Highbanks Metro Park Visitor Information and Map
The best of us create scrapbooks; the rest of us take a few photos and stash them away with our good intentions. I’ve always been better at photography and have the stacked boxes of “Kodak moments” in my basement to back that up. In recent years, I’ve added wedding and portrait photography and submitted photos to on-line stock photo sites.
It was still a distinct thrill to take my oldest niece’s and nephew’s senior pictures.
A few things have changed since I took my first photographs of Brittany and Chuck. For one thing, those bubbles in time were captured with a film camera, my technologically ancient Minolta 700x.
For another, I was not yet a mother myself. When my sister Steph rolled by on a gurney after delivering the twins, I wasn’t sure she’d ever make it onto her feet again. Little did I realize that I’d just seen the easiest part of motherhood…
Not that my niece and nephew have strayed the designated path. They are capable and talented kids. That doesn’t really matter though. Being a mom means that you wonder and hope and worry about the little details in their day-to-day every day. You try not to. But it’s difficult to escape entirely.
Chuck made the arrangements with me. We met at Highbanks Metro Park on a chilly Saturday 
morning. My tripod kept the shivers out of the shots, and the kids’ personalities shown through. We had a lot of fun with it, walking the trails and climbing down the edge of a ravine to get the backgrounds we wanted. They were beautiful babies, and they are exceptionally attractive young adults.
My sister and brother-in-law face an instant “empty nest” in the near future. My extended family has officially slid along the timeline from the new baby era into the graduation zone.
And I’m oh so aware that the next cousin standing in that particular line is my son Zach.
Highbanks Metro Park Visitor Information and Map
Highbanks Metro Park; Columbus Ohio
11 miles of nature trails over streams and through ravines, situated just east of the Olentangy River. Shale Cliffs, concretions, river access and Adena Indian Mounds make this a popular destination. Activities include: hiking, running, cycling, group picnics and kayaking/canoeing. Additional attractions: pet trail, winter sledding, Hutchins State Nature Preserve.
“Yes” for Pets (on designated trails with leash)
Directions: From I-270, take U.S. 23 north for about 3 miles. Entrance will be on the left, just south of Powell Road.
Address: Highbanks Metro Park
9466 Columbus Pike
Lewis Center, OH 43035
Phone: (614) 846-9962
Park Website
View Larger Map
These are real professional pictures. Wish I’d have had something like this.
Thanks Graham. Senior photos are definitely a more enhanced experience from what I remember too! But, a hike in the woods is a fun way to go and beats sitting in a studio, I think…
Wow! These are some amazing photos! Great jobs and congratulations to the seniors
Senior Pictures Wow! And Zach is on deck huh? These photos are great. It’s wonderful that you can share your talent with your family and extended family. I like the setting. It adds so much and is an insight into their personalities. Wish them luck. There’s a great world out there for them to discover.
Ezekiel: They are really great kids with a lot of wonderful opportunities spreading out before them.
Intrepid: I’ve photographed those two for over eighteen years now. It’s been a wonderful thing for the cousins (ten!) to grow up together. My kids are a little sad looking forward and knowing that the group will be spreading out from here. (Zach!! ~Can’t think too much about that yet…)
What great looking young people!
I know all about those boxes of photos that we have the best of intentions to organize. They sit and taunt us year after year. I wonder what it would feel like to actually do the job and then sit back with great satisfaction that we have one less thing to feel guilty about.
I hope your kids aren’t too sad. They will just have to take their relationships to a different level. Family reunions and Holidays will still be fun and be equally meaningful. Don’t you think? Do you have a lot of cousins? I’ve got a bunch of first cousins. It’s nice having family support all across the country/world. I’ve even got a few near you…. (wink)
What marvelous portrait photos, Heather!!! You are so talented in many ways.
My sister is going through the empty nest syndrome and having a hard time of it. My kids have been grown for awhile and I still worry about them.
Super post!!!
Hugs, JJ
I have left you an ‘I Love Your Blog’ award on my blog as one of 7 blogs I have chosen as my favourites.
You deserve it.
Thank you, Suzanne!! You do realize you’ve totally messed me up on my own “7″ as yours is one of my favorites too…? But, thank you very much. Yours is an opinion I both respect and value.
Intrepid: I love my “Boston cousins”! I don’t see them nearly enough, but I can always count on a lot of laughs and love there. Wow. The memories I get just writing that…
Where do your near-to-me cousins live? It’s a small enough world, I bet I’ve at least passed them on a freeway somewhere.
JJ: It’s so hard to loosen the grip, isn’t it? Your heart still holds them just as close, but you have to leave them free to discover their own paths… You transition from being your child’s guide to being their encourager and life-long fan.
We take so many more pictures these days than when I was little. You can pick up a camera, snap something, and within a very short while pick it up at Walgreens.
I’m getting better at having prints made — I used to just have digital copies on my hard drive. However, I missed paging through books (or stacks of photos) and started getting more prints made.
About two months ago I bought two albums. They are still in the Target bag in the closet. (But I’m getting closer.)
Yes Heather…been scrolling your main site. Very talented…and the kind of talent I admire.
What more is there..excellent writing backed by pictures adding 1000 words…
Keep up the great work…
Delmer: I think digital can provide the best of both ~a photographic record without the storage issues film created. I can print selectively and like having the option on that. But you’re right, it is nice to leaf through an actual album… The few we’ve actually completed are highly treasured.
~Planning to start “baby books” with my daughter and niece this winter; they’ve sorted through some of my many boxes of photos… Good luck with your projects!
JollyJo: Thank you! Just doing what I love…
I am sure your relatives adore you for your photo passion