Your senior year is a once-in-a-lifetime chapter. I capture it in a way that actually looks and feels like you, not a posed, stiff version of yourself.
How It Works
What a senior session looks like, step by step
Book Online
Pick a date and time that works for you through my easy online booking system.
Plan Together
We'll chat about locations, outfits, and your vision before the session.
Just Be You
I guide you through the whole thing so you never feel awkward or stiff.
Get Your Gallery
Your edited photos delivered in an online gallery ready to share and download.
Twin Cities Senior Photographer
Senior Portrait Photography in the Twin Cities Metro
If you're searching for senior pictures in the Twin Cities, or a senior portrait photographer who actually gets teenagers, you've landed in the right place. Steve Lunden Photography is based in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, and serves families across the entire Twin Cities metro, including Minneapolis, St. Paul, Blaine, Andover, Maple Grove, Rogers, Champlin, and beyond. Senior portraits are one of the most meaningful investments your family makes before graduation, and my job is to make sure those images actually capture who your senior is, not just what they look like in a nice outfit on a random Tuesday.
What sets a Steve Lunden Photography senior session apart is the combination of professional off-camera lighting, aerial drone portraits, and a relaxed, editorial-style shooting approach. You're not going to get a list of twenty stiff poses barked at you. You're going to show up, we're going to talk, walk around, laugh a little, and end up with images that actually feel like you. That's the goal every single time.
Senior Pictures Across the NW Metro and Beyond
Most of my senior clients come from the northwest Minneapolis suburbs, which makes sense since I'm based in Coon Rapids. If you're looking for senior pictures in Coon Rapids, Blaine, Andover, Maple Grove, or Rogers, or a senior portrait photographer who's genuinely local to you, I'm right here. I know the parks, the trails, the hidden corners of the metro that photograph beautifully, and I use them regularly.
Popular session locations include Bunker Hills Regional Park in Andover, Rice Creek Chain of Lakes in Lino Lakes, downtown Minneapolis and the Stone Arch Bridge area, Elm Creek Park Reserve, and plenty of neighborhood spots that clients bring to me themselves. If you have a meaningful location in mind, let's talk about it. I'm flexible.
I also travel regularly into Minneapolis and St. Paul for urban sessions. The city provides a completely different energy, with brick alleys, skyline backdrops, and industrial textures that create a bold, editorial look a lot of seniors love. If that's your vibe, I'm there.
What Makes a Steve Lunden Senior Session Different
There are a lot of photographers in the Twin Cities. Here's what makes this experience worth choosing:
Drone Aerial Portraits
Every package includes an aerial portrait via DJI Mavic Air 2. These aren't gimmicky drone shots. They're carefully composed overhead or low-angle aerials that give your gallery something genuinely different. Very few Twin Cities senior photographers offer this as a standard inclusion.
Professional Lighting Anywhere
I use Godox AD200 portable strobes on location, which means I'm not dependent on golden-hour magic to get great light. We can shoot mid-afternoon in harsh sun or in the shade of a parking garage and still come out with beautifully lit, polished images.
Real Editing, Not Filters
Every image is hand-edited in Adobe Lightroom Classic. I'm not running a batch filter over your gallery and calling it done. Skin tones are natural, backgrounds are clean, and the overall look is consistent and polished without looking over-processed or fake.
No Awkward Posing
Most seniors are not models. That's fine. I specialize in direction that feels natural, prompts that get genuine reactions, and a pace that gives the session room to breathe. The goal is images where you look like yourself, just the best version.
When to Book Your Senior Session in Minnesota
Minnesota gives us a relatively short outdoor photography window, and senior session demand peaks hard in late summer and early fall. If you're a Class of 2027 senior, the sweet spot for booking is June through early September. That window gets you the best natural light conditions, warm temperatures, and enough lead time to have prints ordered for holiday cards or early submission to your school.
Summer evenings are my favorite time to shoot. The hour before sunset in July or August in the Twin Cities produces some of the most beautiful natural light you'll ever see. Warm, directional, and forgiving. That said, overcast days are equally great for portraits, and I'm comfortable scheduling for any conditions.
Fall sessions (September and October) fill up extremely fast because the foliage creates incredible backdrops and demand spikes after school starts. If you want a fall session, booking in June or July is not too early. Several clients book their fall date months in advance to lock in their spot.
What to Expect From Your Session
After you book, I reach out to start a conversation about your vision. Where do you want to shoot? What are you wearing? What do you want the photos to feel like? Sporty? Elegant? Urban? Outdoorsy? All of the above? I work with what you bring to the table and build a session plan around it.
On session day, we typically move through locations or zones within a location, changing outfits as we go. I give direction, make adjustments, and keep things moving without it feeling rushed. Most seniors tell me afterward that it was way less stressful than they expected.
After the session, I cull and edit your images and deliver them in a private online gallery within 7 to 10 business days. The gallery is downloadable in full resolution with full personal print rights. You can print anywhere you want, share to Instagram, and hand them off to grandparents. No watermarks, no restrictions.
