Photographer captures students in Colorado Springs amid pandemic

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Restricted by the COVID-19 pandemic, a photographer in Colorado Springs aims to shed light and capture a disrupted senior year.

Cristy Frisch is a photographer capturing a piece of history through high school students. She's still been active even though many seniors canceled their appointments altogether.

Saturday, she took pictures of her high school junior daughter and her friend in their prom dresses.

"[We] made a whole day of it. She tried on a thousand dresses and wasn't even a blink in my eye. It wasn't anything at that point yet," she said, recalling the time spent shopping for the dress that wouldn't ever be worn to the dance.

The photos of her daughter are now similar to many she's taken of high school seniors.

"Gotta have the mask picture," she said.

She says students in the class of 2020 are changing the way senior photos are taken.

"You're wearing a face mask and you're trying to keep your distance and yeah its a definite feeling there that isn't the normal excitement and you try to bring it there and laugh it off and bring the positives in it," Frisch said.

She says one client canceled a shoot after saying they felt as though their accomplishments are tainted.

"She canceled [and] was feeling like the fact that she wasn't going to walk across the stage took from that excitement," she said.

So Frisch tries to share a different message: that they will come out stronger after everything they've endured.

"If you want senior pictures still, I will take them and we have caps and gowns, and we will take them. There are still fun ways to commemorate what you've accomplished," Frisch said.

A photograph meant to honor today's high school seniors also serves as a reminder of their endurance in an uncertain time.