As Pickerington’s soon-to-be high school graduates start to see their classmates’ senior pictures in yearbooks, graduation announcements and more, they may notice some common themes.
Similarly, juniors might look at some of this year’s senior photos and get some ideas for their own.
Though the seniors themselves are the most important part of any picture, the pictures have to be shot somewhere, and some locations in Pickerington have proven particularly popular among students.
At both Pickerington high schools, senior pictures must be submitted by the end of the first semester in order to appear in the yearbook.
Near the top of any location list is Olde Pickerington Village.
“Pickerington’s got a lot of character in the downtown area,” says Kent Smith, owner of Kent Smith Photography on Stonecreek Drive.
Many of the businesses there are especially photogenic, says David Beckham, who mentions the Ritzy Rose, Resale Furniture and the fire station as some of the spots that have made for quality backdrops.
“All of the shops downtown are super supportive of me using their porches and steps,” says Beckham, owner of downtown-based David Beckham Photography. “Some of them even let me shoot inside.”
Beyond the businesses, the alleys downtown are also treasure troves for photo hotspots, Beckham says. The old barns that front on alleys are one-of-a-kind settings, and access to them could not be easier, he says.
“I couldn’t put a backdrop like that in my studio,” says Beckham.
The old depot is another Olde Pickerington Village spot with good potential for impressive pictures, says Rose DeVore, an on-location photographer based in Pickerington.
“I go around the depot, I go into the alleys, I go to the storefronts – I just go all over,” DeVore says.
Another popular spot for pictures is Sycamore Park, which offers several locations with appeal for students and photographers alike.
Smith is a fan of the park’s covered bridge, and both Smith and DeVore have good things to say about the creek.
“A lot of people like nature shots, and the water running across that little waterfall there … (is) beautiful any time of day,” DeVore says.
Wildflowers can make for great complements to senior photos, and Beckham has found some areas that supply them in abundance. He mentions the area near the railroad tracks on the right side of Hill Road – it fills with daisies in the spring and Queen Anne’s lace in the summer.
“I can take any little space … and make it look like a secret garden somewhere,” he says.
DeVore has found the Retreat at Turnberry to be particularly inviting, especially given the lighting. The field across the street has also caught her eye.
“They’ve got a really nice low-hanging tree that looks stunning,” she says.
And, of course, with many students wishing to highlight their athletic achievements, an ideal location might not be right around the corner at the end of the school day.
“A lot of times, we’ll go up to the high schools, and we’ll photograph on the fields … if they have activities or sports (there),” says Smith.
Garth Bishop is editor of Pickerington Magazine. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
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