Investment
Senior Session Packages
Your senior year is your "Main Character" moment. Stop settling for stiff snapshots and get the high-end editorial look your memories deserve. Every package includes drone aerials, professional off-camera lighting, and hand-edited images in a private online gallery.
Professional Optics
Nikon D850 and Godox AD200 off-camera lighting. No smartphone "Portrait Mode" here.
The Drone Edge
Every session includes a signature aerial portrait via Mavic Air 2 4K drone. Nowhere else in the Twin Cities.
Adobe Master Editing
Every image is hand-polished in Adobe Lightroom for a clean, high-end finish.
Fast Turnaround
High-resolution, print-ready digital images in your private gallery within 7–10 days.
Essentials
The Essential
- 45-minute custom session
- 15 hand-edited digital images
- Up to 2 outfits
- 1 location of your choice (Twin Cities Metro)
- Full print rights
- Drone aerial portrait included
- Private online gallery
Deluxe
The Deluxe
- 90-minute custom session
- 25 hand-edited digital images
- Up to 3 outfits
- 1 location of your choice (Twin Cities Metro)
- Full print rights
- Drone aerial portrait included
- Private online gallery
Premiere
The Premiere
- 2-hour custom session
- 40 hand-edited digital images
- Up to 4 outfits
- 2 locations of your choice (Twin Cities Metro)
- Full print rights
- Drone aerial portrait included
- Private online gallery
Which senior package is right for you?
All three packages include drone aerial portraits, professional off-camera lighting, hand-edited images, full print rights, and a private online gallery. The difference comes down to session length, number of looks, and how many final images you want. Here is a side-by-side comparison.
| What's included | The Essential$250 | Most PopularThe Deluxe$400 | The Premiere$600 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session length | 45 minutes | 90 minutes | 2 hours |
| Hand-edited images | 15 | 25 | 40 |
| Outfit changes | Up to 2 | Up to 3 | Up to 4 |
| Locations | 1 location | 1 location | 2 locations |
| Drone aerial portrait | Included | Included | Included |
| Full print rights | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Private online gallery | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | A quick, polished update with one main look | Most seniors: variety of looks without rushing | The full experience, multiple locations and outfits |
2027 Senior Launch Special · Limited Availability
New Era Introductory Rate
Get the full Essentials experience for the limited launch price of $195. Available to the first 5 bookings only for June or July sessions. This rate will not last.
Claim Your Spot$250
Limited to first 5 bookings
Availability
- Twin Cities Metro (Minneapolis, St. Paul & suburbs)
- Spring, Summer & Fall 2026
- Sunset sessions preferred
Booking Policy
A 50% non-refundable retainer is required to secure your date. The remaining balance is due 24 hours before your session. Rescheduling is available with 48 hours' notice.
Recent Work
View Full Portfolio →
Serving Your Community
Steve Lunden Photography serves seniors across the Twin Cities metro. Find your city for local session info, location ideas, and booking.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do senior pictures cost in the Twin Cities? +
Three packages are available. The Essential package is $250 for a 45-minute session with 15 edited images. The Deluxe package is $400 for a 90-minute session with 25 edited images. The Premiere package is $600 for a 2-hour session with 40 edited images and two locations. All packages include drone aerial portraits and a private online gallery. A Class of 2027 introductory rate of $195 is available to the first 5 bookings.
Where are sessions held in the Twin Cities? +
Sessions are held throughout the Twin Cities metro. Popular spots include Bunker Hills Regional Park in Andover, Elm Creek Park Reserve, Rice Creek Chain of Lakes, downtown Minneapolis, the Stone Arch Bridge, and local parks across Coon Rapids, Blaine, Maple Grove, Andover, and Rogers. You pick the location, or I'll recommend one based on the look you want.
Do you include drone photos in senior sessions? +
Yes, every package includes a drone aerial portrait via DJI Mavic Air 2 at no extra charge. These are real composed aerials, not throwaway drone shots. Very few Twin Cities senior photographers include this as standard. Subject to FAA airspace clearance and weather.
When should I book my senior portraits in Minnesota? +
June through early September is the sweet spot for Class of 2027 seniors. Fall sessions in September and October are extremely popular and fill up fast once school starts. If you want a fall session, booking in June or July is the right move. Spring sessions are also available.
How long until I receive my photos? +
Your edited gallery is delivered within 7 to 10 business days. All images are full resolution and print-ready with no watermarks. You can download directly and print anywhere you want.
Do I own my photos after the session? +
Yes. All packages include full personal print rights. Print them, post them, share them, give them to grandparents. No watermarks, no restrictions on personal use.
What is your booking and cancellation policy? +
A 50% non-refundable retainer secures your date. The remaining balance is due 24 hours before your session. Rescheduling is available with 48 hours notice.
Can parents or siblings come to the session? +
Absolutely. Parents are welcome to attend. A few sibling or family shots can usually be worked in too. Just mention it when you book so I can plan time for them.
Free Download
Get the Senior Prep Guide
Outfit tips, location ideas, timeline advice, and everything else you need to walk into your session confident and ready. Free, no catch.
Ready for your senior session?
Spring and fall sessions fill up fast. Don't wait until it's too late to get the photos you want.
Book Now