Hey soon to be Seniors...you have a choice / Wareham Senior Portrait Photography

In honor of high school graduations and ThrowBackThursday #tbt I thought I'd share about my experience with my high school senior portraits! Hmmmm....let me think...still thinking. What experience? Oh, there wasn't an experience and there certainly weren't any choices. Sometimes I wish I could go back in time just to have my portraits done as they are done today...the way I wanted them to be, with a say about what I wanted and where I'd like to have them done.  But, I can't and that was a long time ago. But, you the soon-to-be senior can - you have choices!

When it was time for my senior portrait (dare I say 37 years ago) I did wonder what to wear. You could only have 1 outfit - really you just needed to have a decent top - because there were no full lengths or 3/4 length just a plain head and shoulders. There wasn't an opportunity to be unique, creative, thoughtful...everyone was the pretty much the same. You didn't go outside, you went to the auditorium, sat on a stool and posed 6 different ways, then you were done. I don't remember but I bet it was 15 minutes and you were back in the parking lot driving home. A few weeks later your "proofs" came in the mail - pick one and that's it.

Zoom forward to today and you juniors, soon-to-be seniors have choices for your senior portraits! You don't have to settle for the auditorium! You can have a better experience than I did.

Now you can choose your location whether it be the beach, a field of wildflowers, a park.  You can have more than one outfit.  You can have more than 15 minutes. Do you like fashion? (I sure do!) Then, let's see your style!

Accessorize with scarfs & cute hats. Do you love cowboy boots? Me too! In fact, I might even let you borrow mine if you have the right size foot!  Give some thought about what you want your senior portraits to say about you. You have a choice now, remember?

That's what Kendra did! In fact, a big Texas shout-out to Kendra who graduated last weekend from St. Andrews School in Austin, TX. She had a great portrait session. We split it up during the day so we could take advantage of the light in a few different places. She got up early, real early and yep, 7 a.m. we were at the beach (one of my favorite beaches with beautiful morning light) because the light was just right and it wasn't too hot. (I know it's tough to get up early when your seventeen but it'll be so worth it - it's just one morning!) She brought hats, scarfs, a couple of dresses and since she was from Texas she needed cowboy boots and I just happened to have the perfect pair. :-)

Then, we met again in the early evening as the light in the field of flowers was perfect. I didn't get that opportunity when I had my senior portraits taken. No clothing changes, no outdoors and remember only 15 minutes!

Kendra decided what she wanted to wear (with a little help from her Mom and me) and we chatted about where she wanted to go. I knew I wanted to use the beach with the beautiful early morning light and she was a willing trooper to be there on time. We had alot of fun together and she was so excited to see her images! Congratulations, Kendra, on your graduation! And, a big thank you for a great session.

So, when you look back 37 years from now, what do you think you'll remember about your senior portrait experience? Well, I hope you won't think like I did, "What experience? I didn't even really like my senior portraits!" It is my hope that you'll remember how beautiful you felt, how excited you were to be photographed and how much fun you had as you enjoyed the experience of starting your senior year off with portraits just the way you want them.

Sweet Senior Girl At Bourne Farm/Wareham High School Senior Photographer

This past fall I had the pleasure of photographing this sweet young woman, Ali.  She had a fabulous fashion sense, had her hair and makeup done earlier in the day and braved the chill that was in the air for a fantastic session.

I love this location at Bourne Farm especially in the fall as the light is just gorgeous.  Not only was the light gorgeous but so was this high school senior! The bokeh (out of focus tree) in the background and the light falling on the back of her beautiful hair was just stunning.

 A little bit serious but I just love this image above!

We explored many areas at the "farm" and she was just stunning in all of them.  She was so sweet and open to the whole experience of being photographed!  High school senior portraits are so much more than the yearbook portrait.  Yes, the yearbook image is important but what is more important is how you feel at this time in your life, what do you want your senior images to say about you.  How did you feel during the entire photography experience?  It's one of the few moments in your life that it's all about you!

