she likes to stay active. She is a pitcher on the varsity softball team. Since there isn’t a limit on the number of pitches, she has pitched up to 6 games in one day!

She also enjoys working with kids. Lauren coaches youth softball players and volunteers as a tutor with an after-school program.

Lauren loves to travel. Her favorite destination? Paris. The culture is interesting and the crepes are delicious.

Another favorite place is Florida, where her family has vacationed for years. She is considering going to college in Florida.

Fun facts about Lauren:

•She doesn’t have Instagram. Rare in this age group!

•She loves country music and recently saw Morgan Wallen in concert.

•She likes Mexican food and says the guava bbq tacos at Lagos Tacos are not to be missed.

•She adores her dog, Gracie. Gracie made an appearance in some of Lauren’s senior photos!

Minneapolis Senior Photo Session | Sydney

Sydney is wise beyond her years.

She works with a financial advisor to invest money. She has her college major decided (actuarial science). And she recently gave up energy drinks because they contain too much caffeine.

But she likes to have fun too. Sydney enjoys playing pickleball, working out, going to movies, and listening to good music. She saw Chicago and Earth Wind & Fire in concert last night with friends.

At school, Sydney’s favorite subject is math. She likes working with numbers and statistics.

She is on the varsity speech team where she competes in the Original Oratory category, writing and performing speeches designed to inspire and persuade.

She also manages the girls swim team, works at a sushi restaurant, and fosters dogs through an animal hospice rescue. Her family is currently caring for a 20-year old Pomeranian.

As Sydney goes out into the world, her ambition and compassion will add up to success.

Wayzata Senior Portrait Session | Ben

Ben was born on Christmas day. He doesn’t mind having his birthday on a holiday.

Ben plans to study business or economics in college. When he isn’t studying, you’ll find him on the golf course. His favorite golfer is Bryson DeChambeau (“He’s fun to watch”) and his favorite place to golf is Braemar or Madden’s up north.

He also enjoys wake surfing, lifting weights, playing poker with the boys, and hanging out with his dogs.

But the cornerstone of his life is faith and family. He knows what really matters and it guides every decision he makes.

Whatever he decides to do after high school, Ben will shine a light in the world.

Burwell Park Senior Portrait Session | Nick

Nick is happiest outdoors, fishing or hunting with his dog Bo.  

He also plays baseball.  A stress fracture in his back forced him to sit out the junior baseball season but he will be back on the field next spring. 

This fall, Nick will play varsity basketball.  He stays fueled with his favorite snack: a bowl of cinnamon Life cereal and a glass of milk.  

Fun facts about Nick:

•He bats left but throws right. 

•He likes to cook.  His signature dish is eggs over medium.  

•He follows the stock market and likes to invest and trade stocks. 

•His favorite subject is math and he is considering engineering as a career. 

Nick’s quiet determination, ambition and curiosity will take him far.  Hit it out of the park, Nick!