Nationally recognized as one of the best senior photographers in the country

Center Stage Seniors • Kansas City • Western Shawnee

Authentic, artistic, technically excellent ... and a whole lot of fun

Welcome! I am so happy you are here.

Use the menu below to take a look around - you can get information about how the Center Stage Seniors process works; session prices, visit my blog, and you can even go ahead and schedule.

Also, please take a moment to read what my seniors have to say about me - I think that may tell you more than anything I can write myself.

I cannot wait to meet you! - Lori

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Lori's senior portrait blog

Jun

My senior portrait photography podcast! Behind the Senior Lens

Did you know that I have a senior portrait photography podcast? I love to talk to other senior photographers and hear their stories, and talk about their work, so I started a podcast showcasing just that. Current and potential clients can also get a ...

May

Class of 2025 - Lori's Favorite Outfits Countdown

What Class of 2025 senior outfits stood out to me? I looked over and considered more than beautiful 350 outfits for this! Here are my favorites. #16 - A knock-out dress for a Marilyn Monroe beautyI really love Logan's look, which has ...

Mar

Locations? You don't always have to choose somewhere well-known

When it comes time to choose your senior portrait locations, most seniors do want some portraits in the city, but after that decision you become lost - not knowing at all what you want or where you would like to go. Often famous locations like the ...

Mar

When are the best sunsets?

When are the best sunsets for my senior portraits? I get asked this a lot just before my senior portrait calendar opens, because sunset photography is such a recognized part of my senior portrait work. But there's no real answer - sunsets ...

Feb

Quin, Avery and Ava - Golden Girl Senior Model photoshoots

When I am not in my busy shooting season between June and Thanksgiving, I really miss photographing and being with the kids, so this year I started a winter "model" program made up of girls who are interested in working with me more closely, ...

Jan

Scheduling your Center Stage Senior Portraits

Read below, where I cover the following:• When my schedule opens• $300 reservation fee• Reschedules and cancellations• Who needs to schedule a planning meeting CLASS OF 2026My Class of 2026 calendar is open! I have plenty of ...

Dec

Art Influences

Sometimes when I photograph my seniors, I am actually thinking about artworks that I love when I create the shot. I don't usually say anything, and no one notices but me. But it makes me happy.I have a minor in art history, and have loved art since ...

Dec

Unity Village - a fairy tale location, now at no extra cost to you

Unity Village is a fairytale location for your senior portraits Imagine a senior portrait location that feels like a European daydream. Picture a place filled with colorful flowers, elegant balustrades, rows of trees, sparkling ...

May

No sun on senior portrait day? No problem! Cloudy day portraits can be magical

Every year, I have multiple text or phone conversations on senior portrait day that go something like this, starting a few hours before our start time:SENIOR: "Lori! The sun isn't shining! Are my pictures still going to be pretty?"ME: "It's ok! Do ...

Mar

Class of 2024 - Lori's Favorite Outfits Countdown

What Class of 2024 senior outfits stood out to me? I looked over and considered more than 350 outfits for this! Here are my favorites. #15 - Tatum in her letter jacketMany of the girls I photograph have letter jackets, but few choose ...

Feb

Jackson's Silver senior portraits in the park

While a lot of guys choose the city as the location of their one-location senior portrait photoshoot, some do appreciate and feel more at home in the natural environment that Shawnee Mission Park offers. You can see by handsome Jackson's portraits ...

Feb

A very 70s senior photoshoot at a Mid Century house

When my twin sister and I were little girls in the 1970s, one of our favorite things to do was to get out boxes of printed film pictures at Grandpa's and Grandma's house and look through them, talking about the people and imagining their lives and ...

Jan

Studio portraits are back in a big way!

Getting back to an old specialtyHere is something most of you do not know about me - back in the early days of my business (15+ years ago!) I was mainly a studio portrait photographer, and was pretty good at it - I gave workshops and ...

Jan

In my new home studio with Taylor

A dream come true!After years of renting studios around Kansas City, I finally did something I have wanted to do for a very long time - I now have a simple little studio in my home. This is going to be amazing not only for me, but for all my ...

Jan

Kambry's Platinum Session

The sky was very dark for the majority of her Platinum Senior photoshoot, and still Kambry's senior portraits are beautiful and glowy. Sometimes clients get worried about overcast days, and I hope that these portraits convince anyone ...

Dec

Madeline's Gold Session

Before you choose a senior portrait photographer, I think it is super important that you see a full session they have done. Most photographers of even limited skill are able to pull off a couple of decent images from a photoshoot and ...

Dec

70s Skate Park with Shayla

When I shoot for myself, I really love to do something that looks like vintage film - that's what I grew up with! And there is so much nostalgia in that for me.Now, I realize that a modern mirrorless camera, and computer editing will never ...

May

Countdown of Lori's Favorite Outfits of the Class of 2023

What outfits stood out to me for the Class of 2023? I did a fun countdown again this year, and gifted the winner a photoshoot. I hope this gives my 2024s some inspiration. Honorable Mention - Ladies in Red!Many of my girls wore it and every ...

Apr

Baruch's Silver Senior Portrait Session

A Silver senior portrait session is a popular choice for guys, since it's fairly quick, quite painless; yet yields a nice amount of portraits. Even the most camera-averse kid - like Baruch was! - can easily get through one of these, which lasts no ...

Mar

Eshan's Mini Session

What does 12-image mini session look like? Can you really get nice senior portraits with just 12 images? Yes! I would not offer an option that I thought was not suitable for some of my clients. For some of you, you have a son who does not like the ...

Mar

Arissa's Platinum Session

Arrisa chose a divided Platinum session for her senior portraits on a chilly fall day. We went to the Nelson-Atkins Museum; and an area in downtown Kansas City in the morning; and then met back in the evening to finish up in Shawnee ...

Dec

Paige's Gold Senior Portrait Session

Gorgeous Paige chose my "Gold Session" for her senior portraits; and we photographed in downtown Kansas City; as well as Shawnee Mission Park, where I do all of my nature portraits. I love Paige's choices for her senior portrait wardrobe and her ...

May

Looks and locations I love - Mackinley - Kansas City Senior Portraits

Featuring: Mackinley of Mill Valley High School in Shawnee, Kansas. This was Mackinley's second senior portrait session with me; her Platinum session took place last summer, and her clothing choices then were also ...

Mar

Looks I love - a casual senior guy

Looks I LoveFeaturing: Saxton, Ty and AJ of Mill Valley High School; Remy of Olathe North, Christian of Blue Valley North, and Russell of De Soto High School.Outfits: Casual!Why I love it: Lots of senior guys just do not want to ...

Mar

Looks I love - color!

Looks I LoveFeaturing: Lauren, Molly, Kate and Sydney of Mill Valley High School; Kayla of Blue Valley Northwest High School; Emily of Saint James Academy, Ellie of Olathe South High School, Baileigh of Blue Valley West; and Bailey of ...

Jan

College Grad portraits - Kansas City Photographer

A relatively new area of "senior" photography is college grad portraits - they have become super popular - especially among young women, who absolutely love being photographed, and also want to show off their academic accomplishment (and rightly ...

Jan

Looks I love - a guy in a suit! Senior portrait wardrobe ideas - Kansas City Senior Portraits

Featuring: Jon, Olathe East High School; and Connor and Michael, both of Mill Valley High School.Outfit: A suit!Photography Location: The West Bottoms, Kansas City, Mo.Why I love it: Who says only the girls should get to dress up for ...