The Best Senior Picture Locations in Hazard, Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky
If you're planning senior pictures and wondering where to go, my advice is simple.
Choose a place that feels like home.
I've photographed seniors throughout Hazard, Perry County, and across Eastern Kentucky for years. Every season reminds me that we don't have to travel far to create meaningful portraits. The mountains, creeks, family farms, and small towns that surround us already tell a story. Your story.
The best senior pictures aren't about copying someone else's session. They're about choosing locations that reflect your personality, your interests, and the place you've called home.
That's why I've started creating this guide.
Over the coming months, I'll continue adding my favorite senior picture locations throughout Eastern Kentucky, along with planning tips, outfit advice, and ideas I've learned from photographing hundreds of seniors. My goal is to help you find a location that fits you, not just the latest trend.
1. Mountain Overlooks
If someone asked me to choose one location that represents Eastern Kentucky, I'd answer without hesitation.
Our mountains.
From Gorman Ridge to Pine Mountain, Hall Mountain, Lost Mountain, Crawford Mountain, and the scenic overlooks along KY Highway 80, there's no shortage of breathtaking views. Every mountain has its own personality, and every sunset paints the ridges a little differently.
Mountain sessions are perfect for seniors who love the outdoors or simply want portraits that immediately say, "This is home."
Suzanne's Tip
I recommend shooting the mountain sessions about 1 1/2 to 2 hours before sunset. That gives us plenty of time to explore, change outfits, and finish with the soft Appalachian evening light that makes these locations so special. We typically start all our sessions in the studio where it's cool, then head outside as the evening approaches.
Mountaintops Around Hazard
There is nothing more recognizable than an Eastern Kentucky mountaintop.
Whether we're overlooking rolling ridges at sunset or watching layers of blue mountains disappear into the distance, these locations immediately tell people where your story began.
Some of my favorite mountain areas include:
- Gorman Ridge
- Lost Mountain
- Hall Mountain
- Crawford Mountain
- Pine Mountain
- Scenic overlooks throughout Perry County
One of my favorite areas includes the historic surroundings of the former La Citadelle Resort, a beloved Hazard landmark that welcomed visitors from 1958 to 1997. While the resort itself is part of local history, the surrounding mountain roads still offer beautiful Appalachian scenery that photographs wonderfully today.
Mountain sessions are especially perfect for seniors who love hiking, hunting, four-wheelers, sunsets, or simply being outdoors.
Best season: Late August through early November, but I love the greenery in June and July also
2. Creeks and Water
Some of my favorite senior portraits happen when we're willing to get our feet wet.
Eastern Kentucky is filled with beautiful creeks, including Lots Creek, Greasy Creek in Leslie County, and the North Fork of the Kentucky River. After a summer rain, seasonal waterfalls appear across our mountains, creating one-of-a-kind portrait opportunities that only last for a short time.
Water brings movement, laughter, and a relaxed feeling to a session. Make sure to find a place to get in easily.
Suzanne's Tip
Bring a towel, an extra pair of shoes, and don't worry about getting a little wet. Some of the best smiles happen when you're splashing through the creek instead of worrying about staying perfectly clean. I always tell the girls to expect little minnows and bugs, it's just a part of it! Also, I avoid the water if it's been raining hard because the current can turn from calm to flood water very quickly. Turn around, don't drown. Most of my photoshoots in water are only ankle deep!!!!!! Please be cautious. And, photographers, you need liability insurance and some form of a waiver.
The North Fork of the Kentucky River
Water adds movement to photographs.
The North Fork offers rocky banks, reflections, and peaceful scenery that feels completely different from a mountain overlook.
During summer evenings, seniors can walk along the shoreline, skip rocks, or simply enjoy the quiet atmosphere.
It's especially popular for relaxed, natural portraits.
Lots Creek
Lots Creek is one of those places that feels like home to many families in Perry County.
After a summer rain, the flowing water, moss-covered rocks, and surrounding trees create a setting that feels unmistakably Appalachian.
For adventurous seniors, rolling up your jeans and stepping into the creek often creates some of the most genuine smiles of the session.
Waterfalls After a Rain
Eastern Kentucky has a secret.
After a good rainfall, temporary waterfalls begin pouring off mountain cliffs throughout the region.
Many only last a day or two, making every session completely unique.
These hidden waterfalls become incredible portrait backgrounds without requiring a long drive.
One of the best parts of living here is knowing exactly where to find them.
Greasy Creek in Leslie County
Greasy Creek combines clear water, mountain scenery, and peaceful surroundings that work beautifully for senior portraits.
The shallow creek crossings allow playful images while still keeping the focus on the senior. If you are willing to make the long scenic drive, and have a 4-wheel drive vehicle or atv, it's worth it!
3. Family Property
The most meaningful location may already belong to your family.
A grandparent's farm. An old barn. A front porch. A hillside where you've watched sunsets your whole life.
These places carry memories that no public location ever can.
Always ask permission before photographing on private property, but if your family has land that's important to you, I encourage you to consider including it in your senior session.
Suzanne's Tip
Ask your parents or grandparents if there's a place that means something to your family. Those locations often become everyone's favorite images because they're filled with real memories.
4. Your High School
Senior year deserves to be celebrated where it happened.
Whether you attend Hazard High School, Perry Central, Buckhorn, Knott County Central, Leslie County High School, or another school in our region, I love including your campus in your session. Athletic fields, auditoriums, band rooms, and school entrances all tell part of your story.
Bring your letter jacket, uniform, instrument, cap and gown, or anything else that represents your high school experience. The High Schools are especially fun around graduation time when most of my seniors come back for Cap & Gown Mini Sessions.
Suzanne's Tip
Your school will change in 5, 10, and 20 years. It's fun to include it! Go for it.
5. Studio Portraits
Outdoor portraits tell the story of where you've grown up.
Studio portraits celebrate who you are right now.
A studio session gives us clean backgrounds, controlled lighting, and timeless images that are perfect for graduation announcements, wall portraits, and professional keepsakes.
ALL of my seniors choose to combine both outdoor and studio portraits so they have the best of both worlds.
Suzanne's Tip
If you're planning to order graduation announcements or display portraits in your home, combining a studio session gives you classic images that will never go out of style. This is where we can get editorial concepts started!
This Guide Is Just Getting Started
Eastern Kentucky is filled with incredible places for senior pictures, and this is only the beginning.
In the coming weeks, I'll be adding detailed guides to my favorite mountain overlooks, hidden creek locations, family farms, scenic backroads, downtown areas, seasonal photography spots, and planning tips to help you create a senior session that truly feels like you. I will probably turn this into a downloadable pdf at some point.
I can't wait to share more of the places that make this part of Kentucky so special.
If you're ready to plan your senior session, I'd love to help you find the perfect location for your story.