Razor Sharp: Asher Pepin's Senior Session
From where I sit, it's easy to mentally note certain athletes. I may not know their name, what year they are, or much else outside of where they run in the pack and what uniform they're wearing. Slowly those kids either fall out of focus or come into razor-sharp view.
Razor Sharp
Curtis High School's Asher Pepin is an example of the latter. Back in 2023, when I first started shooting XC athletes, Asher was running JV. He must have crossed my path numerous times that season — I was at three invitationals he ran — but I honestly don't recall seeing him. By 2024 he was working his way through his team's ranks and his league's ranks. Fast forward to today, and he's one of the fastest kids in the state.
The proximity has gotten closer every year since, and now he's an athlete I look forward to seeing progress and getting photos of as he competes at the front of the pack.
Several months back I got an email from Asher's mom asking about senior photos. I was thankful someone had actually wanted to book me for their kid's senior photos — and honestly excited to shoot someone I'd already shared so many frames with over the course of his athletic career.
Shoot day
We set the appointment months ahead, and just as XC practice began, I was parking at the Curtis High School stadium. As I unloaded my gear and walked onto the track, Asher's mom Holly walked up behind me and said hello. The conversation was easy — talking about Asher's future, his plans, his goals — a natural fit for the day.
Asher sped into the parking lot after rushing home to shower and change following the conclusion of their first practice. Holly laughed and said, "Wow, he sure got here quickly" — and that's when I realized the pressure I'd been feeling was mutual. Everyone was feeling it.
My job is to get the parents and the senior to relax. Once we got started, it was easy — we moved from shot to shot with no friction. Asher had a few frames in mind he wanted to capture, and I layered in my own set on top of his. What we ended up with was a batch of frames that were easier to edit than they were to cull.
Making a teenager comfortable in front of a camera — and keeping them themselves through a dozen different setups — is its own skill. Asher made it easy.
Shooting at the track was the easy part.
Curtis Vikings, backlit at sunrise.
Chambers Bay
After the track, we headed to Chambers Bay — an iconic spot in University Place that's hosted hundreds, maybe thousands, of photoshoots and events. I'd spent plenty of days there shooting cross country meets, but this was my first time visiting it as an open park, with nothing else going on.
This part was more nerve-wracking — the changing light, the expectations, my own unfamiliarity with the location outside of race-day context. Holly wanted sunset photos, and I already knew from our earlier conversations how important those were to her. Fair enough — it's a beautiful backdrop, golden hour is about as good as it gets, and I had a flash setup on hand that could tame the light enough to keep Asher the subject instead of the sunset behind him.
Chambers Bay, golden hour.
A sub-four 1500m under the lights, a District double at French Field, and the interview behind the breakout junior season that led to this senior shoot — part of the 25/26 WA/OR XC & Track Year in Review.
Read Asher's Season Feature →The truck
When we wrapped, Asher's dad Charley asked where he wanted the truck pulled up. He owns an old Dodge Ram Charger, and Asher wanted a few photos with it.
I was genuinely excited for this one. I'll be honest — I'm not usually a fan of senior photos with cars. They tend to lean too hard one way or the other: either the car disappears into the background, or the kid does. I know how to shoot automobiles, and I know how to shoot people. My job here was making both work together.
Asher leaned on the fender. Simple. Not overposed, not fake, nothing added that didn't actually exist in the moment — just a sunset turning the sky behind him a deep orange.
The Ram Charger made the cut too — golden hour at Chambers Bay.
Track, XC, wherever the story actually happens — not just a backdrop and a bench. See what's included and how sessions like Asher's come together.
See What's Included ↗First one
This was my first senior portrait session. I went back and forth on whether to include that detail — it's not an excuse, the images turned out fantastic regardless — but getting that first senior session under my belt felt like an endurance race that was never going to end. I'm incredibly thankful they trusted me with this moment in Asher's life. I hope that in twenty years, Asher is proud to see his senior photos on the wall.
The dance between photographer, subject, and the subject's parents is real, and the three partners I had that day — Asher, Holly, and Charley — made it easy, and made it fun.
"We couldn't be happier with Russell Moore Photography! Russell captured our son's senior pictures and countless special moments during his track and cross country seasons. Before the senior session, he met with us to understand our vision. Every image beautifully showcases our son's personality, emotion, and dedication. Russell has a remarkable talent for capturing the effort and excitement behind each moment, creating memories we'll treasure for years. He is professional, talented, easy to work with, and clearly takes great care with every photograph. We highly recommend Russell Moore Photography!!"
"Russell did a fantastic job of taking my son's senior pictures. He listened to what my son, his mother, and I wanted on shots and delivered more than we expected. If you are looking for a great shoot and fun quality images, go with Russell Moore."
- Asher Pepin's Senior Session
- The Sunpak 120J
- The Nissin Light Stand — coming soon
- RadioPoppers: Remotes & Triggers — coming soon
- The Complete Setup, and Why — coming soon