Ali was still looking at colleges when we did this senior session in October and is excited to begin her new journey as a college girl.  Ali, I wish you much success in your senior year and beyond - thank you for the honor of capturing this one and only moment in your young life!

Michelle from Wareham High - Sneak Peek

"She has the most gorgeous eyes" said mom Jeannette when she called about a session for her daughter Michelle. And she was right! Michelle rocked it out on a recent session. It was another beautiful evening, perfect for a senior session on the beach. But, I asked Michelle if she wouldn't mind trying out another location first as it was still a bit early to be on the beach. She was game, yippee skippee! We ventured to downtown Wareham, next to a run down auto repair shop that I have had my eye on for quite some time now. In the back is an old empty building that calls to me everytime I drive by. It was perfect for a senior session - the light was gorgeous and the setting really cool. And, just look at those eyes!

After a bit we headed to the beach, Swifts Beach, my favorite - everytime I go there's always something different. It never looks the same. So many people comment, "That's Swifts Beach?" Yep, it really is a lovely beach, especially in my portraits! I love the backlight highlighting Michelle's pretty hair. Mom Jeannette was a great assistant in holding a reflector...thanks so much!

During our time together, somehow we got on the subject of acting and Michelle mentioned that she was an extra in the movie Grownups with Adam Sandler when they filmed at Water Wizz here in town. How cool is that! And she didn't end up on the cutting room floor either as her mom said she can be clearly seen in the footage. I've yet to watch the movie but really want to see it for all the local scenes and now Michelle. Hmmm....six degrees of separation.

Michelle is a cheerleader and plans to go off to college when she graduates from WHS (my old alma mater). I know she will do well on her new journey. In our consultation she mentioned that she really wanted a sunset portrait. Well, although there weren't many clouds in the sky that evening, we still managed to have a pretty sky to go along with the pretty girl!

Michelle, you were such a wonderful model, I mean, senior - thank you for spending time with me creating these fabulous images. This is only a glimpse of what we got. I can't wait for you to see the rest.

Sydney - A Senior from NH

Last week I had the pleasure of photographing this lovely young lady from NH. Sydney was vacationing in Yarmouth for 2 weeks with her family and wanted her senior portraits at the beach. So, after a bit of scouting around (ahead of time) we ventured out to Parkers River Beach in West Yarmouth. It was a beautiful evening and there were such great spots to work in. Beautiful backlite highlighted Sydney's gorgeous hair. And she had the most gorgeous eyes!
We had nice chats about going into senior year. She loves, loves, loves volleyball and hopes to play at the college of her choice.



I think the images speak for themselves on how awesome our time together was. The above image was enhanced with some post processing techniques and I really love how it turned out. Gosh, she is so pretty!


Ok, this last one I love (I loved all of them)! It was the end of our session and really getting quite dark. But I really thought this jungle gym type of architecture was way cool and Sydney indulged me with just a few more images. Thanks, Sydney for a great session. You rocked it out! Have a great senior year.

last senior of the year

It turned out to be a gorgeous afternoon in late October, although a bit windy at my favorite Swifts Beach. No worries, Taylor & her mom followed me to my backup beach, Parkwood Beach. I love this beach in the fall, it's not windy and it has beautiful light and colors. It's not really a swimming beach, at least the part I go to, but it's perfect for photographing.

Taylor is a senior at Barnstable High but she is also going to Cape Cod Community College. She had plenty of credits to graduate and wanted to get a jump on her college years. Another smart, pretty girl - I love that!

We had such a great session. This was our second try as the first time we photographed the skies turned really dark and gray, not what Taylor had envisioned. She imagined her portraits to be full of light and sunshine which is definitely what we got the second time around. Yippee!

Thanks, Taylor for another amazing session. Continue to have a great year!

Pretty Smart

Lindsey from Taunton High recently came to the studio and wanted to be photographed inside and outdoors. So, we started inside with a chair and a background. She brought a few different shirts, gorgeous eyes, a beautiful smile and a great attitude!

I love this one leaning on the chair, she really had a natural way about her and again, her eyes are just gorgeous!

