Oregon Session: Portland Rose Garden Senior Pictures

Portland Rose Garden Senior Pictures are a top spring request!

Living in the Portland, Oregon area, Portland Rose Garden senior pictures are popular, and for good reason! Spring is the perfect time to take photos at the Portland Rose International Garden because it’s the timeframe when roses bloom. If you haven’t been here before, it’s absolutely gorgeous! There are blooms in almost every color!

The layout and landscaping of the garden also makes it a stunning backdrop for senior photos. In Ashlye’s session, we took advantage of the stone walls, rows of roses, green lawn, and the arena-like layout of the landscaping. This whole session screams Disney princess and romance in the summer vibes. 

Spring is also a great time to take your senior pictures logistically. For some, you’ll have them just in time for grad announcements or you can think ahead and take spring pictures your junior year so that you have them ready for everything you need for senior year! 

Ashye’s Portland Rose Garden Senior Pictures

Ashlye’s senior pictures at the Portland Rose Garden were a mix of colorful blooms with lush, green forests. We went to the rose garden at sunset, which was the perfect time to get the kind of romantic late spring vibes we wanted! 

Ashlye had several items that made the shoot romantic, including makeup, perfume, pressed flowers, a camera, a copy of Pride & Prejudice, and a bicycle. Wearing a cute white top and a bow in her hair added to the romantic effect of it all! All the details in this themed session really made a difference. 

“Emily is truly a Miracle Worker. She feels like another best friend except one that takes the most magical photos for you. The Photos I received for this shoot felt like a Disney dream. Emily made me feel so comfortable and beautiful through the entire process. I love how prepared she came to the shoot and she went to far lengths to help me with the props for this specific shoot.  She had the mood board all prepared and it was played beautifully with these results. The photoshoot she had planned also aligned with my aesthetic perfectly and came out as this dreamy, Disney princess look. From beginning to the end she provided amazing communication about where to meet and how the experience with her would look like. If you love traveling and nature themed shoots, Emily can make all your goals and dreams come true!”

– Ashlye, 2023 Senior

The inspiration for these Portland Rose Garden senior pictures

We really wanted to put together a session for Ashlye that gave Disney princess vibes and incorporated thoughtful, romantic details. I put together a mood board that features roses, romantic dresses, and reading in the grass. 

Bringing in a bicycle to Ashlye’s session also gave it all a documentary, timeless kind of feel. Check out the TikTok from this session here.

Here is some outfit inspiration if you’re wanting a spring or summer session like this! Also, check out this cottage core aesthetic session!

How to have a themed senior session

If you’re hoping for your senior photos to turn out with a certain vibe, there’s a good amount of thought and planning that goes into getting them right! First, it’s important to decide on a theme and then stick with it. 

When you inquire with me, we’ll talk about the vibe or theme you want to go with. If you really love something specific, like a hobby or a location, be sure to bring it up, because we’ll want to make that part of your session! After you have your heart set on a theme, it’s important to make sure every detail from there aligns with it. 

For example, if you’re wanting a feminine, romantic shoot like Ashlye’s, we’ll want to consider a place with flowers, like the rose garden or maybe a field of wildflowers. We’ll also want to make sure your outfits and accessories align with the theme. In Ashlye’s session, she chose those types of romantic details to help evoke the feeling we were going for. 

I’m here to help you with all those details, so don’t let the details stop you from having the best, most creative session you can think of! It’s mostly important that you stick with a style once we choose one so that you get the end result that you’re hoping for with your photos. 

Some of my favorite sessions ever were put together with choosing a theme in mind! We’ll always put together a mood board and then talk about what details can help you bring that vibe to life. Just get in touch with me and let me know what vibe you want for your session, then we’ll get started with location, mood, and outfit ideas! 

Planning your Portland Rose Garden Senior Pictures

The Portland Rose Garden is a great place to get a mix of settings. There’s a forest nearby (my favorite local Redwood forest!), so we’ll be able to get dreamy rose photos along with that classic Pacific Northwest feel. Going to two settings like that during your session can help you get even more out of your senior pictures! You can view more information about the Portland Rose Garden and their bloom times and map here. It can change a little every year, so if you have your heart set on roses, make sure you reach out well before spring so that we have time to schedule your session and account for rain and bloom changes! 

Want dreamy vibes like Ashlye’s session?

If you want a dreamy or romantic gallery like Ashlye’s, consider some of these details:

• Wearing creams and white clothing
• Flowy clothing, like dresses or skirts
• Romantic details like floral patterns
• Natural makeup with pink blush, lip gloss, or other romantic beauty details
• Lace, bows, and all the girly accessories!
• This year, bows are really in, so don’t be afraid to include that! 

Ready to book your summer session? 

Sign up for the summer waitlist here. 

Whether you’re looking for a warm summer session or another time of year, you can always contact me here. It’s better to reach out sooner so that we have time to plan your personalized senior photos!