The Santa Barbara Courthouse is one of those places I could shoot at for hours. Every corner has something different, with arched walkways, tile details, and that classic Spanish charm. The only thing missing this time? Flowers. But the greenery showed up in full force, and honestly, we didn’t miss a thing.

Tatiana’s session was the kind of shoot that just flows. She was confident, elegant, and made everything look effortless. I’d find a spot, give a few cues, and she’d just settle in like she was born to be in front of the camera. It made my job ridiculously easy.

But the standout moment had nothing to do with posing or lighting. I was lining up a shot when Tatiana calmly told me not to move. “There’s a huge spider behind you.” And I mean, huge. I turned slowly, saw it dangling in its massive web, and decided that was enough nature for the day. Tatiana handled it like a pro while I made my very cautious exit from the scene.

After that little adventure, we got right back into it. Her cool-under-pressure vibe carried through the rest of the shoot and gave her portraits this calm, graceful feel that I love.

Thank you, Tatiana, for trusting me with your senior photos and for saving me from a possible spider ambush.