Although I usually prefer solid colors, Lindsey brought this striped shirt and I was all for trying something a little different. In looking at images for this blog I thought I'd use this image and played around a bit in photoshop with a cool brush and decorated the background with the color from her shirt. I think it's kinda cool! When Lindsey and her Mom were here for the ordering presentation, they didn't see it this way so hopefully they'll like it too.

After an hour or so, we headed outside, to the beach of course for another lovely evening. Lindsey is a dancer, a very accomplished one, busy almost every night with classes. She's also in some AP classes in school. Her Mom was so proud of her and shared that although she is really busy with dance she ranks number 14 out of 500 kids - WOW, now that's a great accomplishment! Good Girl! Senior year can be challenging with homework, college searches, SAT's, and all the extra curricular activities that fill each day.

This image is one of my favorites. I love the tilt of her head as she was leaning on this branch.

Again, backlighting is always pretty. The leaves vignette a bit in the front and her hair sparkles with the sunlight.

Lindsey, I hope you enjoyed the session. I know, I did! Thanks to you and your mom for coming to the studio for the ordering presentation. I can't wait for you to have your portraits.

I also hope you're proud of yourself for the accomplishments you've made this year. All that hard work definitely pays off. Not only are you pretty smart but you were so pretty to photograph too. Good luck with the rest of your senior year.

very sweet

(I'm a bit behind in posting sessions so this week I hope to catch up.)

Mylia's mom Carol called me and said, "Mya doesn't want to have her senior portraits done but she's such a good girl that I want to do this for her." Sidenote - I've been waiting and waiting for Mya to become a senior and was so thrilled to hear from Carol. You see, in February of 2006, Mya's Aunt Laurie called to book a session as a birthday surprise to Carol, that's when I first met her & photographed her with her two brothers.

Mya said, I'll just have them done inside. But, that wasn't how I imagined her senior portraits so I told her Mom that I think she'd like it much better if we went to the beach. So, after a bit of convincing and rescheduling we had a fantastic session together. Aunt Laurie did Mya's makeup (it really makes a difference in a session) and came to watch with Carol, although I did put Laurie to work as my assistant!

Mya is a very sweet young lady! She mentioned that the rings she was wearing were her grandmother's, awwww - how sweet. She loves her grandmother and was proud to wear such beautiful rings so I had to show them off. At the ordering presentation I had the pleasure of meeting her grandmother along with two other aunties that came with Carol & Laurie. It was a fun presentation.

Mya had the best smile - I just love this image!

I also love backlighting especially how the light plays off Mya's hair. We had a perfect evening.

Mya is looking at state schools and I know her Momma won't want her to travel too far from her. It was very clear that they have a wonderfully close relationship. I could go on and on about the session and Mya but will just let the portraits speak for themselves.

This last image was a fun one. She was trying so hard not to show her teeth and her Momma was making her laugh. I love the look on her face. I believe her Mom said "it's so her"!

Thank you sweet Mya for such a wonderfull session! Thank you for listening to your Mom - I'm so happy that you had a great time and are pleased with your images. You certainly are a beautiful girl, inside and out. Have a fabulous senior year!

Rachael from Falmouth High

Rachael is a busy young lady. After a few reschedules we finally got her senior session photographed and she looked lovely! We actually had two sessions together, one with her Mom, Dad and older brother and then another night was reserved just for her.
Our first session was another beautiful evening at Swifts Beach. Look at her - she has the most gorgeous auburn hair.

Then we continued her session over at Onset Beach on a really windy evening although you can't really tell in these images.
Rachael runs cross country and has been super busy with meets. She's looking at UVM and UNH along with a few other schools and is considering pre-med. She's a smart girl too as one of her classes is AP Physics. She really enjoys science...that is so awesome to hear!

These are a few of my very favorites. I love the way she is sitting on the stairs, hands cupping her cute face. The light was gorgeous on the railing and I love how she is looking up the stairs at me. That brown sweater was killer! She really has it going on in her pose with attitude in this last one - I just love it!


