There are senior sessions that feel especially personal from the very start, and Martina’s was absolutely one of them. On October 8, 2025, I had the pleasure of photographing Martina, a senior in the Class of 2026 at Marlington High School, on a beautiful fall evening that perfectly matched her calm, kind personality.

We began Martina’s senior portrait session at her home, which allowed us to capture something truly meaningful to her—portraits with her pet snake, Pyro. Including personal elements like this is one of my favorite parts of senior sessions. Pyro added a unique and memorable touch, and Martina handled him with such ease and care, which says so much about who she is.

From there, we headed to Quail Hollow Park in Hartville, where fall was showing off in the best way. We explored several areas of the park, making use of the open fields, gardens, wooded paths, and the elegant spaces around the Manor House. Each location gave us a different look and feel, allowing Martina’s personality to shine in a variety of ways—from relaxed and thoughtful to confident and expressive.

To wrap up the evening, we made our way to Wingfoot Lake Park just in time for sunset. The golden light over the water created a stunning backdrop and was the perfect way to end her session. The vibrant fall colors and peaceful setting complemented Martina beautifully and gave us some truly timeless portraits.

Martina is involved in band and Gamers Club at school, and she has a creative side that really stands out. She enjoys art and plans to pursue an apprenticeship to become a tattoo artist after high school. Her love for creativity shows not only in her interests but also in the way she expresses herself. Friends describe Martina as kind and caring, and that warmth comes through naturally in her portraits.

When it comes to favorites, Martina enjoys rock music, white chocolate, acrylic paints, and gaming, including Minecraft and No Man’s Sky. One of her favorite movies is Tremors. She shared that what she will miss most after graduating are band, art class, and horticulture—classes that allowed her creativity to grow.

Looking ahead, Martina is excited about the freedom that comes with driving and having a fun job, as well as continuing toward her goal of becoming a tattoo artist through an apprenticeship. She chose me for her senior portraits after seeing how much she loved her brothers’ pictures, and I am so honored to have been part of this milestone for her as well.

Martina’s session was enjoyable, relaxed, and filled with moments that felt authentically her—exactly what senior portraits should be.

“It was enjoyable and easier than I thought it would be.”

“I felt great.”

“I was happy to see how my pictures came out.”

Martina, thank you for trusting me to capture this exciting season of your life. Your senior year story is just beginning, and I cannot wait to see where your creativity takes you next.