Savor the Summer: A Love Letter to Families with Seniors Getting Ready to Fly

There’s something different in the air this summer.

You feel it when you glance at the calendar and realize this is your senior’s last summer at home. You notice it when they head out with friends, their laughter echoing just a little louder, their presence hitting your heart a little deeper. The countdown has started — not to anything bad, but to something big. Something beautiful. Something new.

If you’re a Midwest parent of a soon-to-be graduate, you’re probably somewhere between celebration and nostalgia, pride and panic. And that’s okay. This season is full of firsts and lasts, and it’s natural to feel a little unsteady.

Here’s what we want to remind you of this summer:

It’s not about cramming in every experience or planning the perfect send-off. It’s about noticing the moments.

The quiet drives.

The random kitchen chats.

The way their shoes are still by the door — for now.

Whether they’re college-bound, trade school-ready, enlisting, working, or simply figuring it out — this summer is a threshold.

And at Bright Iris Media, we believe this season deserves to be remembered.

What Can You Do With This Time?

• Create space, not pressure. Let your senior lead the way in how they want to spend this summer.

• Capture the moments. Yes, we mean photos — but also the moments in your memory. The ones that don’t need to be posed.

• Start traditions. A family night, a recipe you cook together, a playlist you make as a gift. Something that lasts.

• Write them a letter. They may not say much now, but one day, they’ll cherish your words.

• Book a senior photo session that reflects who they are, right now — not just a yearbook requirement, but a celebration of their journey.

One More Thing, Mama (or Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Guardian…)

You’ve done more than you know.

They notice more than they say.

This season is as much about your growth as theirs.

So take a deep breath.

Take the trip.

Take the picture.

Take it all in.

We’re here for you — not just as photographers, but as people who get it (I've been there, x3)

This is your season too.

Let’s make it count.

Let's create a senior photo session that celebrates your student’s real story.

So, let’s chat - We’re currently booking summer and early fall sessions — laid-back, meaningful, and 100% them. [Book your session here.]

with love, Jennifer