Scheduling with seniors this year has been one of the most difficult parts of the project. For many seniors we have had to break up the project into two days. Do a location shoot one day, and studio shoot another. What was once an oddity is now becoming closer to the norm. If it does not rush things, and gets the project done right, then it is worth the extra time.

After Charlotte’s two part session I thought there was no way I would be able to top the field captures. However image 7 is such a strong classic simple portrait, it won me over. Enough light to be flattering to a female face, but still some dark shadows that add interest and contrast. It wins my vote for favorite. What’s yours?

-Michael

We have been spoiled here with a warm fall.  Well, at 8am for Matt’s shoot there was frost on the ground! A total wake up call that winter is upon us.  Ah well, at least we did not plan on doing some action shots that required a tank top and shorts… oops.

Matt was a great sport the whole day and the only complaining I remember was over laughter and all in jest. Matt is my kind of people. The kind that can laugh at the curve balls life throws at you.

-Michael

I run into the misguided belief that people need to be extroverted and outgoing in order to photograph well. False! Mycah was completely shy and reserved, and that turned out to be a good thing that comes across in her portraits. In fact, image 5 is one of my favorite portrait captures of the year.

-Michael

You never know what to expect when a High School Senior walks through the door. From the moment I pointed the camera at Wiley I knew he was charming, and by the end of the session I also knew he was a gentleman. I enjoyed our session immensely.

Working with lens flare is a bit like working with a wild animal. You never are quite sure what the light is going to do. Sure, if you know what you are doing the results can be mostly predictable, but there is always an unknown element that surprises. If you follow my work over the past year you may have noticed the increased prevalence of lens flare and back lighting in my work. As I have become more and more experienced at controlling and predicting shooting and editing with this style in mind, I’m loving the results I am getting more and more. Riley’s senior portraits are some of my favorites yet with these particular techniques.

-Michael