For high school seniors, a photo is more than just a picture, it’s a moment and a milestone. In recent years, senior portraits have evolved from studio lit sessions to something far more meaningful and personal. Today’s seniors are turning their photoshoots into experiences and ones that reflect their identities, favorite places, and the journeys that shaped them.
In the summer of 2025, seniors like Gia Figer and Malia Tagalicod embraced this by taking their portraits in locations that held deep emotional significance. Rather than posing in front of a curtain backdrop wall, they stood on beaches that had shaped their childhoods and personal growth. They chose photographers not just for their skill, but for their ability to embrace their personalities.
Figer’s senior portrait session took place on the shores of Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard. For the past four years, Figer and her family have spent summers there, creating memories that stretch from long bike rides to sunset walks with close friends.
“Martha’s has such a special place in my heart,” Figer said. “It’s where I’ve made some of my favorite memories with the people who mean the most to me. What better place to do it than my favorite town?”
It wasn’t just the location that made Figer’s photos memorable, it was who was behind the camera. Her photographer was no ordinary local. She was a National Geographic photographer, someone who had once taken family portraits for them during their very first visit to the island.
Meanwhile, across the ocean, Malia Tagalicod brought her vision to life on the beaches of Ko Olina, Hawaii. For Tagalicod, the photoshoot wasn’t just a senior occasion, it was the opportunity to have her photos at a place that she holds deep in her heart.
“When we first went to Ko Olina, I just knew I wanted to come back one day to take pictures there,” she said. “The beach was perfect and the way the light hits the water is the way I’ve always pictured it.”
What made her session even more personal was her photographer: her uncle, a longtime Hawaii-based photographer who used to specialize in car photography and collected professional gear.
“He had all this equipment and such a good eye,” Tagalicod said. “He let me take as many photos as I wanted until I was happy.”
Both seniors were intentional not only about their locations and photographers, but also about what they wore, and selecting outfits that expressed who they are.
Figer wore a flowing white dress she found on Pinterest, paired with a short blue dress from Altar’d State for a second outfit.
“I wanted the outfits to complement the beach,” she explained.
Tagalicod, on the other hand, went with a flowy white skirt and a coral tube top, both light and easy, perfect for the warm island and golden sunset background.
“I wore something that looked good with the background, but also something that felt like me.”
Both seniors chose to shoot their portraits in July, taking full advantage of the daylight hours of the summer. While they opted out of sports uniforms, or letterman jackets, each had a clear theme in mind. For Figer, it was coastal scenery. For Tagalicod, it was all about the sunset glow and the horizon.
Figer mentioned she’s already thinking about a follow-up shoot in spring 2026, once she chooses a college. That shoot may include soccer gear or spirit wear, showcasing her next chapter while tying back to the tone of her Martha’s Vineyard photographs.
Both Figer and Tagalicod stated that they loved their photographers, but they both aren’t very close to home.
Figer stated, “Absolutely, but the only issue is that she’s only in Martha’s Vineyard in the summer and New York in the winter. But I’d love to work with her again.”
Tagalicod stated a similar point of view: “I would, if he lived in Ohio!” she laughed. “But for anyone in Hawaii, he’s the best. He really made it special for me.”
Senior portraits may last forever in a yearbook or a frame, but for students like Figer and Tagalicod, it’s the story behind the photo that truly lasts.
As graduation approaches, and the world opens its doors to life and new opportunities, these photos remind these students of where they’ve been, who they are, and all the places they’re going next.
