Meet Dylan, a Senior at Sandy High School who I recently got to know during a senior portrait session along Oregon’s Sandy River. Dylan is looking forward to finishing up his senior year and then heading to college where he plans to pursue a degree in computer engineering.

Sandy High School Senior boy sitting on rocks along Sandy River, Oregon.

Black and white headshot of a Sandy High School Senior boy posing for senior portraits and yearbook image.

Dylan’s parents have friends who own a home along the Sandy River just outside the Sandy City limits. Their property provided the perfect backdrop for Dylan’s senior portraits. The walkway leading to the house was landscaped with beautiful natural stone stairs and we were surrounded by woods and tall trees.

Headshot portrait of a Sandy High School Senior boy posing for senior portraits and yearbook image near the Sandy River.

Portrait of a Sandy High School senior boy sitting against a tree among ferns near the Sandy River, Oregon

But of course, the main feature was the Sandy River, just a short and somewhat treacherous few yards away. Dylan and I scrambled down onto the rocks so that we could capture the beautiful winding river in the background. Dylan was sure footed and stayed clean and dry, but I ended up wading in plenty of mud and water in an effort to find the perfect angles to shoot!

Sandy High School Senior guy posing on rocks along Sandy River, Oregon.

Despite the weatherman’s prediction, we had beautiful cloudy skies throughout our entire senior portrait session! Cloudy skies are perfect for even portrait lighting and it wasn’t until the end that it started to sprinkle just a bit. September senior portraits can be tough in the pacific northwest! If you’re longing for sun, your best plan is to have your senior pictures taken in June, July, or August! But, if you can put up with being a little damp, fall in Oregon has a lot to offer! During While we were creating Dylan’s senior pictures, the evening sun came out just long enough to illuminate the changing fall colors across the river—setting a perfect stage for a beautiful on-location environmental portrait.

Environmental portrait of a Sandy High School Senior boy sitting on rocks along Sandy River, Oregon.

Headshot of a Sandy High School Senior boy posing for senior portraits and yearbook image.

Click here to learn more about High School Senior Portraits for senior guys and girls with Brian Pasko Photography!