Josh’s senior Portraits Arapahoe High School - Class 0f 2025
Josh - ready to crack that bat! Debbie booked Josh’s session for March, which is completely off season, when scenery is concerned. Debbie asked where a good place to go this time of year. If it’s not an urban setting, then Red Rocks is probable the best. November - March is a perfect time. No concerts and greenery isn’t the main focus, Red Rocks is!
On the phone consultation, Debbie was specific on her expectations for Josh’s photos. I really appreciated this. This gave me perspective and clarity. In the end I knew what not to do and there was a couple of spots they did not favor, which is totally fine. I never take offense, because what I like doesn’t always coincide with the client. And the client gets what they want! Debbie asked question like I would ask question. Lets face it, finding a photographer is daunting these days with a photographer on every street corner. I want my clients to know exactly what they are getting.
The whole family came minus their daughter. The Lew’s were all so nice and friendly and patient . . . I kind of took them on the scenic route to get to one of our spots. A unnecessary detour, but it all worked out. I wanted to ask Josh more about his baseball, but I’m not a multitask-er and get too focused (pun intended) with a camera in my face.
I am so stickin’ happy with Josh’s final photos!
Jake - Cherokee Trail High School - Class of 2025
Jake - just a big smiley teddy bear! Sherry’s consultation for Jake was for a location more on the urban look, but she wanted a photo with a fence to go along with his older sister’s senior portraits. This particular location has the urban/industrial/nature scene in one spot, so we got the fence with the greenery in.
Jake was so awesome to work with! He was all smiles and easy to talk too. He looked like a guy who should be on the field, but is more interested in physics. Sherry was such a pleasure to chat with too. Their session flowed from beginning to end. I loved Jake’s session!
Carston - Cherokee Trail High School - Class of 2025
Carston - cruisin’ his session, ROUTE 66 style. Carton’s my first born and it’s hard to believe he’s graduating HS. Wow, class of 2025. Since Carston was born, I have been snapping photos of him and it progressively got worse as he got older and even worse than that after I got my first DSLR camera in 2015. He has been my test subject for studio projects and location scouting. Carston’s very photogenic, so its not unwanted to have him as a subject. He is a guy and I would safely say, 8 out of 10 of my guys don’t care to have their photos taken and it’s mostly for the moms, me being one of those moms..
Carston has been photographed in many Colorado location, so I wasn’t too inspired to pick a spot for his senior portraits in the Denver area or anywhere in Colorado. And Carston was definitely unmotivated.
Carston is into vintage, old things and has quite the camera collection. I came up with the plan for Tulsa, OK (long story as to why I picked Tulsa) for his senior portraits. Carston perked up to that idea.
I compiled my list of must stops a month before our June trip. When we arrived, I was a bit overwhelmed with my list, but in the end we did a majority of our spots. We started out early the first morning to out first spot in downtown Tulsa and oh, my, it was amazing. NO PEEPS. The spot was better in person and it got me going for our next spots. Tulsa has a plethora of these hidden gems for portraits. I found it more appealing than Denver. I wish I could take all my urban/city kids here.
While I don’t disclose my exact spots, I did major research and a lot of Google - earthing to find these locations. I found a 50’s decor wall in the heart of Tulsa. The vintage sign of the Dancing Ballroom, an antique store, gas station and mural wall in Sapulpa. And one of my favorite spots, an old door in downtown Tulsa. This location was perfect for Carston.
In the end, I was so glad we made this trip for Carston. I enjoyed my time with all three of my boys. It was a sightseeing trip, too. Carston is still the worst client ever (put rolling eye and cheesy grin emoji here). Proud Mamma!
This will always be one of my favorites of Carston - on our way to the summit of Humboldt Peak. 09/2020
Mt biggest adventure with Carston - hike to the Summit of Mt St Helens 07/2018
My most epic trip with Carston - Lofoten, Norway - 06/2022
My farthest trip with Carston - Australia 05/2015
Dax’s senior portraits Whitesboro High School, Texas - Class of 2025
Dax - make it all high altitude for this kid! A kid coming up from Texas - not just any kid, this kid is my nephew. While I headed south to photograph my son in Tulsa, OK in June, my nephew heads north to have photos done with me in Colorado.
I wanted Dax’s photos to be epic. I had some spots I though might be great to try out on him. While I don’t disclose specific locations, I had a couple of mountain locations that featured a 14er or a lake with some gorgeous mountain views in the background. Ultimately, it came down to what they wanted and they wanted Rocky Mountain National Park and Red Rocks. I get it, coming from Texas, these are iconic and photogenic spots. So let’s kill two birds with one stone. Dax’s stepmom and girlfriend have never seen RMNP and his girlfriend had never been to Colorado, so this makes all the sense to see these two locations and do portraits at the same time.
Well, lucky for them, I have spent a lot of time at RMNP and knew of a few good spots. For our first spot, we headed to Morraine Park and found a great spot with absolutely no peeps, just a lot of flies. Our second spot, we headed to Bear lake, mostly because my sister-in-law and Kendall have not seen RMNP , and I had the reservation to get us there. Our last spot was up to Trail Ridge Road, for the epic 14er (Longs Peak) in the background along with weather and wildfire smoke.
For Dax’s second location, they wanted RR. Since it’s concert season, Red Rocks proper wasn’t an option for portraits, but I know of great spot where you can get the whole venue in the background and that’s where we headed for Dax’s second location.
I am super happy with Dax’s photos, even though it’s not what I envisioned, but its not about my vision, it’s about theirs and I am grateful I was able to photograph my nephew in his dad’s home state and have some family time.
Ethan - Grandview High school - 2025
Ethan’s session - peace and quiet. Ethan wanted to be in nature for his session unlike his brother before him who was all about the city. The locations I use are ever changing and don’t accommodate what the clients is looking for any longer, so I am always scouting out spots even when I was there a year before. So, after much consideration, Ethan chose his special spot. Again, to my surprise the location Ethan picked now requires a reservation which I wasn’t aware of until I pulled up. Luckily I got there way before EARLY and diverted my client’s to my parent’s house where they parked and we were shuttled in by my bother who was visiting at the time. To our advantage, the bike paths were closed off. This made our session flow easily. It’s so nice when you don’t have to constantly look out for bikers. We had this spot to ourselves. Not one other peep came by. It was literally peace and quiet. The only thing we heard was me yelling over the Cherry Creek.
I enjoyed my evening with Ethan. I had a nice chat with mom and dad too! The weather wasn’t perfect, but it all worked out.
