Some Tips for your Senior Session

It was 1997, clothed in flannel shirts and jeans, dark lipstick and eggplant colored hair,  handmade hemp necklaces or chokers tight against my neck. A member of my school's Amnesty International, I was Winona LaDuke (VP candidate for the Green Party) in our mock election, a gymnast on our High School team. I took Art and Math at the High School and then headed over to Bowling Green State University for college classes each afternoon. I spent a lot of extra time in the art room that year. I couldn't wait to get out of my hometown and head to Athens, Ohio where I'd study at Ohio University. For me, my Senior Year couldn't go fast enough. 

A couple of my Senior Pictures from 1997

Looking back, I wish I'd soaked up the time a little bit more; been less focused on a boyfriend and enjoyed the moment a little more rather than counting down the minutes before it was over. 

Maybe that's why Senior Portraits are my favorites to shoot, I often find myself telling my Seniors to enjoy it, that real life comes so quickly after High School and the years start to fly by. I also just really enjoy this age, they  know who they are, expressing their ideas, opinions and pushing so hard into that independent stage. Yet they still turn to mom and dad quite often. 

I enjoy watching the dynamic between parents and kids during each Senior Session.  Some parents put it all in their child's hands and let them take the lead for their pictures and sometimes parents have some very definite expectations and ideas. It's in these situations that I push a bit to let my senior's voice be heard. I feel very strongly that when I present my clients with their gallery that they look at them and think, "yes, that's me, as I am, right now" 

I think I'm passionate about my capturing my clients as they are now because I'm not a huge fan of my Senior Portraits or the experience (sorry mom). I went to a local, traditional studio in my hometown. I had a few outfits, non that I loved. I remember hating my hair that day....it was usually up in a ponytail or a bandana. I had wanted my pictures outside and I can't remember why that didn't happen. But to this day, I still want them outside! I don't see the me described above in my senior pictures. I kinda wish I had one of me in my Phish T-shirt and outside in a field. So my goal is to make sure both Senior and their parents get what they want, so here's what I want you to think about when you are planning your senior session. 

An example of an Urban Location - Dillon Montana 

When it comes to location, is there a place that is special to you? Where you've spent a lot of time during your high school years?  I've photographed Seniors at their ranches with their animals, the football field, the basketball gym, the local bridge where summers are spent jumping into the river, camping spots where childhoods were spent and recently the public library.  You can also go with a specific look you'd like, whether it's an urban shoot, in the mountains, by a river or a field of wildflowers. Don't count out studio shots as well, they don't have to be the super posed and formal shots from my days of Senior portraits! 

Studio Portraits don't have to be 1997 Style

Rainbows not guaranteed. 

Go somewhere that you love. 

Another example of a Studio Shot

Don't be afraid to add accessories like hats

What to wear. This is never easy, I dread picking out outfits for myself for pictures, so I feel your pain. Again, I stress you want your pictures to be you. Don't pick outfits that you wouldn't normally wear, if it's completely out of your comfort zone it will show. I encourage you to have at least two outfits with some of my packages having 4 outfits. Ladies: mix it up; dress, jeans with a couple different shirt options, and shoe options. Pick out clothing that fits well and that the proper undergarments are worn. You won't want pictures with your bra straps showing and well, if I have to edit them out, I'm going to have to charge you more! Neither of us wants that.  

It's ok to dress it up just a bit, guys! 

Guys: I know you don't care and just want to be casual and that's ok. T-shirts are fine with me if that's you, but I'd really like you to have one more nicer shirt for at least a few shots and mom will too! 

 

A couple more tips - mostly for the ladies - make sure your nails are manicured. They don't have to be painted but if you have paint chips on them, again, I'll have to edit them out and charge you more. Accessories/jewelry - if you love jewelry and wear a lot of it, bring several options. As long as it doesn't overtake the outfit or you we'll use it! 

Make up - You can go just a tad bit heavier on the make up but not crazy. I want you to look like you. Make sure your foundation is the correct color for your skin tone. 

And this last one, yes I have to say this because it has happened. Please do not show up with your arms and hands covered in marker drawings and sayings...just please, don't! 

Finally, lets talk props. They are not a necessity to your session but if you have something you'd like to include by all means, we can! Horses, dogs, your favorite book, sports equipment, your car....I've done it all! It can be obvious or also subtle! We'll do several different poses with props. 

And to send you off, on the left is my Senior Picture, on the right, normal me as a Senior.....

