Mekaleya came up from the bay area with her family for an afternoon photo shoot in a fabulous country area of Sacramento She knew she wanted the “country field” look and the day she texted me the description of the dress she had in mind for that area I squealed out loud—really. Because RED with a GOLDEN field? F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S! I was pleasantly surprised when it had a tulle skirt…I LOVE tulle for photo shoots!
Mekaleya’s sister came up with mom and dad and we captured all of them for a photo at the end—her younger sister is as gorgeous as she is! They were both so easy to photograph.
It was a super hot day—but we had a great time. Then off for a family lunch they went!
Here are some of our favorites from Mekaleya’s senior pictures set in El Dorado Hills:
Summer time brings lots of family get-togethers…and also family portrait session! We have lots of family sessions to share soon starting with a country-setting family session!
The number-one suggestion and tip I give my family clients is to consider using their home as the setting, no matter how large or small. It ads to the over-all connection you feel to a photograph when the surroundings and setting is a place that you love, and most of us love our homes. I’ve been known to move furniture (a couch, a chair, an ottoman) towards the great light in the home to use as a focal point many times. Front porches, back yards, the neighborhood park—all are great areas to create family portraits.
The best of all is when someone has property (either their own or a nearby area!)—and this family had the perfect area right in their own back yard. We set the time for the last hour of sunlight for beautiful golden light and the stage was set. This family coordinated their clothing perfectly—and we included some hats for the teens as well.
Here are a few of our favorites from their recent summer family photo session—
The second sister of 3 sisters—so excited to feautre M’KAYLA, class of 2012! We photographed her sister Alexis (class of 2009) and are looking forward to photographing her younger sister Savannah in a few short years! These sisters are all so beautiful—as you’ll see at the end of M’Kayla’s feature.
I’m always so amazed at the change in a teen in just a few short years—M’Kayla has grown up into a beautiful senior since the last time I saw her and she has the most GORGEOUS green eyes you’ve ever seen! She chose the “Style Session” (make up by Sara W) and the clothes she chose for her session were AMAZING and stylish. Wait until you see the skirt ensemble we photographed by the river.
M’Kayla’s mom is a fashion-ista herself and knew that this season bright-bold colors are IN mixed with white jeans, so for the updated “sisters” image that she likes to get each year her girls graduate she chose exactly that—bright colors!
Here are are favorites from her session—and a few from the past session we did when Alexis graduated including the sisters “then” and the sisters “now”. So fun to see the changes! Savannah is NEXT!
Last month I was contacted by Stephanie Boozer from PPA Magazine (the official magazine for Professional Photographers of America) and my thought process was like this: “Wait…what? Who is this?”. Yeah, exactly like that. She said she wanted to feature my studio in the March issue of PPA Magazine and wanted to know if I was interested. “Hmmmm. Let me get back to you on that”. REALLY? Of COURSE I’m interested! She scheduled a phone interview for an hour later that week. During the interview I talked about a mile a minute and I could hear the sound of her keyborad flying in the background.
As if that wasn’t enough, Jeff Kent contacted me while we were waiting for hours in the Tampa airport (delayed while coming back from SYNC due to the monster storm raging through the country!) asking me to do the “Goods Splash Page” in the same issue!
It’s all been so exciting these past few months…especially as I reflect on that huge decision to risk it all to follow a dream that has changed our lives drastically (in such a huge, blessed way) in these past few years since I left the corporate world. People dream about changing their lives late in life…and it’s hard. Most people DON’T do it because it’s…scary. And Risky. And…HARD. But in the end, doing it is so worth it.
God is good and so faithful to us…we have dedicated our business to Him and He has in turn blessed us in so many ways. This fun little feature is just a cherry on top of it all and I’m so excited to share it.
She’s heeeeeeere! Baby Ryleigh arrived right on time—or should I say—ahead of time! Proud mama and papa were very happy and they seemed surprisingly rested and full of energy the day I arrived. Ryleigh was not too sleepy…day 4 in the world and she was quite wide akake but we managed to get a few with her “sleepy heavy lids” towards the end of the session.
I’m excited to see her grow—we will be photographing her next two big milestones in life soon: sitting around 6 months and walking around one year! Watch for this adorable little one to sprout here wings soon…
He’s adorable—and super cuddly! The day I photographed Charlie he was perfectly sleepy and mom and dad were perfectly in love with him…he had only been home from the hospital for a few days. The home was super warm just for little Charlie—never mind that the rest of us were sweating bullets—little Charlie was snug as a bug in a rug! Which made it all worth it!
Photographing newborns makes me smile—and almost want another baby! But I get my fix during the time that I spend with them and then I’m all better LOL! I always have a special basket in tow…this day was no different.
Posted in families, fashions for senior portraits, modeling portfolios, modeling/commercial, seniors/grads, Teens / Photography