She isn’t filling shelves for the sake of having books.
She’s building a collection of stories that meant something to her.
Stories that invited her into someone else’s world. Stories whose characters made her laugh, kept her turning pages late into the night, broke her heart, or stayed with her long after she reached the final chapter.
That’s why her senior photos with books session was so special.
Books aren’t simply something Emmi enjoys. They’ve been part of her life since childhood.
Here’s how we incorporated senior photos with books into her senior photo session.
Table of Contents
Every Great Story Has a Beginning
“Bring the books,” I suggested when I found out Emmi loved to read.
They told me it was impossible to choose, so they brought them all.
Between their cart and my wagon, we rolled them from one spot to the next. We started by styling a stack of beautiful family heirloom books with some wildflowers on top, which we found nearby.
Then, into another book the flowers went. It was perfect! It reminded me of a blooming heart being shaped by a story.
Later, when we reached the rocks, it was finally time to unpack the rest. Each book had already told a story. But together, they helped tell hers. The sheer volume made me smile. Book after book covered the rocks until they became part of the scene itself.
There were favorite novels from her own collection and even some of the childhood books she remembers reading with her mom. We choose, “Why I love My Mommy” for her to hold for an emotional shot that may need some Kleenex each time her mom thinks about holding little Emmi in her lap and reading her that story. It will become even more special the closer graduation draws near.
“Who funds your book budget I asked?”
Every birthday and Christmas, her grandfather gives her a Barnes & Noble gift card.
She doesn’t spend it right away.
If a book is going to earn a permanent place on her bookshelf, Emmi is more likely to have checked it out from the library first. When it’s a story she loves, it goes on her wish list. She saves those gift cards until she has enough for one big Barnes & Noble book haul.
That’s when I smiled.
It wasn’t just because she loves to read.
It was because everything about that tradition reflects who she is. Thoughtful. Intentional. Someone who treasures stories enough to keep only the ones that have truly stayed with her.
And it made me think about her grandfather. Every birthday and Christmas, he gives a gift that says, I know you. I know what you love. I imagine those gift cards have become part of a tradition they both look forward to.
Looking through the finished gallery, I don’t think there could have been a better way to tell the story of some of the things that have brought Emmi to the place she is today.
Senior Photos with Books: Creative Styling Ideas for Your Session
If you’re planning senior photos with books, let your collection tell your story. The most meaningful sessions are the ones built around the things you already love.
Here are a few of the ideas we incorporated into Emmi’s session:
- Bring your own books.
- Include family heirloom books that have been passed down through generations.
- Pair books with fresh flowers for a soft, timeless look.
- Stack books to create texture and variety throughout your gallery.
- Bring childhood favorites that remind you where your love of reading began.
- If you have a large collection, don’t be afraid to use it. One of my favorite images from Emmi’s book lover senior photos shows her lying among dozens of books she’s collected over the years.
- Mix your senior photos with books with classic portraits so your gallery reflects every side of your personality.
That’s exactly what Emmi did.
Every book and every detail reflected something important about her.
Meet Emmi
Emmi—short for Emlyn—is preparing for her senior year, and if you’ve spent even five minutes talking with her, you know she’s sophisticated and thoughtful.
Her love of reading started with a fourth-grade reading challenge, and years later she still finds herself staying up far too late because she has to know who did it before putting the book down. That same love of stories has shaped what she hopes to do after graduation, the memories she treasures most, and even the way she imagines her future.
My blog readers always enjoy hearing from the seniors I photograph, so here a little bit about Emmi in her own words.
Q&A with Emmi
Tell me about your love for books and reading. When did that begin? What’s your favorite genre?
In fourth grade there was this reading challenge that was called the 20 book challenge and I started with the Harry Potter book series and got hooked right away. My favorite genre is mystery whodunnit books which usually keep me up far too late.
Do you have any thoughts on what you’d like to do after graduation?
Because of my love of reading I want to go into book publishing and editing.
What are some of your favorite childhood memories?
Some of my favorite childhood memories include going to Barnes and Noble with my mom and taking home big stacks of books, going on long bike rides with my dad, and sitting outside on our deck in the summer time.
Tell me one thing you hope to accomplish your senior year.
I hope to make a lot of fun memories my senior year and I hope to make it my favorite year yet.
If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?
If I could tell my younger self something I’d tell her that there’s so much time and that you don’t need to have it all figured out.
Looking Ahead to the Next Chapter
That last answer is my favorite.
There’s something refreshing about hearing a senior say there is still time.
Time to grow.
Time to learn.
Time to change directions.
Time to discover who you want to become.
As exciting as senior year is, it doesn’t have to be the year where every answer is known.
For now, Emmi gets to enjoy this season.
She gets to fill another bookshelf, make memories with friends, celebrate her final year of high school, and keep dreaming about a future in book publishing and editing.
And judging by the stack of books she already has, I have a feeling there are plenty more stories ahead just waiting for her.
Congratulations, Emmi
Congratulations on your senior year, Emmi. Thank you for inviting me into your story and trusting me to create senior photos with books that reflect who you are. I can’t wait to see where your love of reading takes you next.
-Jamie
Parker, Colorado Senior Photographer
Telling YOUR Story
