If you’re searching for Harkness Park senior pictures, you’ve found one of my absolute favorite locations for senior portraits in Connecticut! I’m Linda Sobolewski, a nationally published and award-winning Connecticut shoreline photographer based in Old Saybrook. I specialize in high school senior, family, maternity, and newborn photography, creating natural, joyful, and light-filled portraits throughout Connecticut. One of my favorite parts of my job is helping each senior choose the perfect location, and Harkness Memorial State Park is always at the top of my list for its incredible variety, beautiful gardens, historic architecture, and breathtaking beach at sunset

Madison’s senior session at Harkness Memorial State Park was one I’ll remember for a long time. Harkness Park is one of my favorite locations for senior pictures because it offers so much variety in one beautiful setting. From elegant gardens and historic architecture to sweeping waterfront views and the beach at sunset, it’s easy to create a gallery that feels both timeless and uniqu

Madison’s Senior Session at Harkness Memorial State Park

Madison was an absolute joy to photograph. She is a talented athlete who plays both volleyball and softball, but she also has such a sweet, feminine style. She came to her session with three beautiful outfits, and each one gave us a completely different look.

We started with a fun, casual outfit that fit perfectly with the cool stone walls and doors around Harkness: denim shorts, cowboy boots, and a simple black top. Since she’s a softball player, her mom also brought along the cutest bedazzled softball with her name on it, which was such a fun way to incorporate something she loves into her senior pictures

The butter-yellow dress

Then came my favorite look of the evening. A gorgeous yellow dress that photographed beautifully against the flowers and greenery. The soft color looked incredible in the evening light and added such a fresh, summery feel to her portraits.

I have to admit, the yellow dress was a favorite for me! The color looked amazing on Madison and was perfect against the flowers and greenery at Harkness. It added such a bright, summery feel to her portraits and gave us a completely different look from her other outfits.

One of the things I always encourage my seniors to do is choose outfits that feel like them while also giving a little variety. Madison did exactly that. Each outfit had its own personality, making her gallery feel complete and unique.

Ending the Evening at the Beach

As beautiful as the yellow dress was, Madison saved one more incredible look for the end of her session.

To finish the session, Madison changed into a classic white dress for the beach. It was simple, elegant, and absolutely stunning. As the sun dropped lower over Long Island Sound, we captured some of my favorite images of the night. The combination of the golden light, the shoreline, and Madison’s natural smile created the perfect ending to an already amazing session.

One of the things I loved most about Madison was how easy she was to photograph. She trusted my direction, relaxed into the session, and her personality really began to shine as the evening went on. Those are always my favorite sessions because the smiles become genuine, the laughter is real, and the images truly reflect who the senior is.

To Madison,

Thank you so much for choosing me to be your high school senior photographer! You are beautiful and talented and I had so much fun with photographing you! I wish you the best of luck with volleyball and softball this year, and I hope you have an amazing senior year. xo

Senior Session FAQ

How many outfits should I bring?

I usually recommend bringing 3–4 outfits to a senior session at Harkness Park. With so many different backdrops, from the gardens and mansion to the beach, having a mix of casual and dressier outfits gives us lots of variety in your final gallery.

When is the best time to book a session for Harkness Park Senior Pictures?

Harkness is beautiful from late spring through fall. July, August, and early September give us lush greenery, flowers, and a summery feel, while late September and October bring cooler temperatures, lower humidity, and beautiful fall color.

If you’re looking for Harkness Park senior pictures, I’d love to help you plan a session that feels like you. With the gardens, mansion, waterfront, and beach all in one location, we can create a gallery with plenty of variety while still keeping the session relaxed and fun.

Linda Sobolewski Photography is based out of Old Saybrook, CT and serves the Connecticut shoreline and surrounding areas.

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