Lewis and Clark Senior Photos Near Williston, ND

We’d been planning Chelsea’s Lewis and Clark senior photos since last fall.

We ended up doing studio photos first because it got cold fast and we needed her yearbook photo done. But this location near Williston was always the real plan once spring came back around.

After photographing two of her sisters’ senior sessions plus a bunch of family photos over the years, I already knew I wanted this one to feel completely different.

Instead of repeating the same flow, I wanted every outfit and location to shift the feel of the gallery a little bit.

Lewis and Clark Senior Photos Near Williston

Before we even got into the park, we stopped outside the entrance to switch things up right away.

Since I photographed one of her sisters here last year, I wanted Chelsea’s senior photos to have their own feel from the beginning.

She started in a green silky top with jeans, and honestly it ended up being the perfect way to ease into the night. We kept moving, found spots as we went, and let the session build naturally instead of trying to overplan every second.

Because of that, the gallery already had a completely different feel before we even made it into the main park area.

Barefoot Road Senior Photos at Lewis and Clark

One of my favorite parts of Chelsea’s Lewis and Clark senior photos ended up being the barefoot road photos near the campground area.

After changing into a white tank top, Chelsea kicked her shoes off and we shot right there on the road before heading down toward the water.

That section gave the gallery a more minimal feel compared to the earlier outfit. Plus, once the sun started dropping lower, the light completely changed the look of those photos too.

Honestly, some of my favorite images from the night came from that spot.

Water Senior Photos Near Williston

After the road photos, Chelsea changed into a sage green dress and we headed down toward the water.

From there, we moved around the rocks, driftwood, and beach area for a while, and the weather honestly could not have worked out better for it.

By that point the whole session had slowed down a little too. Nobody was cold, nobody was rushed, and we could actually take our time moving through different areas.

That’s one of the reasons I love doing senior photos at Lewis and Clark State Park near Williston. You can get completely different looks without having to overcomplicate the session or drive all over the place afterward.

Basketball Hoop Senior Photos for Sports Management

To finish the night, Chelsea changed into a black suit and we headed toward the basketball hoops.

I really wanted the last part of the session to feel different from everything else we had already done, and that outfit change completely shifted the gallery again.

Compared to the earlier photos, these felt cleaner, more structured, and a little more editorial.

Since she’s planning on going into sports management, finishing near the basketball court just made sense without having to overdo anything.

Family Photos During Senior Sessions

Before wrapping up, we grabbed a few quick photos with her parents too.

Because I’ve photographed this family for years now, I always like adding those in at the end of senior sessions.

Nothing overly posed or complicated. Just a few photos together before senior year turns into graduation season way too fast.

Why These Lewis and Clark Senior Photos Felt Different

Honestly this whole session came together naturally from start to finish.

Maybe part of that comes from already having the studio session done months ago. At the same time, I think a lot of it comes from photographing this family for so many years already.

Everything just felt comfortable walking into it.

Between the barefoot road photos, the water, the basketball hoops, and all the outfit changes throughout the night, Chelsea’s Lewis and Clark senior photos ended up feeling like multiple sessions rolled into one.

Read Chelsea’s senior questionnaire & get to know her more.

Name of Senior

Chelsea Brinkley

What is your favorite thing to do? 

Travel

What is your favorite movie?

Fast X

What are your top 3 favorite songs right now? 

Iloveitiloveit~Bella Kay, lady lady~Olivia Dean, Wildfire~Cautious Clay

What is your favorite drink? 

Blue raspberry zinger

What is your favorite snack/candy?

Gummy bears 

Do you have a nickname? 

Midge

What is your dream job?

Sports manger

What is your favorite scent? 

French Vanilla 

What is your favorite color? 

Black

What is your favorite place on Earth that you’ve been to? 

Washington DC

If you could go anywhere, where would you go? 

Bora bora

What is your favorite place to shop at? 

H&M

What is your favorite restaurant? 

Cheese cake factory 

What are 3 things you can’t live without? 

God, family, food

What is your favorite food? 

Seafood boil

What makes you happy? 

Food

How would your friends describe you? 

Graceful

What are your plans for after graduation? 

College 

What is your favorite team? 

Longhorn women’s basketball team 

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

Vanilla 

What is your favorite dessert/cake? 

Vanilla cake 

What is your favorite holiday? 

Christmas