Bethany {Class of 2013}

Bethany

I was so excited when Bethany's Mom approached me about senior pictures.  I've only met Bethany a couple times...conferences, co-ops, parties.  She is a good friend of friend (Remember Casey?) so I saw her a couple times and I got one of those photographer nudges.  You know, the one that says "I really, really want to take their picture!"  I had so much fun shooting with you and your mom, Bethany!  

Bethany is currently homeschooled and is thinking about CollegePlus! as the next step in her education.  I just started it myself so I was surprised and excited to learn that.  You'll do great!

We shot at Lockwood Park and got to "work"(read that: tried to get them to cooperate) with the horses she worked with all summer...

Bethany, you can ROCK the serious face.  I kept just saying "perfect...perfect...perfect" throughout the shoot.  You knew exactly what I was going for and nailed it.  You give me that mysterious face up there and then...

...you laugh through your eyes like you don't know what a frown is.

A lover of books and reading.

She also has a beautiful voice.  Check out the YouTube channel she and her sister have to hear them sing. :-)  Simplyacapella.

Check out the Eiffel Tower earrings!  My kinda girl. 

 My favorite. :-)  Bethany you have such a beautiful spirit and it pours out through your eyes!

Bethany - Preview

I got to take this gorgeous girl's senior photos the other day and am "dying from over-exposure to sheer awesomeness!" NAME THAT MOVIE :-)

I can't wait to finish editing and share some more with you!

Zach [Class of 2012]

Meet Zach!  He brought his drumset and guitar along so we tried to get some musician shots as well as regular senior pictures.  I had never shot with anything but a cello before so this was interesting.  I think it worked out pretty well.

Zach is double graduating, as it were.  He went to our homeschool co-op and took Spanish with my brother and I for three years, but he is also taking classes at a local Christian public highschool.

We started shooting at Sinnissippi park and then moved to Anderson Japanese Gardens for his more "professional" senior shots.  Unfortunately the gardens had closed an hour before.  (Note to self, check and double check opening times, especially on Saturdays.)

Even though we couldn't get into the gardens we still shot in the parking lot.  Thankfully they have the most gorgeous parking lot in Rockford. :-)

The photo above is one of my favorites because you can't see me or my brother (who is holding a huge white reflector).  Learning how to use glass and not reflect yourself is tricky.

Check out that 2012 class ring!  Oh yeah.

This is how to shoot someone who forgot long black socks.  :-)  Nobody will ever know.

Till next time!

Mercedes {Class of 2012}

This shoot was so much fun!  Mercedes for basic portraits and some pictures with her dog Abby.  Mercedes' mom asked for some black and white images.  I asked if she was ok with water.  And guess what?  Check, check, and check!  She brought along her brother Andrew to watch the dog so I brought my brother Nathanael who is friends with Andrew.  And... you guessed it!  Mercedes and Andrew are also from our homeschool co-op. :-)

 Abby is 91 dog years old, so it was nice that we were able to get some pictures with her!

Everything flowed very naturally on this shoot and she was completely fine with getting soaking wet and a little sandy toward the end. :-)  I asked her to pretend she was in Florida.

Mercedes is one of the people who will give that great dramatic face and then burst in laughter at the drop of a hat.  She was so easy to work with that way. 

Andrew is her only sibling, we grabbed some fun sibling shots while we were at it. 

Andrew is showing some Hallstrom team spirit with his FIRE basketball shirt. :-)

I love the cool tones and creamy light in this shoot.  It was lots of fun to edit.  The sun was playing peek-a-boo the whole time so I was freaking out about my white balance at the time, but then I would just talk to her and get her next pose until another cloud rolled over.

Check out those eyes!  They are SOOOO blue.  I was dying.  The eyes are my favorite part of the face.

Park bench love.

Stunning, just stunning. 

Congrats Mercedes!