Boho, Vintage & Palm Springs | Our 2027 Senior Ambassador Adventure

Every year, I love dreaming up something completely different for my Melanie Robertson Photography Senior Ambassadors, and this year's Palm Springs adventure was all about vintage 70s style with a boho twist! Eight amazing seniors, fabulous retro-inspired outfits, beautiful desert scenery, and a whole lot of laughter made this an experience to remember.

But what makes these Ambassador adventures so special isn't just the beautiful photographs. It's the friendships, the creativity, and the memories we make together along the way.

Smiling young man wearing brown aviator sunglasses and a cream knit polo shirt with brown trim, seated indoors.

Woman in peach mini dress and white boots poses by a white bookshelf in a retro-styled room with colorful hanging lamps.

Blonde woman in fur coat and gold necklace sitting elegantly in a warmly lit room.

Young man in brown suede jacket, blue shirt, and aviator sunglasses seated in a retro-styled room.

Styled from Head to Toe

One of the most exciting parts of planning our Ambassador shoots is bringing the creative vision to life. For our Palm Springs adventure, every look was styled from the Melanie Robertson Photography Style Closet, including clothing, accessories, jewelry, and even some of the shoes!

I love giving my ambassadors the opportunity to try something completely different from their everyday style. It's amazing how a fabulous outfit, professional hair and makeup, and an unexpected location can bring out an entirely new side of someone's personality.

Four friends in 70s-inspired outfits relax on a red sofa in a retro-decorated room with warm tones.

Four women pose in a retro 70s-inspired room with vintage posters, warm tones, and a cozy orange sofa.

More Than Just Pretty Pictures

One of my favorite things about the Senior Ambassador Program is watching friendships grow. With both guys and girls from different schools, it's an opportunity to meet new people, share experiences, and create friendships during such an exciting season of life.

The program gives seniors a chance to try something different, step outside their comfort zones, and have fun creating memories together. I especially love watching everyone encourage one another during our shoots, whether they're helping with an outfit, making each other laugh, or cheering from behind the camera.

Two young women pose together smiling, one in a lace dress and one in a leather jacket and jeans.

A couple takes a selfie with a Polaroid camera while sitting together on an orange couch.

Smiling woman in a brown dress and fur-trimmed coat sits beside a mustached man in a retro polo on a rust velvet couch.

One of the things that made this Palm Springs adventure even more special was having all of our moms join us! As a mom myself, I know how quickly the senior year approaches and how precious this time together can be.

Between helping with outfits, sharing laughs, and cheering on their seniors, the moms had their own opportunity to connect and make new friends. There's something wonderful about spending time with other moms who are navigating the same exciting, sometimes bittersweet, season of life.

These are the moments I treasure just as much as the finished portraits. It's more than a photoshoot. It's an opportunity for moms and seniors to share an experience and make memories together.

Two smiling women pose close together for a selfie, one with long dark hair and a lace top, the other with glasses and a teal top.

Two hairstylists work on a seated client's hair with styling tools and curling irons in a bright room with an orange bedspread.

Three women sit together on a wooden bench in front of a retro orange wall with a disco-themed sign, smiling as one looks at her phone.

Three friends in retro 70s outfits and sunglasses pose indoors, two flashing peace signs beside a woman in a brown dress and black boots.

Our Palm Springs Desert Adventure

Of course, we couldn't come all the way to Palm Springs without taking advantage of that incredible desert scenery! After our vintage-inspired indoor portraits, we headed outdoors, where the mountains, sunshine, and wide-open landscape gave us an entirely different look.

That's one of the things I love most about these creative adventures. We can go from retro and playful to beautiful, dramatic portraits, all while giving our ambassadors an experience that's completely different from a traditional senior session.

Woman with wavy blonde hair in a brown sundress and tall boots stands on sandy desert ground with rugged mountains behind her.

Woman with long blonde hair in a pastel plaid dress stands on a sandy desert path with dry shrubs and rugged mountains behind her.

Woman in sunglasses, graphic tee and flared jeans holds a leather jacket while standing on desert sand with rugged mountains behind her.

Every Year, a New Adventure

One thing you can always count on with the MRP Senior Ambassador Program is that no two years look alike!

This year brought us vintage boho fashion in Palm Springs. Last year, we rolled out the paparazzi experience at the Star Theatre, complete with glamorous gowns and red-carpet-inspired portraits. The year before, we headed to beautiful Balboa Park for an elegant red-and-black formal shoot.

Three completely different themes, each bringing together an incredible group of guys and girls for experiences they will remember long after graduation.

Group of eight young people posing together in a retro 70s-themed room with colorful decor and vintage posters.

Group of 2025 Senior Ambassadors posing in formal attire under a Star Theatre marquee at night.

Group of elegantly dressed teens posing in formal gowns and suits under a stone archway for prom photos.

A Special Celebration: Our Mother–Senior Tea

One of my favorite traditions of the Senior Ambassador Program is hosting our Mother–Senior Tea at my home. It's a beautiful afternoon dedicated to celebrating these incredible seniors and the moms who have supported them along the way.

Everyone arrives dressed in their Sunday best, and I love making the occasion feel extra special with beautiful flowers, thoughtful decorations, and a gorgeous charcuterie spread with all the fixings. It's an opportunity to slow down, enjoy each other's company, and celebrate this exciting chapter together.

The highlight of the afternoon is our special reveal! I create a video featuring moments from our Palm Springs adventure, followed by the finished portraits from the photoshoot. There's something so meaningful about watching the moms and seniors see their images together for the first time, reliving the laughter, friendships, and memories from our day.

For me, these gatherings are another reminder that the Ambassador Program is about so much more than photographs. It's about creating experiences that bring moms and seniors together during a season of life that goes by far too quickly.

A group of women sit and stand in a cozy living room, gathered around a coffee table and chatting during a relaxed social get-together.

A group of smiling friends and family pose together on a curved stone staircase with mosaic details in a leafy outdoor garden.

Colorful crudité tiered display with peppers, carrots and radishes beside a bowl of pita chips, cherry tomatoes, dip and peach roses.

Two smiling women sit at a pink floral-clothed table with plates of food in a sunny courtyard garden surrounded by palm trees.

More Than Just Beautiful Photographs

When I look back at our Palm Springs adventure, what stands out to me isn't just the beautiful images we created. It's the friendships that began, the laughter we shared, and the opportunity for moms and seniors to make memories together during such a special season of life.

That's really the heart behind my Senior Ambassador Program. I want these young men and women to experience something creative and unforgettable, build confidence, and walk away knowing they are worthy, loved, and beautiful. And I love that their moms get to be part of the adventure, too!

Class of 2028, You're Next!

Every year brings a new group of seniors, new friendships, and an entirely different creative adventure. And I can't wait to see what we dream up next!

We'll begin looking for our Class of 2028 Senior Ambassadors in January and February, inviting current high school juniors to be part of this one-of-a-kind experience as they prepare for their senior year.

Could your senior be part of our next adventure? I'd love to meet them!