Ashlyn, Senior / Graduate Session at the University of South Alabama


Let me start with - I really hate I wasn't feeling super great for this session because Ashlyn was one of those clients that came with the energy to CREATE. I've known Ashlyn a couple years now, she's my husband's 1st cousin. She has such an inspired, optimistic, and unique mind and really wants to make a difference in the world. I gifted her this session as a graduation gift, but what a gift it was to me too.


Ashlyn had three unique locations in mind, none of which were the traditional 'graduation session locations' for the University of South Alabama. Which worked out great for us as we didn't have to share our space with any other photographers but one. We drove by the bell tower though (a quintessential USA graduation photo location) and it was SLAM-PACKED.


We started the session by getting the 'less exciting' shots out of the way. The building she studied in, while of incredible importance to her the last four years, doesn't leave much room for expression and creation. We somehow managed to still create. I found myself on THE FLOOR within five minutes of the session trying to get the perfect angle on the chandelier in the entryway. I am happy with the result, but was even happier when I realized I could go up on the balcony for a different effect.


Once we got the building shots out of the way, we moved to a section of campus that contains the "University of South Alabama' signs as well as a field with oak trees and a white marble monument with pillars. I could have spent two hours here with her, but we only had about 35 minutes as we had one final stop to make. We did some walking and made quite a time of it. It was at this point that Ashlyn and I both found our creative strides. Ashlyn began pulling from her past dance experience to really create and express with her arms, stance, and expression. My brain was tickling again (there's a past blog post about that expression here). This is when I really start to get in the zone and just want to create. Heck, I bet we could have spent four more hours here creating. We had barely scratched the surface when I looked at my watch and realized I had 15 minutes until my next session with Daylee, which was an eight minute drive away, AND we still had a third location to hit.


We scurried to the last location, a large, "cartoonish" - Ashlyn's words - statue of a Jaguar waving. We also had a blast creating here. I was out of time and already going to be late to my session with Daylee but we spent about 10 minutes and capture some great images. I enjoyed getting creative here as well. We also walked over to a nearby Azalea bush and grabbed some absolutely lovely final images. I had sent my location to Kris (who was driving the fussy baby and dog around) and he swung by and picked me up at the perfect moment, right as we finished up at the azalea bush. My departure was quite abrupt, which I hated, but we quickly rushed off to our last session of the day.


Anyays, it was a good session. I was functioning about 65%, but luckily the creative inspiration fueled me. I look forward to working with my cuz more in the future. Here's some images from that session. There are SO MANY MORE I want to share, but as she's holding some in reserve to reveal to her family closer to graduation, I respectfully will wait too.


This post was originally published on 04/03/2025 and was migrated to my new site on 07/14/2025. I also added more photos :)

Interior shots of an elegant chandelier with white and gold details.
Interior stairwell with wooden railings and modern architectural details.
Elegant chandelier hanging above marble floors and white columns in a grand lobby.
University of South Alabama Speech Pathology department entrance sign.
Modern brick Health Sciences building exterior with glass windows and concrete steps.
Front entrance steps and railing of a modern educational building.
Graduate stands in front of Health Sciences building wearing navy graduation gown and glasses.
Steps of Health Sciences building with white columns frame celebratory graduation poses.
Graduate tosses cap in celebratory sequence outside brick Health Sciences building.
Graduate celebrates with dramatic poses on stairs outside brick learning center.
Graduate poses elegantly between white marble columns for graduation photos.
Graduate displays diploma holder with tassels between marble columns.
Graduate in white dress poses gracefully between white marble columns.
Classical white columns frame graduation photo session against cloudy sky.
Graduate lounges on marble steps between majestic white columns during photo shoot.
Graduate poses playfully between white marble columns in graduation attire.
Graduate posing on marble steps in white dress and glasses against vibrant outdoor background.
Row of ornate columns and steps with pink building in background on cloudy day.
Graduate celebrating with diploma and navy gown on campus steps.
Graduate proudly displaying diploma holder in navy graduation gown.
Majestic oak trees spread branches over grassy campus lawn.
Graduate in navy gown poses under sprawling oak trees on campus lawn.
Sprawling oak trees create natural canopy over campus grounds.
Scenic campus landscape with ancient oak trees and grassy areas.
Towering oak trees spread over manicured campus lawn on overcast day.
Graduate twirls in white dress under canopy of oak trees during photo session.
Graduate in a white dress poses under a sprawling oak tree during a graduation photoshoot.
Graduate in cap and gown admires blooming pink azalea flowers on campus.
Graduate in navy blue academic regalia poses beside pink flowering bushes.
Graduate stands among pink azalea bushes wearing traditional academic regalia.
Graduate walks towards mascot on campus sidewalk during graduation photo session.
Graduate poses with university mascot wearing jersey number 50 on campus lawn.
Graduate celebrates with university mascot character wearing sports jersey on campus.
Graduate and mascot pose together on campus walkway during graduation photoshoot.
Graduate in white dress and academic regalia poses with university mascot on brick pathway.
Celebratory graduation photo with mascot in front of campus building.
Graduate poses with Jaguars mascot jersey number 50 during outdoor graduation photo session.
A playful mascot in graduation attire poses on a pathway with a stately building in the background.