The Little Moments You’ll Miss Most: A Guide to Capturing Senior Year Memories
Senior year is full of BIG moments — the last game, final performance, senior prom. They’re on the calendar, and you’re ready to soak it all in. Sometimes, they feel so big you know you’ll remember them forever.
But senior year has a sneaky way of slipping past.
And what tends to fade fastest? The little things — the everyday moments that end up meaning the most.
As a Des Moines senior photographer and a mom who’s already been through one graduation (and is going through it again with my youngest), I know exactly where my heart will be focused this year. This season is beautiful, emotional, and more fleeting than it seems. Even the things you swear you’ll never forget somehow slip away just a few years later.
And I know it’s not just me. I’ve heard it from parents again and again:
“I thought I’d remember it all... but it’s already starting to blur.”
Yes, the professional portraits matter…
Don’t get me wrong — polished senior portraits are important for so many reasons.
But the moments that really stay with you?
They’re usually the in-between ones:
The quiet confidence that bloomed during junior year
The sleepy coffee runs before first-period
The way they toss their backpack on the kitchen floor… every single day
And here’s the truth:
Unless you plan to hire a professional photographer on retainer (tempting, I know 😉), you are the one who gets to capture those everyday scenes. The spontaneous moments. The quirky things they do when they’re home, in their element.
These are the moments that become your favorite memories — the ones that make you smile years from now when they flash across your screen in a “5 Years Ago Today” notification.
That’s why I created this guide.
A Free Guide: 10 Moments You’ll Want to Capture Before Graduation
This isn’t a list of photo ideas to bring to your senior session.
It’s a reminder of the magic in the ordinary — and the power of documenting your family's story as it unfolds.
No fancy camera required (unless that’s your thing). These don’t need to be art-gallery worthy to be meaningful. It’s the story they tell that makes them powerful.
This guide takes you from the very first day of senior year to the proud smile that walks across the graduation stage.
Even if your teen is halfway through their senior year, it’s not too late to start capturing the details. Every photo you take now becomes a memory you’ll treasure later.
And if your child is still a junior — or has a few years to go — save this post!
Set a reminder to come back the summer before their senior year and grab the guide so you’re ready.
Planning Senior Photos? Here’s What to Know
While you’re snapping the in-between moments, don’t forget to think big-picture, too. A professional senior photo session captures the essence of senior year in a way no phone snapshot ever could.
And here in Des Moines? Fall is hands-down the most popular season for senior pictures. The golden light, the cozy sweaters, the vibrant leaves — the whole vibe just fits. That also means fall dates are the first to book up.
Booking early gives you:
More choice of fall dates
The best chance to capture your teen’s personality in their favorite season
One less thing on your to-do list during an already full yea
Click here to learn more about my high school senior sessions
You can’t capture everything. But with a little intention, some planning — and a whole lot of love — you can hold on to the parts that matter most.