Not one photoshoot. A senior year captured as it unfolds.
Three real moments across fall, winter and spring, plus the complete Cover Story portrait experience—thoughtfully preserved before this chapter becomes a memory.
The Senior Year Story is a year-long photography experience for Class of 2027 families in Austin and the Texas Hill Country. We capture three meaningful senior-year moments as they naturally happen — one in fall, winter and spring — then create the complete Cover Story portrait session with professional hair and makeup, and bring it all together in a personalized magazine made just for them.
Your senior year isn't one outfit in one field. It's a Friday night under the lights, a recital, a last homecoming, a quiet morning at the barn. You live it. We preserve it.
One complete portrait session. Three real moments your family is already living.
The three seasonal chapters do not require another outfit plan, another day set aside, or another traditional photoshoot. We come to an event or moment already on your family's calendar and photograph it as it happens.
You are already going to the game, the performance, homecoming, prom, the barn, or graduation. Instead of spending the moment behind your phone — or asking someone else to take a few pictures — you get to be present.
Cheer. Watch the performance. Hug them afterward. Be part of the memory.
We take care of preserving it.
The only dedicated portrait session is The Cover Story.
You do not have to be the family photographer during the year you most want to remember.
She dances. So instead of asking her to become someone else for the camera, we built the session around who she already was. She crossed an Austin street the way a model crosses a runway. She set her pointe shoes down beside her and sat with them for a quiet minute before a single frame was taken.
None of it was performance. This is the polished, portrait side of the experience — the Cover Story session, at its best.
$1,650 + tax
Early enrollment — $1,350 + tax through August 31.
Optional: 3-min Film — your year in motion — +$300
This is not an ambassador program.
It's a private storytelling experience.
This is the part families fall in love with. A real magazine, made entirely about your senior — their name and class year right there on the cover.
Fall, Winter, and Spring as chapters. Every event we photograph throughout the year, woven into the story as it happens. Their milestones. Their hobbies and interests. The music they had on repeat. Their best moments, captured and kept. Even notes from their closest friends — the people who were there for this year with them.
Nothing generic. Nothing templated. It's their senior year, printed, bound, and unmistakably theirs.
This is included, not extra.
"Arlen has become our family's dedicated photographer and an important part of our lives. From LinkedIn profile photos to prom, senior portraits, college milestones, and even wedding photos, he has been there to capture some of our most meaningful moments."— Sonya Forster · A Returning Family Client
"Our daughter's senior pictures were superb. He was accommodating, took the time to get everything right, and was very professional."— Sean Benson · Senior Portraits
"Nydam Photography did an excellent job capturing my son's personality in his senior photoshoot. Dr. Nydam is a very experienced photographer and exceptionally easy to work with. It was a fun afternoon and the pictures are amazing! Highly recommend."— Teresa Haunsperger · Senior Portraits
"We are so happy with Nydam Photography! We've had family portraits, senior portraits, and school photos done by him and every time, Arlen is easy to work with and the results are so much better than I hoped! He's my go-to photographer!"— Kim Lanicek · Senior & Family Portraits
Because this work requires our ongoing availability and personal attention throughout the year, we take on only a small number of year-long stories each year. Tell us a little about your senior and we'll be in touch.