Jack senior portraits Eaglecrest High School - class of 2025
Jack - all smiles! At Jack’s consultation, Jack wanted the natural scenery, so we went through my list of locations and Jack and family settled on a location near Castle Rock. This was a new location for me and new locations can be intimidating. This location was more exposed to direct sunlight to the subject, so by scouting it out, I had ideas and my plan on where to place jack. I couldn’t be happier with how Jack’s photos turned out for this new spot. I actually love this spot! It’s perfect if you’re looking for a more rugged look without going far to get it.
The whole family came to Jacks session, even little brother, who was so freaking adorable - talking to me after the session about science stuff. Loved it! I always welcome families. Mom and dad can sometimes get their child to relax a bit by engaging with them, thus capturing those candid smiles.
I absolutely enjoyed my session with Jack! Jack was sweet as pie and engaging! I chatted with mom and dad about recent and upcoming vacations.
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.
Christopher’s Senior Portraits Cherokee Trail High School - class of 2025
Christopher’s session - got that rocky mountain high. Heather came to me in late spring to book Christopher’s session for late July. July is a perfect time to do senior portraits for lot’s of reasons, but one being time. In my blog: ‘How to pick the perfect Location’, is, does the location have special meaning to you? I don’t get these very often, but the Gianella’s wanted their special location in Estes Park at their cabin. In that special location was another special spot for Christopher.
I will admit, the two clients I’ve had with a ‘special location’ have probably been my hardest, just because I am not familiar with the location. New and unexpected locations have their challenges: Lighting for one. What direction is my main light source coming from, and in that directional light, how do I place my subject with compositional value and interest? These are issues I can figure out by scouting out the area before hand. This was not a location I could easily get to for a quick scout out. So, I had to figure it out with a quick walk through before our session.
I absolutely love how Christopher’s photos turned out! I love the touch of the aviator glasses and the ball cap chilling on his cabin deck. And I am pleased I was able to capture him on his very special spot within a special location.
We had time, weather and we were in between plumes of forest fire smoke( clearer skies). We had the most perfect time. July 29th, senior portrait session done. Now we can focus on school check- in and relax a bit until school starting. When I say “we”, I got my son’s portraits done in June. GO us! Christopher has grown into a wonderful young man. He had such a nice smile and was fantastic subject to work with. He was flexible to my suggestion, and our little chats are always a plus too! Congrats on your SENIOR YEAR!
Sebastian’s senior portraits Cherokee Trail High School - Class of 2024
Sebastian is going places - France is their destination. Sebastian has plans to go to France for college.
Stephen (father) booked Sebastian’s session and the one I would communicate with through the process. He was such a pleasant person to talk to, just super nice and so easy to communicate with form start to finish. The moms are always the ones that book. Funny, but we could’ve just hopped the fence for a chat. Yeah, I can see their house from my house. I didn’t realize we were so close until they came over for their showing. I suppose when I get a Cherokee Trail High School student that there’s a possibility we are neighbors. Not complaining, they are awesome neighbors to have!
I held the consultation for Sebastian’s senior portrait shoot with Stephen on behalf of Sebastian. Stephen initially booked Sebastian’s shoot for Red Rocks, but I informed him that there was a concert that night and every night through the summer, so I suggested the next best spot that hosted Red Rocks in the background in Morrison, Colorado. They wanted to capture Sebastian in the Colorado scenery since they would be heading to France after high school.
Of course we had to reschedule their session due to weather. It was par for the course this year for weather. Our reschedule session was even threatening, but they were all happy to get in the hour they thought they only had. I told Stephen we had up to 2 hrs of shooting if he wanted to get that other hour in, but he said he was absolutely happy with what he saw in the first hour. We all bolted for out vehicles at that point with lighting around, but I enjoyed my conversion with Sebastian and Stephen. We talked about the concerts we had been to and Sebastian’s future plans.
Courtney - Littleton High School - Class of 2024
Courtney - The Baller! The football kind. Courtney is on the women’s flag football league! Boy, it sure piqued my interest, so I picked Courtney’s brain about the whole process. We had a lot to talk about and she was so willing to talk to me, too. She was so much fun - all smiles even without the camera. She was so ready to get her photos done and she was going with the flow (wind in our case) so easily. We had wind from the southeast, sun from the west and I wanted her to face north so I could get the backdrop from the south, so, it made for an interesting shoot. You would have to be a photographer to understand my conundrum. I always bring along props just in case I need to add something, and in my stash, I had some hats. Courtney claimed she was not a hat person, but I felt we needed something to tame her hair from crossing over her face constantly. She put on a hat and Sara ( mom ) and I just gasped, she looked to freaking cute and it gave here a different look. Some of the shots with her in the hat, were her favorites. It pays to be open minded.
When Sara booked Courney’s session, they initially wanted to go to the Paint Mines for their location, a couple of weeks out, Courney wanted to change her location for somewhere in the mountains because it was more her. Clients always feel bad when they want to change, like it’s a inconvenience for me, but it such a relief and never inconvenient when they switch. Courtney absolutely seemed in here element at our mountain location, she was even willing to walk a short bit so I could perch her on some rocks for the sunset! She even brought along her best bud!
what to wear for senior pictures
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what to wear for senior pictures 〰️
Senior Portraits for these three Arkansas Girls - Class of 2024
Ashlyn’s mom, Tonya contacted me about photographing her daughter and a couple of her friend while they were in Colorado for a softball tournament at the end of June. I initially told Tonya that her dates she provided conflicted with my travel dates and that I wouldn’t be able to help her, but we decided that July 3rd could work for the both of us, contingent on weather. If this date didn’t work, there would be no session and they would go back to Arkansas without a photo shoot.
My consultation was held over the phone with Tonya on behalf of her daughter and the other girls. I asked Tonya what they were thinking for a location and Tonya said, “Mountains.” Their location was settled in the hills in the Evergreen area.
Well, our evening of the 3rd started out promising, but the clouds threatened-looking like we might have to cut our session short, but we stuck it out until sunset time.
The biggest challenge: getting these girls their fair share of time. There’s no time for lollygagging around when you only have 2.5 hours of light, minus outfit changes and walking around to different spots.
