Lucy's Senior Photos at Centennial Park | Nashville Photographer

Lucy, a high school senior in middle Tennessee, had a vision for her senior photos at Centennial Park, and I was so happy to bring that vision to life as her Nashville senior photographer!! We met up at Centennial Park on a gorgeous summer evening to spend a couple hours together capturing her senior photos, and it was one my favorite nights of the summer.

Keep reading to see all of my favorite images from Lucy’s senior photoshoot at Centennial Park, and learn my top tips for getting amazing senior photos at all the best Centennial Park spots!

Lucy’s Summer Senior Photos at Centennial Park

I met up with Lucy and her parents on a beautiful August evening. We truly had the most perfect weather (nearly unheard of for late summer in Nashville), and I couldn’t get over how stunning both Lucy and the park looked that day.

Whenever anyone wants to have their photoshoot at Centennial Park, I’m always SO excited. Living in Nashville, it’s one of my favorite spots to come and just hang out, so I love when I have an excuse to come here for a photoshoot. It’s an iconic Nashville location for a reason; it’s so gorgeous, and always gets the best lighting!

We began on the north side of the lake. Lucy had picked the perfect outfit to start with; a pretty white skirt and top that perfectly complemented her skin and stood out against the greenery around us. We walked along the water, snapping some photos as Lucy told me about her upcoming senior year. I love how you can see the Parthenon in the background of these photos!

Lucy then changed into her second outfit (using my handy pop-up changing tent that I keep in my car for sessions like these), a lovely layered pink dress. It photographed beautifully amidst the flowers in the garden. She even had the idea to pose with a flower in her hair, and those are some of my favorite images from this set!

I could see Lucy’s adventurous spirit shine through in her willingness to climb into a tree above the lake for a photo. I’m so glad she did because I think those photos came out amazing.

It should be no surprise from these gorgeous photos, but Lucy is also a model! During our photoshoot, she told me all about her experience modeling so far and how her sisters are actually models, too (she has four sisters—I’m jealous!). 

Lucy is equally beautiful inside and out, and I loved exploring Centennial Park with her. To end off our photoshoot, we headed over to my personal favorite spot at the park: the Parthenon. 

Golden Hour Senior Photos at the Parthenon in Nashville

As the sun crept lower on the horizon, we made our way into the Parthenon. Lucy’s last outfit was a flowy white skirt and brown tank top, tones that perfectly complemented the glowing colors at the Parthenon at golden hour.

In true Taylor Swift fashion (fitting for Centennial Park! #iykyk), I told Lucy to run through the columns of the Parthenon like “But Daddy I Love Him” by Taylor Swift was playing (running with my dress unbuttoned!). Lucy’s carefree vibe was perfectly suited to this last round of photos as she frolicked through the beautiful building. 

And c’mon, can you believe that lighting? I highly recommend waiting until rightttt before the sun starts to go down to take your senior photos at the Parthenon. 

I love how every single one of Lucy’s photos at the Parthenon came out, and I am so grateful she trusted me to be her Nashville senior photographer. If you’ve enjoyed seeing Lucy’s senior photos, you can also check out Hendley’s summer senior photoshoot at Harlinsdale Farm for more senior photoshoot inspiration!

Tips for Taking Senior Photos at Centennial Park in Nashville

If you’re thinking of planning a Centennial Park photoshoot, I have a couple of top tips to share as a Nashville senior photographer who loves having sessions here.

If you’re worried about crowds, I recommend shooting early in the morning. The early wake-up call is worth it to have the park completely to yourself! The good thing about Centennial Park is that it’s pretty big, so even if you shoot in the afternoon or evening, you should still be okay. However, there will definitely be more people to work around, so make sure you arrive with that expectation in mind if your shoot is later in the day!

Centennial Park is pretty big, so it’s best to give yourself plenty of time when shooting here! Even just walking around the lake takes some time, and each part of the park is so gorgeous you’re not going to want to rush through it.

The Best Spots for Photoshoots at Centennial Park

As part of my photo tips, I also wanted to share some of my favorite little spots for your Centennial Park photoshoot to make sure you don’t miss any of the best locations.

Lake Watauga

Did you even know this lake had a name? This is the body of water in the middle of Centennial Park. If you start your photoshoot by walking along the North  side of the lake, you can get some gorgeous photos with the Parthenon and the lake in the background. There’s a beautiful tree pictured below that I love to use for photos on this side of the lake as well!

The Gardens

Walk around the West side of the lake and you’ll find yourself in the Sunken Garden, another one of my favorite photo spots—especially in the summer and fall. There are so many gorgeous blooming trees and flowers over here that make a beautiful photoshoot background, as well as a stunning bridge to pose on. 

And for all my Swiftie seniors out there, make sure to stop and get a photo sitting on the iconic Taylor Swift Reading Bench! (Green was the color of the grass where I used to read at Centennial Park…)

The Parthenon

It’s hard to miss, but I simply have to mention the Parthenon. It’s a stunning setting when photographed from any side, but I always love to grab some photos along the columns and play around with the way the light hits the west side of the building at golden hour. 

To see even more photos taken at the Parthenon, check out this blog post all about Jason and Clara’s summer Centennial Park couples photoshoot!

Your New Favorite Nashville Senior Photographer

Nashville is such a fun city for your senior photos, and as a Nashville photographer, there’s nothing I love more than getting to capture you in this beautiful city! If you’re looking for a Nashville senior photographer, you’ve found your girl 😉

Get in touch today by filling out my contact form and let’s talk about how we can make your senior photoshoot absolutely unforgettable!!