Destination Senior Sessions
For the senior who wants something that feels completely, entirely like them.
Some seniors want a field and a sunset. And that is a beautiful thing.
Others have a place in their heart, a dream they have been carrying, or a version of themselves they have never seen in a photograph. Destination sessions are for that senior.
Based in Iola, Kansas, I travel across the U.S. and beyond to create fully guided senior portrait sessions in locations that mean something. Not because it is trendy. Because it is true to who your senior is right now.
This is not just a photoshoot in a different zip code.
Every destination session is built specifically around your senior. Their style, their personality, the places and things that actually matter to them. We plan the whole thing together so it feels exciting from the start, not overwhelming.
I handle the creative direction. I guide every pose. You show up and enjoy it.
What you walk away with are images that do not look like anyone else's. Because they are not. They are your seniors' story, told in a place that belongs to them.
Where we have been
Destination sessions have taken us to San Diego, Sacramento, Las Vegas, White Sands National Monument, Graceland, and soon London.
Every single one started with a senior who had something specific in mind and a mom who said yes to making it happen.
Alisha came in to ask about a senior session for her son Max. I asked her to tell me about him. She mentioned he did a lot of theater and that he absolutely loved Elvis.
That was all I needed to hear.
I asked her if she would be up for something a little crazy. She said, "What do you have in mind?" I said, "What if we went to Memphis? To Graceland? And did his senior session there?"
She looked at me and said, "Really? You would do that?"
Absolutely.
What followed was one of my favorite things I have ever gotten to be part of. We planned the whole trip as a surprise for Max. He was over the moon. We photographed him at Graceland, on the replica sound stage from the Elvis movie, in the place that meant everything to him. He loved every single moment of it.
Those images are completely, unmistakably his. Nobody else in the world has senior portraits that look like Max's. That is the whole point.
And now we have London in the works. Sydnea and her mom Hazel, who is originally from London, are planning a session there next. Every time I think destination sessions could not get more meaningful, they do.
Not ready for a cross-country trip?
Kansas City is closer than you think.
The Kansas City Senior Session is one of my most popular destination options, and for good reason. It is a full day built around the city, your seniors' style, and locations you would not find anywhere in Southeast Kansas.
We spend the day moving through 2 to 3 locations across the city, chosen from options such as the West Bottoms, Unity Village, and the Neilsen Museum, based on what best fits your senior's style.
It is an 8-plus-hour day. It is intentional and fully planned. And the images look like nothing you could get at home.
Kansas City sessions start at $1,690 and include the Platinum senior collection, plus a session fee that covers travel and the full-day experience.
Dream locations we love
While every session is built around your senior specifically, some of the most popular destination options include:
- Kansas City (a full-day urban experience, the closest destination option)
- California coastline — San Diego, Malibu, Monterey
- Colorado mountains
- Nashville and Memphis (music, culture, and incredible backdrops)
- Portland, OR
- Pacific Northwest Coastline
- Rosemary Beach, FL
- St. Augustine, FL
- New York City
- Chicago
- International destinations — London and beyond
Have a location already in mind? Bring it. That is exactly how some of the best sessions get started.
For the moms reading this
I know what you are thinking. It sounds like a lot. The planning, the travel, the cost. And maybe a little voice in the back of your head is asking whether your senior will even appreciate it.
Here is what I have seen happen over and over: the trip becomes the memory. The portraits are beautiful, and your senior will have them for the rest of their life. But the day itself, the adventure you took together right before everything changed, that is what both of you will talk about for years.
Senior year goes fast. This is one way to slow it down and make it mean something.
I plan everything, handle all the creative direction, and guide your senior through the entire session. Your job is to show up, take it all in, and let yourself enjoy it too.
How a destination session comes together
1. We talk through the vision.
2. We plan the location and logistics together.
3. We will discuss travel to the destination.
4. I guide your senior through every moment.
5. You see the images at your reveal appointment.
Is a destination session right for your senior?
Destination sessions are a great fit for seniors who:
- Want portraits that feel one-of-a-kind, not like everyone else's
- Have a place, a passion, or a personality that deserves more than a local backdrop
- Love travel or have always wanted to see a specific city or landmark
- Want the experience itself to be part of the memory
- Are you willing to invest in something elevated and fully personal
These sessions are intentionally limited. I only take a small number of destination sessions each year, so everyone gets the full attention it deserves.
“Her senior session took her to the desert at sunset, and it felt like stepping into her own story.”
- Tasha, Talia's Mom
Your photographer
I am April Kroenke, a Certified Master Photographer based in Iola, Kansas, with more than 30 years of experience photographing seniors.
Southeast Kansas's only CMP, a credential held by fewer than two percent of photographers nationally.
I have traveled to Graceland, the California coast, White Sands, London, and everywhere in between for seniors with stories worth telling in specific places.
I do not photograph templates. I photograph people.
If your senior has a place or a vision in mind, I want to hear about it.
Questions about destination sessions
How far in advance should we book?
For most destination sessions, 4 to 6 months ahead is ideal. It gives us time to plan the location, logistics, and outfits without rushing anything. Kansas City sessions can sometimes come together faster, but earlier is always better.
Do you help us choose the location?
Yes. If you already have a place in mind, we will start there. If you are not sure, I will help you figure out what fits your senior best based on their personality and style.
Do you travel with us?
I travel separately and meet you at the destination. You do not need to plan your trip around my travel schedule.
Can parents come?
Yes, and we actually require at least one parent to travel with the senior. This is not just a rule; it is genuinely part of what makes these sessions special. Most parents who come say it became one of their favorite memories from senior year.
What does a destination session cost?
Kansas City sessions start at $1,690 and include the Platinum senior collection plus the session and travel fee. Further destinations are custom quoted based on location and logistics. The best way to get full details is to reach out, and we will talk through everything together.
How many destination sessions do you take each year?
A limited number, intentionally. These sessions take real time and full attention. I keep the number small so every family gets the experience they came for.
Let's build something worth traveling for.
If your senior has a place they have always wanted to go, a passion that deserves a backdrop bigger than a local field, or a story that needs more room to breathe, I would love to hear about it.
Reach out and let's start the conversation. No pressure, just a real talk about what your senior is dreaming of and whether we can make it happen.
Based in Iola, Kansas. Traveling across the U.S. and beyond.