JSerra Catholic High School Senior Photos at Riley Wilderness Park | Sydney’s Golden Hour Graduation Session

From JSerra to Wake Forest: Sydney’s radiant Senior Session at Riley Wilderness Park

I first met Sydney and her family during our Christmas Tree Farm mini sessions—an incredibly sweet and stylish crew who made my job so easy. Last year, I photographed her sister’s graduation session, so when it was Sydney’s turn to step in front of the camera for her senior portraits, I was thrilled to help capture this exciting chapter in her life.

Sydney just graduated from JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, where she stood out as a soccer star and a natural leader. She’ll be heading across the country this fall to attend Wake Forest University in North Carolina—so this session was a chance to celebrate not just her accomplishments, but the bright path ahead.

We chose Riley Wilderness Park in Mission Viejo for Sydney’s senior photos. It’s one of my favorite Orange County photo spots thanks to its soft trails, golden fields, and dreamy light. We had to reschedule a few times due to unexpected overcast weather (May Grey really tried to get us!), but I’m so glad we waited. The evening of Sydney’s session was perfect—warm, golden light that we were able to fully take advantage of.

Sydney brought three outfits to the session, giving us the perfect variety. She started in a classic white sundress—light, timeless, and so perfect for a summer grad. Then she changed into a short floral sundress that brought out her playful, summery side. Finally, she finished in a casual jeans-and-top look that felt relaxed and effortlessly cool. I always encourage seniors to bring a mix of outfits that reflect different sides of their personality, and Sydney’s wardrobe choices did just that.

Of course, no senior session is complete without a little ceremonial flair—so we made sure to include cap and gown photos too. I keep a collection of caps and gowns in various sizes and school colors, so even if a grad’s own set hasn’t arrived yet (or gets wrinkled in the car!), we’re still able to capture all that classic graduation energy.

It’s always such a privilege to work with returning families—it means so much to be trusted to document milestone after milestone. Sydney, you were a joy to photograph and I can't wait to see all that you accomplish at Wake Forest!