Some seniors spend the whole session figuring out who they are. Tay already knew. She showed up sure of herself, ready to go, and completely at ease doing her own thing. That quiet confidence is all over these photos.

We shot on April 15, right as Lawrence turned green and the tulips came in. Five looks, five spots. We started on her home turf, worked through the brick streets of downtown, and finished in the golden light at South Park. Every stop pulled out a different side of her.

We opened at the Free State High School football field, and her first look set the tone. Tay wore a bright green crewneck that read “Artashia SENIOR Free State High School” across the front, paired with a white pleated skirt customized with a glittery 2026. A custom Firebird senior set in her own school colors. There is no better place to start than the field that has been hers for four years.

Ask Tay what senior year taught her and the answer is short. Get everything done on time. Always. That is exactly how she showed up. Ready, on time, no fuss.

Next we headed into downtown Lawrence and the brick streets around 9th and New York. Tay changed into a fitted red top and black wide-leg jeans with a bold star graphic and clean white sneakers. This is where I got to know her a little. Her most-used app is TikTok. Her life right now sounds like “40 Days n 40 Nights” by Mariah the Scientist. And her go-to order is a six-piece Hot Honey Rub from Wingstop, with ranch, which she will tell you is the best ranch there is. We shot her out on the brick road, then in the doorway of an old church with her arms thrown wide against the white frame. That one is pure main character.

From there we moved to a brick building at 8th and Delaware for a cozier feel. She wore a fuzzy striped sweater in brown, blue, and yellow over a white collar, with ripped light-wash jeans and tan Timbs. This is the outfit that feels most like her everyday, relaxed and easy. It fits something she told me, too. Since freshman year, she has learned she likes her own company. She used to run with a big group of friends. These days she is happy to chill on her own, and she has made peace with that. Honestly, that is its own kind of growing up.

Then came Mass Street. Tay switched into a red jumpsuit with a knot at the shoulder and gold sandals, and the evening light was perfect. One of my favorites is her mid-stride on the brick crosswalk, downtown stretching out behind her all the way to the clock tower. She makes it look effortless.

We ended at South Park just as the sun dropped. The tulips were in full bloom, every color you can think of, and Tay sat right down in the middle of them in denim overalls and her Timbs. We finished with a few quiet portraits by the white bandstand in golden light. Somewhere in there I asked what she would buy first with ten thousand dollars. She did not hesitate. Her mom’s dream MCM purse. Not one thing for herself. That answer tells you everything about who she is.

That is what I loved about Tay’s session. Every stop showed a different side of her. The proud senior on her field, the confident girl downtown, the laid-back one in the park. All of it real, all of it her.

Tay, thank you for trusting me with your senior photos. You are going to do big things, and you are going to do them your way. Congratulations on your senior year at Free State, Class of 2026.

Book Your Own Lawrence Senior Session

Class of 2027, looking for a senior photographer in Lawrence, Kansas? This is what I do. Every session is built around you, from your outfits to the spots that mean something to you, and I guide you through all of it. You just show up. I handle the rest. Summer and fall dates fill up fast. Head to my contact page and let’s grab yours. I would love to tell your story next.

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Megan Bowers is a senior portrait photographer based in Lawrence, Kansas. Her goal is to bring out every senior’s personality in their images and to make sure no two senior sessions look alike. From wardrobe to posing to the final gallery, she guides you through the whole experience start to finish. Megan is now booking the Class of 2027. To learn more about being an MBP senior, click here.