by Shelly | Jul 19, 2014 | musician, senior gals, senior portraits |
Creating Shana’s senior portraits made me SUPER happy for several great reasons.
First, she and her mother came to my studio just a few years after I photographed her older brother as a senior. It’s just so encouraging to receive that extra vote of confidence when clients come back again.
Shana first caught my eye and attention when she was a typical Freshman and a member of the Taylor High School Color Guard. I’ve photographed that group since before she entered high school, and it’s been fun to see her become such a sweet, gentle, and self-assured young lady.
She always had a big sparkly smile for me both from the stands and from the field when I was covering the high school football games. Well, maybe she wasn’t looking for the camera from the field. She was concentrating on her show — as she should be — but I loved watching for her because she was definitely one of my favorites.
She’s probably one of your favorites too, if you’ve had a chance to get to know her.
I’m very excited to watch the next phase in her life as she heads to North Texas State where she will study … WAIT FOR IT . . . .
WAIT FOR IT — WAIT FOR IT–
Where she will study PHOTOGRAPHY! That’s it! A girl after my own heart!
So, Shana — I expect you to bring back your portfolio and come visit when you get home at Christmas time because I want to see what you do! Deal?
by Shelly | Apr 16, 2014 | musician, senior guys, senior portraits |
Ahhhh Travis, even though he was the very first senior from the class of 2014 to walk through my doors, for some reason I am just now getting around to blogging his portrait session.
Mea Culpa! What can I say?
This is one of the most fantastic guys I know. Not only is he smart, talented, creative, and very handsome, he gets extra points in my book for hanging out in the kitchen and visiting with us one day when his mom had me and a few other women over for coffee. That’s one of the bravest things a guy can do, and I’ve gotta hand it to him.
APPLAUSE APPLAUSE APPLAUSE
Musical talent?
He’s got it. Not only did I get a nice guitar serenade during our session, Travis also plays violin in the top orchestra at Katy High School — a group that performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City earlier this year. Take all that musical talent and tie it in with his love of steampunk and a little time to play around in the studio, and we came up with some mighty fun images for him, don’t you think?
I also LOVE LOVE LOVE his sense of style. With his suspenders and bow tie, Travis joins a long list of notable leaders, celebrities, and commentators who could probably run the world if they chose to.
He’s in good company!
He also volunteers with an EMS team and in a clinical setting at one of our local hospitals.
I’m beyond impressed with Travis and so excited to see what life after graduation has in store for him. THRILLED that I got to be the one who created his senior portraits.
Congratulations, Travis!
by Shelly | May 6, 2013 | musician, senior guys, senior portraits |
Some of my favorite portrait sessions involve thoughtful, pensive seniors and their musical instruments. Tyler’s session was certainly one of those favorites.
Maybe the musical aspect tugs at my emotions because all of our kids were in band during our own high school years — or maybe I secretly want to relive my own youth, but it’s more likely because these kids completely relax through their music as they connect with their instruments
Tyler’s got some serious talent on both the acoustic and electric guitar, and BONUS!!!!! I got to enjoy a private mini-concert while we shot.
Tyler’s younger brother, Cody came along for the session as well, and I’m always up for adding a sibling or best friend into the mix for a few images. Watching brothers together is so fun. They know each other inside and out, so it’s like having a secret weapon or tool in the studio. They’re guaranteed to bring out laughter, mischief, and above all, attitude. 
Tyler graduates this spring from Cinco Ranch High School and will attend college locally, at least for his first year while he explores a few of the many options available to him.
Just don’t forget your music, Tyler. It will continue to enrich your life for years and years to come — and you can always come back and play for me any time.
by Shelly | Mar 21, 2013 | musician, senior gals, senior portraits |
The first time I met Hannah, she was just a Freshman in the Taylor High School Color Guard. — You probably know the Color Guard as the kids with flags, rifles and streamers during football halftime performances. That’s only part of the story. After football season ends, these kids continue practicing and competing throughout the winter.
I absolutely love photographing official school groups like the CG because it gives me a chance to meet and get to know a little bit about these kids.
It may not be fair to say so, but I always have a few “favorites,” and Hannah was definitely one. I just always loved her sweet smile and spunky attitude — so I was thrilled when she came into the studio for her senior portraits. 
After graduation Hannah will head east to her family’s “home country” where she will attend classes at Louisiana State University as a pre-med student, leaning toward pediatric medicine.
And I couldn’t help but dig out her freshman color guard pictures (below) … She is definitely the same sweet girl I met back in the fall of 2009… Just a little more grown up and college-ready.
by Shelly | Jan 9, 2011 | musician, senior gals, senior portraits |
How exciting for the class of 2011! You have just started your final semester of high school. It’s going to fly by too, so buckle up for the ride and have a great time.
When I get to schedule band kids for senior portraits, I always get super excited. It means they’ll probably show up with musical instruments and maybe even their letter jackets in addition to a great selection of clothes and personal props. Fort he record, flute players always hold a special place in my heart. That’s because I was once one myself, — but that was back in the day when we rode dinosaurs to school.
It doesn’t hurt at all if these kids are drop-dead gorgeous like Hillary. She was such a natural, self-assured and fun to work with. We changed clothes several times, and laughed lot while we tried out some of the brand new background sets that my wonderful husband recently built for me.
The end result? Some awesome wall portraits for her parents, personalized graduation announcements, and a beautiful hard-bound coffee table book that I am delighted to share here.
