Fall blooms in downtown Austin park for High School Senior Photo Session This Class of 2025 Anderson High School Senior picked Waterloo Greenway Park for her photo location. I made a pre-session scouting trip to ensure that the park was looking green and vibrant after...
Highland Collective and St. John Encampment Commons – Photo Session
Little Picchu sculpture, Bright Colors and Purple flower beds
Driving around Austin, I try to pay attention to see what new-to-me spots might work for future Senior Photo Session Locations. For this portrait session, that’s what happened.
First, I was taking my kids to Crux Climbing Gym near Airport, and I noticed the colorful artwork installed in front of the Highland Collective. Highland Collective is a group of artists and makers working out of a shop in Central Austin. With a little research, I found out it was a piece called Little Picchu by Artist, ILYSPARKPLUG.
I had to stop and take a photo. This spot definitely works best on sunny days.
Next, I was going out to lunch at Easy Tiger, and saw out of the corner of my eye, some colorful purple poles on the Highland ACC Campus. With a detour on the way home and some research, I learned the greenspace with the long purple poles was the St. John Encampment Commons.
“Named for the annual encampments at the St. John’s Orphan Home, an African American school located on the site in the early 1900s, the park at the new ACC Highland Campus transformed a section of the former Highland Mall parking lot into a key gathering space.
The installation of light poles in ACC’s striking purple color celebrates the site’s current purpose and ties this open space to Fontaine Plaza on the other side of campus.”
Knowing I’d want to combine these two locations into my next individual’s portrait session, I was ready and excited about all the possibilities in these two colorful spots.
Tips for Photo Sessions at The Highland Collective and St. John Encampment Commons
- WORKING HOURS: The Highland Collective is open 10am-5pm weekdays. For easier parking, visit this spot on the weekends. And make sure to pick a sunny day to get the light shining through the sculpture.
- SCHOOL HOURS: Same idea for the St. John Encampment, visit the park area when school at ACC Highland is NOT in session to avoid crowds and get easier parking.
- DISTANCE: The two spots are about a three minute drive apart – so easy to combine in one photo session.
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Please check out some of my favorite images below and contact me if you’d like to book your own photo session.
And because after each photo session, I provide black & white as well as color hi-res digitals in your image gallery, you’ll also see some black & white edits below.
1. What do you plan to do with your digital photos? We will share photos with family for the holidays. These years fly by, and they grow up so fast. I love having a current photo to share with friends and family.
2. What advice would you give to others planning a similar photo session? Pack a few outfit choices. We had no idea that the purple dress would be the perfect pallet. When we saw the second location, Stella knew she had the perfect option.
3. Anything else you’d like to add about working with Stephanie Friedman Photography? Stephanie made the whole experience enjoyable. She was relaxed, confident and efficient. I just sat back and let her work her magic.
