This senior wanted ethereal, moody, fairy princess vibes for her senior photos, and when her mom reached out, I was immediately excited to do them. I usually ask anyone I work with to send inspiration photos because I really want to understand what it is that my client wants to get out of their shoot. This senior's mom sent me the inspiration photos and I was a little bit nervous about them because what she sent wasn't even a little bit similar to my typical work. And I told her- these aren't my typical editing style but I'll do my best! But then she showed me the dress, and suddenly I understood the vision. And honestly this was a shoot that I had been hoping and dreaming to do with someone for a very long time and hadn't had the opportunity yet. The moodiness, the vibes, the fire, the magic- all of it created scroll stopping images that felt like my client.
We photographed her at Fox Run Regional Park in Colorado Springs, which ended up being the perfect setting for what we were trying to create. I also went to Goodwill before the shoot and found an old mirror because I had an idea for a few photos. I'm a big believer in bringing little details into a shoot when they actually add something to the story, and I think the mirror ended up being one of my favorite parts.
We also stayed a little later than originally planned which I don't typically do but something in me told me I needed to spend a bit more time. The family was happy to go over a little bit which brought so much life to these images. The light coming through the trees started creating these hazy streaks behind her that almost looked like fire. Which felt perfect because this young woman is pursuing firefighting.
So we got the fairy princess photos, but we also got a little bit of fire.
I love when a client comes to me with a vision that may not necessarily be what I would have come up with on my own, and then we get to figure out how to make it work together. Sometimes that means finding a $7 mirror at Goodwill. Sometimes it means staying an extra 20 minutes because the light is doing something incredible. And sometimes it means completely changing my approach from what I normally do.
I'm also incredibly grateful for how much her family loved these photos. Her mom reposted them, her sister reposted them, and pretty much the whole family ended up following along with my work. (This is the biggest thanks a photographer can get!!) That's the kind of experience I want my clients to have. I want you to be excited about the photos, but I also want you to know I really care about making the session yours.
And if you're a senior with a very specific vision, send it to me. Even if it's not something I normally do. I might surprise both of us!
I'm currently booking senior sessions for November and December.