The Battle I've Been Fighting

I've been a bit quiet this year, haven't been posting as much as I'd like, sharing more of my TJ Photography life or own personal life as I normally do. I feel as though it's time for an explanation.

Back in August when I was working like a mad woman on getting my studio open and just a few days before my open house I had this insane inflammation, swelling and pain in my hands. I had previously discovered a dairy allergy that causes pain and inflammation in my body, so we concluded that it was a reaction to dairy in conjunction with the massive amounts of painting, hammering and usage of my hands in the studio. Since I was getting into the thick of my marathon training as well, I avoided dairy like the plague. Fall was a bit of a blur between the marathon, my grandfather's passing and it being the busiest Fall in my business yet.
But with only a minor flare up here or there I didn't notice much. But then 3 days before Christmas I dislocated my shoulder, in my sleep nonetheless. I've dislocated it once before but it healed fairly quickly, this time it did not. I spent two weeks with the pain moving all around my left shoulder area. I concluded that I had just over done it, hadn't given myself enough rest time, etc.

Come January and I was ready for 2017, ready to just slay it this year and excited. But the last three months have been anything but what I envisioned. I've endured pain that has brought me to tears (many times), exhaustion, feeling depressed and very little motivation. I have had days that I can't open my hand due to the swelling and pain in my wrist and hand. There was a morning that my husband found me crawling across the floor from the kitchen to my bedroom because my knee was so inflamed and painful that I could not walk. Days that I couldn't lift my shoulder enough to change  my shirt. This pain is exhausting, pain days are basically  lost days because of the physical and mental toll they have taken on me.  I knew this was something serious, not just a food allergy and last week it was confirmed that I have Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). An autoimmune disease, my body is basically attacking my own joints.

I'm only in the beginning of figuring out what this means for me. RA is different for every person and I am hoping that we have caught it early enough that it hasn't started damaging my joints yet. Although I have had moments of complete devastation, especially when it comes to how, or if at all,  I will be able to incorporate running into my future, I also understand that I can live with this disease and get the pain under control and hopefully in remission. But this will not happen over night and will take time before we get to that point. My sister in law has been living with this for many years and before my official diagnosis we chatted and these words have stuck with me during some of my darker moments "even though you'll have to let go of some things that you once really enjoyed, you will find new things to enjoy and be passionate about. If anything having RA has made me slow down and appreciate a lot about life that I didn't before."

In November and December I was determined to figure out how to slow down and appreciate things more. I was tired of being so "busy".  So in a way, although I never wanted a chronic illness, I'm wondering if this was my path to help me do just those things. I've found that my plans don't always pan out because I never know how I'll wake up and feel. I've missed things that I love like Run to the Pub, runs with friends, going to the State Basketball Game because of pain and the depression that tends to come with it. I have been at my kids events in a state of fog because I'm so tired or in pain that I don't really experience it.  I've sat at my desk for a whole morning basically staring at my computer not motivated or knowing what to do next.

So I've been quiet, forced a lot of smiles, felt like a hermit and considered just closing shop. But I know that's not what I want and not who I am. The morning just a couple of weeks ago when I couldn't open my hand I just kept thinking, "what if I can't take photos anymore? What if some day my hands get so bad I cannot do what I am passionate about?" The first few months of the year are always slower for shoots, this year I've been incredibly busy with Senior orders and designing announcements. My camera also had to go in for repair and it's really occurred to me how much I love being behind the camera! So as I move forward with this new reality and as I learn to live with and manage this disease, I will not let it take these passions away from me. Not my photography at least.  (The running is quite possibly a different story and where I will have to find a new passion).

I am not 100% sure exactly this will affect my business, although I do know that I will focus primarily on my Senior Photography and Families. I will also make a point to shoot for myself, to capture my kids more often again, to take my camera on hikes and complete more personal projects.

I never know how I am going to wake up feeling, I never know where the pain may be tomorrow so I am trying to enjoy the little things more often.  With that, I'd like to challenge myself to do a photo of the day each day that I'll post on Instagram and Facebook...I will do my best to do it daily, to notice an ordinary thing of my day a little differently.

Today's photo, is this. My 4.5 year old loves to hold my hand as we walk, she's headed to Kindergarten next year and is my baby. As my oldest is turning 13 next week, I am just realizing how quickly it really goes and as I watch her exert her independence I sure like having someone that still likes to hold my hand. And also that today my hand will open to hold hers.

And this because I think of this often these days!