I would be LION if I said I would make the Jacksonville Zoo my number one pick for senior pictures.. But, when Bishop Kenny High School senior Avery Whitlow chose this location for her pictures, it all made sense! Avery grew up going to the zoo all the time. She felt like having her senior pictures at one place she loved visiting in her childhood was a full circle moment!

Once I got to the Zoo, I realized just how TURTLE-y awesome these pictures were going to be! Surrounding Avery and I were stunning trails of greenery, sparkling ponds, and endless backdrops for pictures. Like CHEETAHS running around the zoo and gardens, we captured lots of different angles, wardrobes, and poses. We even got a few pictures of Avery with her pup!

Avery is a fun and laid-back girl who loves tanning at the beach, her friends, and of course the zoo! In high school, she was in three different honors society clubs and you could always find her cheering in the student section at football games. Avery shared that during high school she learned that close friendships will help you get through anything. She made lots of friends in her favorite classes, gym and Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology. AP classes are college level courses that students have the opportunity to take in high school to knock out college credits for free! After high school, Avery hopes to get a degree in construction management and come home to Jacksonville and work for a company here.

Whether Avery is MONKEYing around at the zoo, or KRILLing it on tests, she truly shines in all she does. The unique location of the Jacksonville Zoo and Avery’s captivating smile are truly what made her senior pictures so special. I hope one day I can take her college senior pictures for her as well!