I had a blast with Stephanie this weekend.  I was really excited that the crazy weather cleared up so the we could venture outside.  We went to several different locations around Surprise and just had a great time.  I had such a hard time picking which photos to edit first and include in the sneak peak.  These are the ones I decided on.  I hope she likes them as much as I do!!  I can’t wait to dig in and start editing the rest of her photos – I may even still find my favorite (and then I’ll have to post again).  HaHa.

Well, these girls aren’t all Seniors.  But since I haven’t had any indoor Senior Sessions this year, I figured I would post some photos of these girls to show what we did inside.  Sessions can be indoors/outdoors or a combination of both!!

2011 Seniors – You still have time to get your photos taken and delivered before graduation – but spaces are VERY limited.

2010 Seniors – Have you started thinking about Senior Photos yet?  Ask us about becoming a Senior Rep for your High School.  We only select a limited number of students for each area High School, so get your name in early!

We recently started a Facebook fan page.  Although our regular Profile has been active for a while and will still contain current information, Please also “Like” or fan page.  We are trying to find the best way to communicate with everyone and are excited for some changes coming in the future!

As I mentioned in my last post, I had a GREAT time with Tyler and his family traipsing all over Glendale.  I am still working in his photos, but wanted to share a sneak peak with him!  He was such a ham and willing to do anything I asked, Thanks Tyler!  I should have your gallery up by the end of the week.

I had so much fun spending a couple of hours with Tyler and his family this weekend.  I just started editing his photos and I can tell that I am going to have a lot of favorites.  His sneak peak should be ready tomorrow – but I wanted to go ahead and share one photo!  He was cracking me up here and I thought it might bring a little smile to your face this morning as well.  Congrats on your upcoming graduation Tyler!!

Class of 2011 – it isn’t too late to get your Senior Photos done.  We can still get prints/announcements/thank you cards/etc back to you before Graduation!

You certainly want your Senior Photos to be representative of “YOU”, so choose outfits that make you comfortable.  But, there are ways to spruce things up and some combinations that will photograph better than others.  I recently read an article written by a fellow photographer with some wonderful tips for Seniors when choosing outfits and thinking about the style of photos you want to end up with.  It’s worth a read – and not only for Seniors, a lot of the tips will also work for those of you getting family or engagement photos!!

Tips from D Coleman Photography:

I get asked this question often, and really, Senior photography has changed dramatically since the “olden” days of wearing muted, solid colors only. I typically advise Seniors to wear what represents them; whether that be a concert t-shirt and ripped out jeans, or a formal dress with heels, or maybe a combination of those, with something in between! The goal of your Senior session is to represent who you are at this time in your life. Are you trendy? Cool? Stylish? An athlete? An academic? An artist? Or all the above?

WHAT AM I GOING TO WEAR FOR MY AWESOME SENIOR PICTURES?

1. It’s important to have as much variety in your images as possible without sacrificing time shooting. You can choose as many outfits as we can fit into our 2 hour session, but there are plenty of other easy ways to add variety to your look!
2. Arrive on time and be prepared with your outfits organized. Use hangers or a garment bag. Don’t fold or stuff your clothing in a bag, this reduces wrinkles and fold lines
3. Girls: To save time, try bringing your favorite pair of jeans and a few different tops with a camisole or tank-top underneath. This allows you to change your top once or twice without changing everything– and leaves more time to take photos!
4. Accessorize! Keep your outfit the same, but swap out accessories to mix it up. This includes jackets, hoodies, sweaters, hats, jewlery, scarves, sun glasses, and/or props. Don’t forget your letterman’s jacket and class ring if you have one!
5. Make sure your outfit changes are all somewhat different. For example, your first “outfit” might be jeans and a hoodie, your second outfit can be athletic wear, the next, pants and dressy shirt, and finally a simple summer dress with heels.
6. Alternate between colors and styles. Think solids vs. patterns, bright colors vs. soft colors, t-shirts vs. button shirts, pants vs. skirts, formal vs. casual, bold vs. timeless.
7. Bring props that illustrate who you are and what is important to you. These can be athletic accessories, your Bible, a special collection, your car, bikes, hats, iPods, something special with you name on it, a blank chalkboard to write on, an umbrella, awards and trophies, a musical instrument, books, your cell phone, balloons, confetti, your laptop, etc…the more creative you are, the more fun your photos will be!
8. There iis no additional charge for a pet, boyfriend/girlfriend, or friend to be incorporated into your images.
9. Girls, wear your hair down, and style it like you normally would. Keep in mind, if your nailpolish is chipped-up, it’s going to show. Guys, it’s best to get a fresh haircut 2 days before your photos. Make sure you are clean-shaven before your session (if you want to be).
10. Short skirts really limit your posing options, so think carefully before you choose your attire. NEVER wear a lighter colored pant with a darker colored shirt; to do so makes your bottom half look larger than your top. This rings true for girls and guys.
11. At the end of the session we can always choose a location that allows you to get in the water and play, if this interests you, let us know in advance, and save a “water appropriate” outfit for this option. Bring towels!
12. Bright white tennis shoes really will stand out in full-body shots and draw the viewer’s attention to your feet, and for this reason we do not recommend wearing them.
13. Practice your natural smile. You do lots of things in front of the mirror, there isn’t anything wrong with a little pre-game smile check. You’ll be glad you did!

SOME CLOTHING STYLE TIPS

Don’t be afraid to show off your sense of style with patterns, stripes, plaids, prints, and checks! However, be sure to still bring something solid and “timeless” for years to come.

• GIRLS:
• High waisted pants and skirts give you a flattering curvy shape and you’ll love how long your legs will look.
• Spring and summer scarves are a great way to accessorize your images. Scarves are perfect for active poses such as walking, swinging and twirling.
• Wear a bright colored necklace, incorporate hair accessories, such as headbands and feathered peices to draw attention to your face.
• Large belts, oversized bracelets, and trendy boots make your attire pop!

Finally, think about how you want to use your pictures and who is going to be on the receiving end. Your high school may have special requirements for their yearbook photos, grandma may want something more traditional, you might want something professional to use during your first year of college, and then there’s just the fun stuff to make wallets out of, and give to all your friends. Keep the end result in mind as you select the clothing you wish to wear. Most likely these are going to be the last professional photos you have taken until your wedding!!

(Make sure you give us a call when you get engaged!)

And, no post would be complete without a photo.  So, here is one of my favorites from one of our 2011 Senior Reps.

I had a lot of fun with Cody and his Mom yesterday!  He is such a sweet kid and was willing to do whatever Mom and I said.  Here are the first few photos that I pulled out to edit from his session – his sneak peak.  More to come from this guy later!

I recently had the pleasure of capturing some family photos with Ms {T} and we got a few of her solo as well.  Isn’t she just beautiful!  Congratulations on your Senior Year {T}!!

It is beginning to get a little cooler outside and slots for the rest of the year are filling up fast.  Don’t wait to get your Senior Portraits done, contact me now for more information or to book a session.   Photos@JacquelynMcHenryPhotography.com