Sarasota's Premier Senior & Headshot Photographer
About
Good to Meet You
I am a traveler and a lover of life.
A singer and performer.
I am also an introvert. Doesn't that make things interesting?
I used to think people who said they loved working out were lying. Now I'm one of them.
I love coffee, lunch dates with good friends, and beach days in January.
I am obsessed with old photographs. Always have been. Always will be. See?
How about you? What makes your house a home? What makes you tick? Drop me a note and tell me about it, and then let's craft just the perfect way to capture it together.
xoxo,
michaela
You don’t make a photograph just with a camera...
You bring to the act of photography
all the pictures you have seen,
the books you have read,
the music you have heard,
the people you have loved.
~Ansel Adams
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Most of the families I meet are walking through this season with one foot on the gas and the other on the brakes.
Senior year is wild like that — packed with firsts and lasts, joy and friction, pride and ache.
It’s tempting to wait until things feel more certain. Until they’re less stressed. Until you are, too.
But the in-between is where the magic lives.
The late-night talks.
The car rides in silence.
The slammed doors, and long hugs after.
This season doesn’t need perfect.
It just needs presence.
If you’re in the thick of it — unsure, emotional, holding it all — know this:
It’s still worth remembering.
Ready when you are.
#senioryearmoments #doitanyway #sarasotaseniorphotographer #thisseasonmatters
The goal was never “perfect.”
It was honest.
Photos that don’t ask her to perform or fit a moment she hasn’t grown into yet — but let her stay right where she is.
Because images grounded in emotion don’t go out of style.
They grow meaning with time.
Save this if you want photos that still feel like her years from now.
And if this resonates, you’ll love what I’m building with The Seen Sessions 🤍
#TheSeenSessions
#tweenconfidence
#TeenConfidence
#SeenAsYouAre
#PortraitsWithHeart
What would have helped younger you feel seen?
Choosing a photographer isn’t always easy.
Even after scrolling through endless portfolios and saving all your favorite styles, it can still feel overwhelming.
Because somewhere deep down, you know it’s about more than light and location.
It’s about how you feel when the camera is on you.
Whether you’re allowed to show up fully — quiet or bold, soft or strong, smile or no smile.
It’s about choosing someone who makes space for that.
Someone who leads with care, not pressure.
Someone who values trust over perfection.
If that’s what you’re looking for, I’m really glad you’re here.
If you’re starting to think about senior photos and wondering what that experience could feel like, you can learn more through the link in my bio.
Have you ever had a photo experience that made you feel truly seen?
Quiet water. Soft light. A moment just for her.
Meet Ayda ~ Class of 2026
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#BayPreserve
#SarasotaSeniors
#FloridaSeniorPhotos
#SeniorSession
#GoldenHourMagic
No two seniors are the same… and neither are their sessions.
5 sessions.
5 moods.
Zero wrong answers.
If you had to pick ONE 👀
🌊 Dreamy beach
🎨 Funky downtown
🌾 Moody Myakka
☀️ Bright & sunny
🤍 Soft + romantic
Which session would you choose?
#SarasotaSeniors
#SarasotaSeniorPhotographer
#SRQSenior
#ClassOf2026Sarasota
#SarasotaHighSchoolSenior
Golden hour was definitely her color. ✨🧡
Capturing seniors in their element will forever be my favorite. ✨
If you’re dreaming up your own senior session, I’d love to create something beautiful with you. 🤍
Contact
Michaela Ristaino Photography | Sarasota FL | 941-363-1720