I recently had the pleasure of photographing Emily, a high school senior who was full of energy and personality. Emily has her own great sense of style and was eager to showcase her unique personality and interests in her portraits. Emily's Mom - a force to be reckoned with herself - wanted Emily to also wear a timeless outfit. Emily had a different vision. It's a good thing I have a changing tent! When planning her hair and make-up Emily wanted a very natural look - ideally a look that made it appear that she was not wearing any make-up. Our make-up artist pulled this off perfectly.
For her first senior portrait outfit, Emily wore a beautiful blue dress with delicate white flowers, which complemented her natural beauty perfectly. She also accessorized with simple jewelry that added a touch of elegance to her overall look. As we started the session, Emily's confidence shone through, and she posed effortlessly, making my job as a photographer easy. Those boots! I love the contrast of the delicate dress and the heavy boots!
We chose to start the shoot by a beautiful grove of orange trees and I suggested we take a few shots there. The orange groves in Riverside and Redlands are just the best. The grove was stunning, and the vibrant oranges contrasted perfectly with the green leaves and blue sky. Emily looked beautiful and carefree as she walked through the grove, twirling on the walkway and enjoying the moment. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, creating a beautiful play of light and shadows that highlighted Emily's features. I was able to capture some breathtaking shots that showcased the beauty of the grove and Emily's personality. As she twirled on the walkway, I could see the joy on her face, and I was thrilled to capture the moment.
As we were walking to our next shooting location, I noticed a tree with stunning pink flowers, which provided a beautiful natural backdrop for the photos. Emily looked radiant against the soft, pink flowers, and I was able to capture some stunning shots that highlighted her beauty and confidence. Better still is that Emily has a passion for nature and hopes to major in college in a field that will allow her the opportunity to protect and manage nature.
After taking some beautiful shots with Emily's first outfit, we moved on to her second outfit. There are two reasons Emily was excited to change. First, it was a cold day and the dress didn't provide much warmth. Second, the second outfit really represents Emily's vibe and was authentically her. Emily changed into blue jeans and a band t-shirt, which had the logo of her favorite band, Transviolet. As soon as she changed, I could see Emily's excitement and enthusiasm increase. She was thrilled to incorporate her love for music into her senior portraits session.
Emily's choice of outfit added an edgy and personal touch to the shoot, and I was excited to capture her unique style in the photos. We moved to a nearby theater, which had a vintage and intimate atmosphere that matched Emily's vibe. The green backdrop of the stage created a moody yet nostalgic backdrop that made for some fantastic shots. Emily's love for music was evident throughout the shoot, and we captured some fantastic images of her wearing her Transviolet t-shirt. We played some of her favorite songs in the background, which added to the atmosphere and made for a fun and enjoyable shoot. As a total side note...while we were at the theater there was a large dog who was very curious about what we were doing. In particular, when I sat on the ground he felt the need to sniff my face!
The shoot ended on a high note as we took some quick shots with Emily wearing her college reveal sweatshirt! I haven't posted any of those shots because that is her surprise to give the world. I think we had a fantastic time, and I was able to capture her unique personality and interests in the photos. I am grateful to have been a part of it.
When you think about senior portraits and your wardrobe just remember that changing outfits across the broad spectrum of possibility really allows us to take portraits that are both exactly what Mom wants and how they the senior wants to remember themselves. Authentic and beautiful.
Take this as a sign that you are ready to to get your own dream senior portraits and have a lot of fun doing it! Click below to get started.
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