Seniors

While my photography is always about capturing emotion, something true and personal about my subject, it is also about the artistry of light. This is never truer than during sunset sessions, like this one with Senior, Kyle, at Alder Creek Tract. The light is so perfect during that hour or so before the sun goes down and it’s so fun to walk through these gorgeous settings getting to know my clients while eyeing the scenery for the most dramatic backdrop. Kyle is the son of a family I got to photograph a few years ago and he is graduating from…

I love Senior session time! As a mother myself, I feel the mixture of emotion and excitement for these “coming of age” photos. It’s such a great opportunity to mark the first step into adulthood and, quite often, one of the last times that parents get to celebrate their sons and daughters as they were when still living at home; so much changes from hereon out! This session was all about Dylan, whose brother, Ryan, I photographed a few years back for his Senior portraits  For Ryan’s session, mom attended the session but shied away from the camera.  But this year…

I have been photographing Wyatt and his family for some time now; he is the last Nickel son to graduate this coming May. Over the years, I have photographed his brother, Matt, on his snowboard, and Hayden on the golf course,  so it seemed fitting that Wyatt and I would take advantage of whatever late-season snow was still around, to get in jumps over at Sierra at Tahoe. I’m a BIG fan of Senior sessions that capture the personality and vitality of the guy or girl I’m photographing. You’re only a Senior once, at your physical peak and with so…

Friendly, smart, personable…another wonderful afternoon with a graduating El Dorado High School Senior-Dakota Keeton, Class of 2013. Dakota enjoys water polo and with a little prompting, he humbly told me about the several colleges he was applying to. He also expressed interest in traveling and living abroad after college, perhaps Chile in South America. We spent the last part of the session shooting in the sprinkler system facing the sunset. He commented that he wasn’t really getting that wet.  My gear and I on the other hand, were drenched!  I came home and let my gear dry out again, ready…

It’s hard to imagine being anywhere else that first weekend in June. This year marked my 28th Chatham Hall graduation: actually 29, if you include my own graduation back in 1984. I truly enjoy heading across country year after year and documenting this beautiful event in the rolling green hills of Chatham, Virginia. Over the years I have also been allowed the honor of photographing many of the faculty and staff as they have been celebrated for their contributions to this school. This year I photographed Dr. Black, my English teacher from junior year, for his retirement and 30 years…

From the babysitter of my young girls to a graduating El Dorado high school senior…Samantha is moving on to the next step in her life. She will be attending our local community college, staying close to her two sisters and Mom and Dad. Just days before graduation with the fear of rain on her big day, her smile still shone amongst the spring flowers. She’s so beautiful!  Congratulations Samantha and best wishes to you in the new adventures that await you. I wish you all the success, love and happiness that this world has to offer and that you are…

River, rocks and the Death Gap. Ok, Ryan didn’t make us jump the gap (thankfully) but we sure had fun in the outdoors down by the American River at Alder Creek Tract. Ryan is a senior at a local charter school in Camino and is about to graduate. Next fall he will start at Lake Tahoe Community College where he will be closer to one of his great loves… the snow! Ryan competed for the Sierra-at-Tahoe team. He yearns for adventure and I know one day we will see him on the cover of an extreme sports magazine. I’m so…

I’ve known Ashley for at least a good 8 years and it is truly amazing to see these kids grow up right before your own eyes. Being the individual that she is, Ashley introduced me to a new location for her photographs. She loved it and was comfortable there. For me, I love discovering new spots…the adventure of new spots! I enjoyed Ashley’s earthy spirit and am excited to learn of the gifts she offers this world in the coming years. Congratulations Ashley. Click Here to View your Slideshow!

Photographing a photographer; what a joy- two creative souls working toward a common end. And then the nerves of being watched. Hard to avoid those self judgements (“she must think I am crazy”).  I think Ashlynn and I both had nerves (for about 2 minutes) but that instantly dissipated into a creative jam session out in the field, me behind the camera and her in front. We were on a roll, we couldn’t stop and it was SO much fun. I LIVE FOR THAT FLOW! I’m not sure anything feels better than being in “the flow”. Working with Ashlynn was…