There’s no shortage of scenic locales in Colorado, and no shortage of clients who trust high school senior portrait photographer Maria Randolph, M.Photog., CPP, to memorialize this fleeting time of young adult life. “Colorado Springs is blessed with stunning beauty that makes for beautiful backdrops. The dramatic red rocks of the Garden of the Gods, a place I hike myself, is my most requested location,” she says.

RECORDING MEMORIES

Randolph grew up in communist Poland with scant resources. “My family immigrated to the United States in search of a better life,” she says, and she later met her husband in Nevada. The couple soon moved to Colorado for his work, a place they “absolutely love,” she says.

Randolph doesn’t have many photographs of herself as a child. So, when her daughter was born 20 years ago, she often took her to photography studios for portraits. “I didn’t want my daughter to feel that same absence of memories,” she says. Recognizing her passion for photography, Randolph’s husband bought her a camera, which wound up kickstarting a career. “Once friends saw the images I was creating, they started asking me to photograph their families,” she explains. “I loved working with families, but as my daughter got older, I realized how much I enjoyed photographing her one-on-one. That’s when I discovered my passion for senior portraits,” which she has specialized in for about 12 years.

She’s also known for her dance photography. “My daughter danced competitively for many years, so I spent a long time as a dance mom before ever photographing dancers professionally,” she explains. “I started by photographing my daughter and volunteering at recitals. Eventually I realized how much I loved the artistic side of dance photography.”

With dancers, Randolph simply tells them to dance, and she captures the emotion and movement as it happens. Her senior portrait sessions are more structured. Regardless of who she’s photographing, Randolph knows she captured something special when she has a physical reaction. “It’s the same feeling I get when hearing a beautiful song or watching an emotional performance,” she says. “Goosebumps don’t lie.”

PLEASING TWO CLIENTS

Senior sessions take place the summer before senior year, and Randolph knows she has two different clients to satisfy: the senior and the senior’s parents. The seniors and their parents often have different expectations as well, Randolph says. “Seniors like more of a backdrop, whereas parents like a more traditional headshot-style portrait.” So, she creates a variety of images while staying true to one goal: “I want seniors to feel comfortable, confident, and genuinely seen,” she says. “I want them to recognize themselves in the images.”

In separate questionnaires sent to seniors and parents, Randolph asks her senior clients about their hobbies, activities, sports, music, personal style, and comfort level in front of the camera. She asks parents how they envision the session, whether this is their first senior, and how they plan to use the images. During the pre-session consultation, she and the senior work together to decide which outdoor locations will best fit the subject’s personality, interests, and style. She often makes family portraits at the beginning of the session as well. “It helps everyone relax, and it allows me to get to know siblings and parents better, too,” she explains.

Randolph schedules one session per day so she and the client don’t feel rushed. “I want to put all my creative energy into one client at a time,” she says, adding that she also builds in time for unforeseen circumstances. “Colorado has quickly changing weather, and sometimes we need to move to a different location.” Sometimes, it’s not Colorado’s weather that disrupts a session but one of its other residents. One of Randolph’s most memorable sessions was with a young woman who loved reading. She brought her favorite books, spread a blanket under a tree, and had several moving moments with her mother during the photo session. Randolph was lost in the moment, taking pictures. That is, until they realized they weren’t alone in the wilderness. “There was a mama black bear with three cubs in a tree behind us,” she says. “That’s very dangerous, so we retreated to the car.”

LIGHT AND FUN

Another layer of Randolph’s senior sessions involves what she calls the transformative power of clothing. “Growing up, we didn’t have much,” she says. “I remember my grandmother once sent me a kid’s blue gown from America. I later learned it came from a thrift store, but to me it was magical. I would dance around in it constantly, pretending to be a princess trying to escape the reality.” Randolph wants every senior she photographs to feel that same magic. The memory of the blue dress inspired her style closet, which contains upwards of 80 gowns and dresses in different lengths and styles, and she is considering purchasing some suits as well.

That closet is one of several ways she helps her teenaged clients relax in front of the camera, especially if they’re shy or hesitant. “My favorite part is the one-on-one connection. Every senior is different, and I love learning who they are beyond the camera,” she says. “From the very first inquiry, whether it’s a phone call, text, or website inquiry, I focus on building a relationship.” During sessions, Randolph keeps the atmosphere light and fun. “I don’t keep them in one location too long. I encourage outfit changes. And I always try to incorporate things that are meaningful to them, whether that’s sports, dance, music, or even pets. I absolutely love when seniors bring their dogs.”

She also jokes a lot during sessions. “During consultations I’ll often tell seniors, ‘It’s OK if your mom made you do this. I’ve heard that story many times. Don’t worry, I got you.’ That usually gets everyone laughing.’” And if someone is especially serious? “I’ll suddenly start speaking Polish or use my strong Slavic accent, which almost always cracks them up.”

Randolph also encourages seniors to showcase their heritage in their sessions. This year, Randolph had a client who was originally from Latvia. “She wore a traditional folklore outfit paired with a handmade flower crown, and honestly, I teared up behind my camera,” Randolph recalls. “There was something so powerful about seeing her proudly carry her roots into this chapter of her life. It reminded me so deeply of my own heritage, my own family, and the beauty of where we come from. These photos become more than portraits. They become love letters to our roots.”

GENUINE CONNECTION 

To ensure her business continues to flourish, Randolph is always building and maintaining relationships. Most of her clients come through referrals or are returning families. “I have two families who are sending their fourth senior child to me,” she says. “That kind of trust is the greatest compliment.” Relationships come first, Randolph emphasizes. “People remember how you made them feel long after the session is over. Build genuine connections and stay in touch.”

She has also worked hard on SEO and improving her website, an effort that is finally paying off through consistent inquiries online. Though Randolph doesn’t rely heavily on social media, she does capture short behind-the-scenes videos that she tags with a senior’s permission. Those reels, she says, create excitement for the student and have boosted Randolph’s branding. She also credits Professional Photographers of Colorado and Professional Photographers Guild of Colorado Springs with helping her hone her craft. “Colorado is home to an extraordinary community of photographers who consistently rank among the best in IPC and World Photographic Cup competitions. They’ve been incredibly supportive and motivating throughout my journey,” she says. “Being surrounded by that level of talent and excellence inspires me to grow both creatively and professionally.”

Her own work has also brought her acclaim. One of her images made the final four of PPA’s International Photographic Competition at Imaging USA 2026. “I broke into tears with the recognition of my peers,” Randolph says, adding that she also attends other PPA events and photo workshops, and earned her CPP and master of photography degree. Her next goal is to complete the photographic craftsman degree, “hopefully by the end of this year.” When not behind the camera or building her credentials, Randolph enjoys taking long hikes in those same scenic places where she photographs seniors, including Garden of the Gods. “Preferably,” she laughs, “without bears around!”  

Suzanne Wright is a freelance writer based in a small arts village in the borderlands an hour south of Tucson.