Nate-Humboldt Iowa High School Senior Photos

Some senior sessions are full of big plans and detailed ideas. Others are a little more relaxed and go-with-the-flow. Nate’s session definitely fell into the second category, and it made the whole thing even more fun.

Nate is one of those guys who keeps things simple. When I asked if he was nervous before the session, he basically said he let his mom handle the worrying. That might be the most honest senior answer I have gotten in a while. He showed up ready to get the job done, laugh a little, and see what happened.

Well, what happened included falling in wet grass.

Yes, that actually made his list of favorite moments from the session. That and the fact that I may or may not have yelled at him a couple times while trying to get him into position. If you know me, you know that “yelling” usually just means enthusiastic direction with a lot of laughing mixed in. Nate handled it like a champ and leaned right into the chaos.

One of the things that stood out about Nate is how naturally goofy he is. He describes himself as smart, tall, and goofy, which feels pretty accurate after spending time with him. At 6'4", he definitely has the tall part covered, and apparently he is also known for randomly dropping quotes into conversations at the most unexpected times. During high school, Nate spent a lot of his time playing basketball and golf. According to him, sports helped make the school year go faster, which is a pretty solid strategy if you ask me. When it came to classes, though, he admitted his favorite subject was PE because it required the least amount of thinking. Again, I appreciate the honesty.

One person who has made a big impact on Nate is his dad. He shared that his dad is someone he really looks up to because he is always teaching him important life lessons. Those kinds of relationships say a lot about who someone is becoming, and it is always special to hear seniors talk about the people who have shaped them along the way.

Looking ahead, Nate plans to attend Iowa State after graduation. He is still figuring out exactly what he wants to study, but for most of my seniors, that is pretty normal. Senior year moves fast, and sometimes the best thing you can do is take the next step and keep learning about what interests you.

Nate also shared a quote that stuck with him from Sun Tzu: “He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot will be victorious.” He explained it simply. Knowing your limits can be better than pushing too hard. Not a bad life lesson to carry into the next chapter.

Nate’s advice to freshmen is also pretty straightforward. High school goes by quickly, so enjoy it while you are there. Get your work done on time, keep your grades up, and make the most of the experience.

Sessions like Nate’s are always a good reminder that senior photos do not have to feel complicated or serious. Sometimes they are just about showing up, being yourself, laughing a little, and maybe falling in wet grass along the way.

And Nate? He definitely got it done.