Hi, I’m Mario Leal.

A TACO OBSESSED SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER, EDUCATOR, & TASK SLAYER.

I am a senior photographer in Waco, Texas. I specialize in providing dynamic and STUNNING images for stylish, happy, and colorful seniors. StunningGradPhotos.com was built to deliver a unique custom senior experience.

This is our blog–our place to showcase some or our work and help you! I hope to have meaningful conversations here. If you have a question, please leave a comment or send us an email at hello@stunninggradphotos.com.

We’re glad you’re here.


New Social Accounts

We’re moving! Starting now, all StunningGradPhotos.com social content is moving.

In January, we registered an LLC and created a new brand. Consistent branding is challenging when using accounts originally created for fun. So, we’re moving all StunningGradPhotos.com by Mario Leal content to freshly created social accounts. This will provide a consistent brand for customers.

We are excited to engage with you on any of the following accounts.

➡️Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StunningGradPhotos/

➡️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stunninggradphotos/

➡️Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/stunninggradphotos/

➡️TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stunninggradphotos/

➡️Twitter: https://twitter.com/SGPbyMarioLeal/

Looking forward to serving you for all your Senior and Graduation needs!

🤟 🤟 🤟

–Mario

Senior Session | Miss Nellie’s Pretty Place & Connally HS | Avery B.

Miss Nellie’s Pretty Place & Connally HS

Senior Photos

One of my favorite places in Waco is Miss Nellie’s Pretty Place. When the fountain is on and the flowers are out, you won’t get better outdoor photos. So, when Avery (Class of 2023, Connally High School) picked the spot, I was so SO happy.

Avery’s bright bold colors went perfectly and I loved how her beautiful blue eyes popped.

Avery has a wonderful attitude and amazing dreams. I am looking forward to hearing about her making those dreams come true.

Go, Cadets!!

What To Expect in a Senior Session

Are you wondering what to expect during a senior photo session? This post helps bring that into focus! The focus is on you, having fun, and making memories.

Read on!

Woman leaning against a gate. Waco Texas senior photography.

Before the Day

Having your Senior Portraits taken is so much more than just a photo session, it’s a rite of passage. Before your session, we can schedule a personal consultation to discuss what you want out of your session. 

We’ll talk about locations, style, weather, outfit options, collections to choose from, and all the details of the session. We will also set up an appointment for ordering your photos so on the day of your session you can focus on having fun and we will focus on creating amazing photos.

The Day

On the day of your shoot, we’ll meet at your desired location. We’ll shoot and you’ll enjoy the experience. We’ll laugh and then laugh some more.

Our goal is for you to have an amazing time that results in amazing photos. Being in front of the camera can feel a bit awkward sometimes, but just try to relax and have fun and leave the rest to me.

After the Shoot

After the shoot, why not plan to do something fun? After all, you’re already going to look and feel incredible. Plan dinner with someone special or your family or have a girl’s/guy’s night out. Make the most of your look and experience.

Girl leaning against a wooden fence. Waco Texas senior photography.

Senior Session | McLennan Community College & Downtown Waco | Annah B.

Downtown Waco &
McLennan Community College
Senior Photos

Seniors can never go wrong with Senior pictures from Downtown Waco and McLennan Community College. First, the College is basically one of the most beautiful campuses in Central Texas. There are so many pockets of beauty and the spring flowers are just spectacular.

Downtown Waco is also great. There are so many good areas to shoot. This allows me to uniquely capture each senior’s own style. If you want to pair the small town vibe with nature, you won’t go wrong with this!

I was so happy when Annah named these places!

Annah was a senior at China Spring High School. At first, you’ll mistake her quiet nature as shyness. But, you’ll soon realize Annah has a peaceful and passionate energy about everything she does. She’s positive and loves helping people reach their goals.

5 Tips to Rock your Senior Session

Session Tip

5 Tips to Rock Your Senior Session

Go from Awkward to Camera Comfortable

When it comes to taking senior portraits, its normal to feel a little awkward. Many seniors are self conscious of how they will appear because taking pictures solo can feel uncomfortable. We have the top five things you need to know in order to nail your senior portrait with grace and confidence. Put these tips to practice and you can rest assured that you will love your portrait for years to come.

Let’s get started!

Woman leaning against a gate. Waco Texas senior photography.

1. Use your eyes

Avoid awkward photos by using your eyes to express emotion. When a natural smile occurs the whole face lights up and the eyes look bright and awake. You can practice smiling in the mirror and working different expressions. You want the muscles in your face to contract and change the shape of your eyes to ensure your smile looks natural.

2. Relax

The best photos take place when the subject is relaxed and confident. Let the excitement of what this pictures means translate through the lens by taking a moment to relax, breathe, and have fun with it. You may feel silly but we are used to this and will help you feel comfortable.

Smiling girl modeling dress. Waco Texas senior photography.
Girl leaning against a wooden fence. Waco Texas senior photography.

3. Breathe

This may sound like an obvious one, but breathing is a key aspect in capturing a natural look. You can practice taking a big breath while smiling in front of a mirror. Slowly release the air while holding the smile and notice how your face and eyes settle into a natural and relaxed expression. Allow your eyes to “smile” by focusing on the apples of your cheeks pressing upwards. When in doubt, just breathe.

4. Move

Staying stationary can often times produce a very staged and cheesy look. Just because you are still does not mean that you can’t change your angles to create a fresh and inspired look. Try leaning into the camera slightly to appear more engaged, shifting your weight from left to right, or simply moving your chin slightly up and down for different shots to get a variety of facial expressions to choose from.

Girl wearing dress sitting on picnic table. Waco Texas senior photography.
Close up photo of lady with curly hair. Waco Texas senior photography.

5. Beautify

This goes for everyone. Ladies, spend the extra time getting your hair blown out, getting your makeup done and choosing that top that makes you look and feel your best. Fellas, take a shower and shave. If you look your best, you feel your best, and when you feel your best, you act more confidently. Go the extra mile to walk into your senior session feeling confident, attractive, prepared, and inspired.

Those are the 5 tips to Rock Your Senior Session. They are easy; but, we sometimes just don’t think about it.  I’d love to hear what you think. Please leave a comment below.

If you liked this post, you’ll love Stunning University. It’s our newsletter that focuses on helping you get the best Senior photos you can get.

I’ll even give a FREE PDF that tells you what NOT to wear to your senior session. You’ll definitely want to avoid these mistakes. Be sure to click HERE to get the guide.

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