Madi's Golden Hour Senior Session at Retzer Nature Center | Waukesha Senior Photographer
A Golden Hour Senior Session at Retzer Nature Center
There’s something about golden hour at Retzer Nature Center that never gets old. The way the light paints the prairie, the sun peeking through the trees in the woodland, the golden warmth that’s just perfect before the sun sets — it always feels a little cinematic. Madi’s session took place during one of those perfect evenings. With graduation coming up in less than a month, her mom reached out because they realized they hadn't taken senior photos yet. I’m so glad she did, because it ended up being a beautiful session from start to finish.
The top reason I recommend Retzer so often is because it doesn't feel like just one location. You have the open prairie, the wooded trails, little tucked-away spots that somehow make it feel like you've driven somewhere completely different. It's one of those places where you can leave with a gallery that looks like it was taken across multiple locations without ever leaving the park.
Two Outfits, Two Completely Different Feelings
One of my favorite things about this session was how perfectly her outfit choices fit the atmosphere. Her first outfit, a long yellow dress, was the perfect opportunity to get in some good field running. The entire session felt soft and warm, and the sun played nice each time we relocated. Retzer, after all, is massive, and it would’ve been a waste to not utilize its beauty.
Later in the session, Madi changed into a white dress and boots that gave the second half of the gallery a completely different feeling — more in line with the country-esque styles you can find on Pinterest nowadays. Between the glowing sunset, Madi’s enthusiasm at each of my seemingly silly instructions and the picturesque backdrop, it felt like something straight out of a film. And of course, we had to get in a little frolicking at the end!
What Should You Wear for Senior Photos?
I always tell seniors not to overthink their outfits. Pick something that feels like you, and then build from there. Madi's yellow dress couldn't have fit the prairie any better, and when she changed into the white dress and boots later on, it almost felt like we were photographing a completely different session. That's one of the reasons I love outfit changes—they're an easy way to add so much variety to a gallery.
Retzer continues to be one of my favorite locations for senior sessions in Waukesha County for exactly this reason. The variety throughout the preserve makes it easy to create galleries that feel both natural and cinematic, especially during golden hour when everything softens and glows. Whether you want wide open fields, quiet wooded trails, or a little bit of both, it's hard to leave without a gallery that feels varied and completely your own.
Madi, thank you for trusting me to capture such an exciting season of your life. I can't wait to see where life takes you next.
Thinking about your own senior session?
One of the biggest things I hear from seniors is, "I have no idea what I'm doing."
Good news—you don't have to.
I'll guide you through the entire process, from choosing a location and outfits to those "what do I do with my hands?" moments during the session. My goal is for you to leave feeling like you just spent an evening exploring somewhere beautiful... and happened to get some pretty great photos along the way.
