Senior Portraits in Haverhill, MA — Including Sessions at Winnekenni Castle
Haverhill families have something most towns in the Merrimack Valley don't: Winnekenni Castle. A stone castle on a hill, overlooking a pond, surrounded by open fields and quiet trails. I photograph sessions there regularly, and it never gets old. If you've driven past it on the way to Kenoza Lake and wondered whether it photographs the way it looks — it does. Better, actually.
I'm Ian Cowpar, and I've been photographing senior portraits and professional headshots across the Merrimack Valley and North Shore for nearly a decade. This post is for Haverhill families who are starting to think about senior portraits and want honest, practical information before they start making calls.
Winnekenni Castle: what you need to know
Winnekenni Castle is a public park managed by the City of Haverhill. Sessions there don't require a permit for standard portrait photography, and the grounds are large enough to offer a variety of settings — the castle itself, the pond's edge, the open meadow, and the wooded trails.
Light matters here. The castle faces east, so morning light wraps it beautifully. Late afternoon sessions work well in the open meadow and near the water. I plan every session around the quality of light at the specific time of year, so this is something we discuss together before you book.
It's worth noting that Winnekenni is one of my most-requested locations — and for good reason. The architecture adds something that outdoor greenery alone can't. It gives the portraits a sense of permanence that parents notice when they're hanging the final image in their home.
Other locations near Haverhill
Winnekenni isn't the only option. Depending on your senior's personality and what you want the portraits to feel like, these locations are also within easy reach:
Maudslay State Park (Newburyport) — About 20 minutes from Haverhill. Old-growth trees, formal gardens, open fields, and carriage paths. Exceptional variety within a single location.
Plum Island (Newburyport) — About 25 minutes from Haverhill. The beach and grass dunes here create portraits with a completely different character — open, light-filled, unhurried.
Downtown Newburyport — About 20 minutes from Haverhill. Historic brick architecture and a walkable, energetic setting. A good fit for seniors who feel most themselves in an urban environment.
When to book for Haverhill seniors
If your senior is a Class of 2027 junior, the booking window is open now. Summer and early fall dates — especially golden hour sessions in July, August, and September — go quickly. I'd encourage Haverhill families to reach out before spring to secure the date and location they want.
About the experience
Every session I do is fully guided. Your senior doesn't need to know how to pose, how to hold their hands, or how to look natural in front of a camera. That's my job. I coach everything — calmly, without pressure, and without rushing.
Partway through, I ask your senior to name three words that describe who they are right now. It's a small ritual that has a real effect on the portraits. The energy shifts. Things get more honest. The photos stop looking like photos and start looking like them.
Galleries are delivered within one week. Artwork decisions happen after you've seen the images.
Pricing
Sessions begin at $1,290, which includes a $900 art credit toward wall art, albums, or prints. Most families invest between $2,800 and $6,000. Some invest less. Some invest more. We talk through all of it after the session, not before — because the right investment depends on what you see in the images, and you can't know that until you've seen them.
Get in touch
Haverhill families can reach me at 978-432-9668 by phone or text, or at ian@iancowpar.com. The contact form on this site works well too. I'm happy to answer questions, walk you through the experience, and help you figure out what makes sense before you commit to anything.