And last but certainly not least is one of my favorite family images.
Thanks Patty for the honor of photographing your family and Rachael's senior portraits. You all were alot of fun and I'm looking forward to seeing you soon.

live your dream

...is what it said on Natalie's really cool bracelet! I love the sentiment and from the little time we spent together I know that she is doing exactly what she believes she should be.

Natalie met me at the same stable as Ali, since they're good friends Ali referred me and I was thrilled to go back to the barn with another girl and her horse.

Natalie wanted some images with her beautiful horse Robin. She has been riding for 12-14 years and has been with Robin for about 4. She told me that he is very special to her and you could see how much they loved each other.

We had weird weather, of course, it started out sunny but then dark clouds took over the sky and the rain came so we took cover for a bit. We stayed dry trying to stay under the overhangs. No time was wasted though as there was really great light. Once the rain stopped we took Robin out again and I love this image of the two of them with the classic red barn in the background!

Natalie rides, trains and competes all the time. She attends a private school in Rhode Island, takes some AP classes, loves her Acting & Performance class and still finds time to act. She'll be in a play, The Man Who Came to Dinner this year and I know she'll do a great job!

Look at her gorgeous smile and those beautiful hazel eyes!

We photographed all over the property and these are just a few of my favorites!

Natalie, you were a doll to photograph and I appreciate the time we spent together. I'm looking forward to seeing you and your Mom soon - can't wait to show you the rest. I hope you continue to live your dream not matter what comes your way in life! Thank you for another wonderful session!!

Sandwich High Senior

Shayne met me at the beach just as his sister did last year. (I love it when clients come back to have their other children photographed, whether it's seniors or new babies.)


It was a still evening, a bit overcast but we had a great session. Shayne is a handsome dude and was a very nice young man. I don't think he really wanted to do the session - his Mom was quite persuasive and so I think he did it for her. Isn't that what good sons do?


He had a wonderful smile and it didn't take too much coaxing to give me his best face!


We chatted quite a bit and he told me that he loved to fish. He goes fishing quite often and loves to catch tuna. As he was sitting on the rocks, he saw this boat in the distance and I watched him watch the boat and couldn't resist this image. I love the feel of him looking out to the water!

Thanks, Shayne for another terrific session! Have a great senior year.

A Girl and Her Horse (or Ali's Sneak Peek)

Ali has been riding horses since she was about 3 years old. It was a beautiful evening at Grazing Fields Farm in Bourne where I met Ali and her mom Jennifer. She had thought alot about what she wanted to do for her senior portraits and knew she wanted to be photographed with her horse, Brody. She did all the leg work, researched photographers, sent me an email and I was thrilled to work with her!

I love this image. Ali was so cool, friendly and sweet and as she was leaning against the barn I noticed her peace sign belt. Awesome - I took a portrait that included the rest of the body but then zoomed in on just this - I don't think she knew what I was doing. I love her lean, the casual way her hands lay in the pockets and her way cool bracelets.

I wasn't sure if horses really engaged with their owners, you know, like dogs and some kittys but it was very clear to me watching Brody and Ali that I was wrong. She truly loves her horse and he responded in kind. I love the way she is looking at him in this image.

Of course, with horses it's all about the ears and Brody did a great job putting his ears up when we really needed him to. Look how handsome he is and how adorable she is!

He would nuzzle up to her and when he was being bombarded by bugs she would lovingly scratch his neck and he would nuzzle her some more. It was amazing to watch their interaction.

After many photos with Brody it was time for Ali to be the superstar all by herself . Did I mention Ali lives in Rhode Island? That's a bit of a ride as she comes to the barn a few times a week. She's hoping to go to a Division I riding school and has looked at four schools in Texas and other far away states - her Momma will miss her dearly, she told me so!

These are a few of my favorites and I could have posted more but this is really only a sneak peek!

There's something about eyes that I love and Ali's eyes were gorgeous. This blue sweater really made them stand out. It was one of her favorite sweaters and now I know why.

Ali, thank you for such a wonderful session. You and Brody were so much fun to photograph. If it wasn't getting dark I could have photographed you for another hour. I can't wait for you and your Mom to visit and see the rest. I know you'll have a great senior year!