Ries Stluka | Benton High School Class of 2026 | Swiss Valley Nature Preserve + Benton, WI

Some senior sessions just hit different from the very first conversation. Ries’s was one of those.

She reached out knowing exactly how she wanted her photos to feel — not a full shot list, not a location plan, just a single pinterest image of a wooden bridge over water and the words: I want something different. That was enough. That’s actually everything.

When she described that bridge, I knew immediately. Swiss Valley Nature Preserve in Dubuque, Iowa. Wooden bridge, creek, tall grasses, trees, soft late-summer light. I’d photographed there before, but never for senior pictures. When I told her that, she was in. She wanted a location that felt like hers, and that’s exactly what this gave her.

That’s one of my favorite parts of this work, honestly. It’s not about finding a pretty backdrop. It’s about listening for what someone’s actually asking for underneath the words. Ries wasn’t just asking for a bridge. She was asking for a session that didn’t look like everyone else’s. She wanted to stand out in a way that still felt completely natural. Those are my favorite kinds of sessions to build.

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The Stluka Family Chapter

Ries is the third and youngest Stluka daughter I’ve photographed. So this session carried extra weight before we even started. This was the last senior season for this family. The last cap and gown milestone. The last time I get to tell this particular chapter in this particular way.

There’s something that hits differently about photographing a family through the years. You get to see the through line. Each sibling is completely their own person, but you can feel the warmth of the family story running through all of it. Ries walked into this session with a strong sense of her own style, and i loved that about her. She knew what she wanted, and she didn’t need it to look like what everyone else was doing.

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Swiss Valley Nature Preserve, August Evening

We could not have asked for a better night. Perfect temperature, beautiful light, manageable bugs (which is genuinely a win in late summer Iowa). Everything felt easy, and that ease showed up in the images.

When the environment is comfortable, people settle in faster. They stop overthinking. They breathe differently. Ries had that kind of space that night.

The preserve gave us so much variety without ever pulling us away from the feeling she came in with. The bridge, obviously — that was the anchor. But also: the creek, tall grasses catching the late sun, wildflowers, trees, and this small building that gave us an unexpected layer of texture.

Ries brought a bouquet of flowers and it was perfect for that setting. Not overly styled. Just something that belonged there, like she belonged there. Her outfits did the same thing — a skirt and cute top for something feminine and fresh, colored jeans for a different mood. The landscape had enough variety to support both without the session ever feeling scattered.

Every stop gave us something new. The feeling stayed the same. Ries was in a place that felt original, and she looked completely at home in it.

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The Athlete Half of The Story

After Swiss Valley, we met again for her sports session — an hour in the Benton school gym, then fifteen minutes down at the softball field.

Ries plays volleyball, basketball, and softball. She wasn’t interested in a token sports image. She wanted to honor that part of her story in a way that actually reflected how much it’s shaped her. I love when seniors show up with that kind of intention.

I brought in my portable lights for the gym so we could create portraits that felt bold and intentional. Both uniforms. Both sports. There’s something really powerful about photographing an athlete in the space where so much of their work has happened. The gym isn’t just a backdrop — it holds repetition, pressure, wins, losses, all of it.

And then the softball field. She showed up with everything. Trophies, medals, bats, softballs, gloves, gear from her travel team. Every single piece had been earned. That portion of the session wasn’t about props — it was about proof. Proof of seasons spent, skills built, a sport she’s genuinely poured herself into.

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Soft and strong. Polished and playful. All of it.

The best senior sessions hold identity and accomplishment in the same frame. For Ries, that looked like starting in a place that reflected her personal style and finishing in spaces that reflected her athletic life. Neither side more important than the other. Together, they told a fuller, more honest story.

I don’t want to photograph one version of a person because it’s easier. I want to pay attention. I want to notice what matters enough to deserve its own space. Ries’s session reminded me that the most meaningful sessions usually start with: I don’t want what everyone else is doing. That’s not a hard ask. That’s an invitation.

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Thinking about your own senior session?

Ries’s session is a really beautiful example of what’s possible when you come in with intention. The right location matters. The details matter. But the most important thing is the willingness to make your session actually reflect you — not a version of you that looks good on paper, but the real one. The athlete and the girl who wanted flowers by a creek. Both true. Both worth preserving.

If you’re planning Benton High School senior photos and want something that feels personal and original, [reach out here] — I’d love to hear your story.

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Swiss Valley Nature Preserve for Senior Pictures Near Dubuque, Iowa

If you’re looking for a nature location with variety, texture, and a feel that isn’t overdone, Swiss Valley is worth the drive. Wooden bridge, creek access, tall grasses, wildflowers, open light. Pairs beautifully with a school or athletic location if you want a gallery that covers the full story.