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I’m Dakota, a Wilmington, NC-based photographer helping engaged couples feel comfortable in front of the camera and creative businesses grow with purposeful brand imagery.

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CBA High School Senior Photos in Wilmington, NC | Katelyn Donnelly

April 1, 2019

I know I say this about every session now but…this is one of my favorites to date!

Katelyn is one of my beautiful 2019 senior spokesmodels and will be graduating from Charles B. Aycock high school this June. She is so kind-hearted and I am excited to see what she does next year!

She wanted her session to be full of flowers and trees and also wanted to have a coastal feel (of course!). Luckily it’s the time of year when Wilmington is in full bloom!!! We decided to start at the Arboretum because there are so many options to work with and it’s always gorgeous!

Next we went somewhere new…it was actually a shopping center! I knew she was really going to need to trust me for this one, haha! I wanted to keep with our flower style but have a little bit of a different twist on it and bring in some cleaner backgrounds. It worked out perfectly with her bright red romper from Cosa Bella Boutique in Goldsboro, NC.

Lastly we headed to the beach. It was a little cold and windy but the sun was shinning and that’s all we needed for our glow! I haven’t been using the pier much this senior session because I LOVE the south end with all of the clam beach, but for Katelyn I knew the blues and greens in the pier would be perfect!

OH, and her beautiful make up was done by Eliza Eagles!!!

Here are my (very narrowed down) favorites from her senior session in Wilmington, NC!

Wilmington, NC Arboretum senior photos

For our first location, we started at the Wilmington, NC Arboretum with her denim jumper from Old Navy. I loved that the jumper was a solid color because it worked so well with all of the colors and patterns of the plants!

Wilmington, NC Arboretum senior photos

Wilmington, NC Arboretum high school senior photos

Wilmington, NC Arboretum high school senior photos

Photos in the Wilmington, NC Arboretum

Photos in the Wilmington, NC Arboretum

Photos in the Wilmington, NC Arboretum

Photos in the Wilmington, NC Arboretum

Photos in the Wilmington, NC Arboretum

Senior with flowery trees in Wilmington, NC

I have been waiting all winter for the flowers to come back –– I’ve never seen this tree in full bloom like this!! I was so excited Katelyn trusted me to lay down on a rock because she looks like an angel!!

Senior with flowery trees in Wilmington, NC

Senior with flowery trees in Wilmington, NC

Senior photos with flowery trees in Wilmington, NC

Wilmington high school senior photos in the Arboretum

Wilmington high school senior photos in the Arboretum

Wilmington high school senior photos in the Arboretum

Wilmington high school senior photos in the Arboretum

Wilmington high school senior photos in the Arboretum

Of course we had to get some with the family!!! Katelyn’s mom was rocking her hip pop!!! 😉

Wilmington high school senior photos in Lumina Station

Next we went to a newer location for me. It’s actually a SHOPPING CENTER! When I told her I had this idea I said “just trust me” at least 3 times haha. I wanted something that was going to keep with her “greenery and flowery” theme but also give us some other colors and white space. I actually really loved it!!

Wilmington high school senior photos in Lumina Station

Wilmington high school senior photos in Lumina Station

Red romper high school senior session in Wilmington, NC

Red romper high school senior session in Wilmington, NC

Wilmington senior session on Wrightsville Beach, NC

The last location was the beach!! It was a pretty windy and busy day on the beach but thankfully we have some areas that are blocked from the wind but still give us a beachy-feel!

Wilmington senior session on Wrightsville Beach, NC

Wilmington senior session on Wrightsville Beach, NC

Bright, sunny Wilmington senior session on Wrightsville Beach, NC

Bright, sunny Wilmington senior session on Wrightsville Beach, NC

Bright, sunny Wilmington senior session on Wrightsville Beach, NC

Bright, sunny Wilmington senior session on Wrightsville Beach, NC

Wilmington senior session on Wrightsville Beach, NC with pier

Wilmington senior session on Wrightsville Beach, NC with pier

Wilmington senior session on Wrightsville Beach, NC with pier

Wilmington senior session on Wrightsville Beach, NC with pier

Wilmington senior session on Wrightsville Beach, NC with pier

I love these photos under the pier!!! The colors are so pretty and you can’t even tell we were surrounded by hammocks 🙂

Wilmington senior session on Wrightsville Beach, NC with pier

Wilmington senior session on Wrightsville Beach, NC with pier

Kate did decide to get in the water…though the water kind of decided that for her! I love these even though it was actually pretty cold!!

Wilmington senior session on Wrightsville Beach, NC with pier

hello!

I’m Dakota, a Wilmington, NC-based photographer Helping engaged couples feel comfortable in front of the camera and creative businesses grow with purposeful brand imagery.

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