Susan Ditchfield Photography

Serena’s senior session was one for the books. We met on a beautiful September evening at Terraces Flower Farm , just a couple of hours before sunset. The light was perfect—soft and golden—and the whole farm felt peaceful and full of charm. Terraces Flower Farm is a really special place, especially for senior portraits. Flowers are blooming everywhere you look, and there’s a greenhouse on the property that’s kept just for photo sessions. It adds a cozy, rustic vibe to the photos. One of my favorite features? The classic blue Ford truck that’s become a signature part of the farm—it’s fun, a little nostalgic, and photographs so well. But the real highlight of the evening was Serena. She’s wrapping up high school as a homeschooled student and, incredibly, is also finishing her bachelor’s degree at the same time. That’s a huge accomplishment and made this session even more meaningful. Serena is smart, driven, and carries herself with such calm confidence. It was clear how much thought an...

  Capturing Natalie’s Senior Session on Her Gorgeous Property | Ann Arbor, MI Late summer provided the perfect backdrop for Natalie’s senior photo session, held on her own beautiful property. With so many fun and picturesque spots to choose from, we spent a pleasant time exploring and capturing moments that reflect Natalie’s reserved personality and style. The weather was ideal—warm and sunny with plenty of clouds to diffuse the light, creating a soft, natural glow in every shot. Natalie’s property was a photographer’s dream, offering a variety of scenic spots that made the session both dynamic and captivating. From the charming fence line to the serene pond, each location provided a unique backdrop that highlighted Natalie’s beauty and character. The meticulously mowed trail winding through her property added an extra touch of charm, making the session feel like a whimsical adventure. There were two spots stood out as favorites during the session.   The first was the be...

  Annalise's Stunning Senior Session at Kensington Metro Park Capturing Annalise's senior session at Kensington Metro Park was a truly memorable experience. On a sunny day, with the park bathed in golden light, Annalise brought her beauty and grace to every shot. With three carefully chosen outfits and a variety of picturesque locations, the session was a perfect celebration of her senior year at Bloomfield Christian School. Kensington Metro Park provided a stunning and diverse backdrop for Annalise’s senior photos. From serene ponds to vibrant wildflower patches and rustic farm centers, the park offered an array of beautiful settings that complemented Annalise’s style and personality. The sunny day added a warm, natural glow to every shot, making each location feel like a scene from a fairytale. Annalise’s choice of outfits showcased her elegance and versatility, each one enhancing the beauty of the surroundings. Annalise began the session in a classy dress that was per...

     In May, I took Faith to Island Lake Recreation Area  for her homeschool senior session. It was a blast to document this special time in her life -- especially since she and my daughter are good friends! Faith - Class of 2022 | Homeschool | Senior Session      When Faith and I talked about possible locations, she asked if we could go to a wild field! Absolutely, we can! After some scouting, I found this beautiful patch of grass next to a convenient public parking lot. This session goes to show that you don’t need a super fancy location to have breathtaking photos!      Faith’s mom came to the session to support her. I always welcome parents at my senior sessions. As moral support and cheerleaders for their senior, they also double as great assistants to hold reflectors and fix fly away hair!     To make her session unique, I brought a fun wicker chair from my home.  Having her pose with the chair rendered some very vin...

On a surprisingly warm day at the end of October, I had the privilege of taking Bella’s homeschool senior photos ! I did two different sessions with her, one at Maybury State Park and the other a few months later in  Downtown Howell . It’s always a blast to photograph Bella! I’ve done Modern School Portraits for her and her younger brother for the past two years, and I also did a sibling shoot with all five siblings, which was a Christmas gift for their mom! This time, we took her graduation photos. Bella’s a star! She loves performing in dramas, and she has a beautiful voice. While she’s generally very quiet, it’s like she becomes a different person on stage!  She was Mrs. Potts in a homeschool production of Beauty and the Beast in 2021. In 2020, she even sang in a homeschool honors choir that was supposed to perform at Orchestra Hall in NYC! That year, she was also cast as Mary Poppins in another production. Unfortunately, both the show and choir performance were cancelled ...

    This was Hannah's second senior session -- in additional to the traditional senior images, Hannah wanted an entire session of ballet photos.   I was excited to see what we could create together!  So, we headed back to Kensington Metro Park , only this time we found a very quiet spot so we could highlight her ballet skills! Hannah - Class of 2022 | Homeschool | Ballet Senior Session      Hannah brought her soon-to-be sister-in-law, Summer, with her.  We had such a fun time together and Summer took plenty of behind-the-scenes video for me.     She was full of energy but at the end of the shoot, I know she was tired.  She must have leaped and twirled and jumped hundreds of times!  I have no idea how many times she balanced on point "to get the shot" but she did it and it was all worth it -- we got some amazing shots!!     Hannah brought two skirts to wear to change up the look and bring some variety.  I thi...

It was special for me to get to photograph Emma as she is one of my daughter's sweet friends.  She brought the energy to this shoot with her sparkling smile and willingness to get into tall grasses, smoosh into bushes and walk through a bustling downtown! Emma - Class of 2022 | Homeschool | Senior Session     We decided to do two sessions for Emma -- in the fall and in the spring.   For our fall session, we headed out to Lyon Oaks County Park in Wixom. Then, in the spring, we chose Milford Central Park .     As always, parents are welcome and encouraged to come to their senior's session.  I was delighted to have Emma's mom and sister with us.  They made great assistants with wardrobe changes, hair adjustments and even did some behind-the-scenes video for me!      The fall light was beautiful, and we had a great time exploring this little gem of a county park.  Working with the "cotton" puffs added a fun element to th...