by Shelly | Jul 30, 2011 | senior portraits, SPCcreative |
So . . . I just delivered another senior album to a recent graduate and his mom.
My job has lots of favorite parts, but one of the biggest rushes EVER is the delivery process. I get downright giddy to watch a mom beam and actually shout with joy when she puts her hands for the first time on the canvas wall portraits of her practically grown child. Seeing the kids themselves beam as they look over mom’s shoulder while she exclaims every single time she slowly turns the pages of the new shiny album . . . well,
WOW! THIS, my friends, is why I love doing what I do!
Senior portraits are a HUGE tradition in this part of the country. For most kids, this is the last opportunity they’ll have to be photographed professionally until (and if) they choose to get married. That’s why we take the time to explore the their personalities and make a fun-filled event out of their photo sessions. Even the boys who don’t usually start out too excited about “having pictures made” all admit — out loud no less — that they actually had a great time during their session.
Afterwards, we have tons of great images. Selecting just a few is oh-so-hard, but I have some great solutions. The absolute favorites become canvases and wrap prints for the wall, they go into custom graduation announcements, and of course gifts for grandparents, aunts, uncles, and siblings. Everyone loves tons of different wallet prints for passing out to friends. AND there’s nothing more exhilarating than taking the rest of our images, the ones that make us smile, the ones that make us laugh, the ones that make our eyes mist up, and compiling them into an heirloom book or album so that we can enjoy them all for YEARS and YEARS to come.
Here are some pages from Michael’s album that I just delivered.
Michael, who is enjoying his summer looked totally different the other day when I delivered his book. He’s fishing a lot, and sporting an oh-so-handsome Hollywood-worthy beard. That’s something you just don’t get by with in high school. He’ll soon be packing his gear and heading off to college, but his parents have some great prints on their walls an an amazing album to look at every time they get a little wistful. The holidays will come soon, and I hope he’ll come by for a visit while he’s home, because MY seniors become MY kids . . . and I get a little wistful too.
by Shelly | Jul 21, 2011 | senior portraits, SPCcreative |
Seems like everybody is dragging a bit in this dreadfully hot and dry summer, and they tend to think that it’s just not a good time to go outside at all, much less schedule outdoor portraits.
Well, I have news for you! My favorite tips for survival are to move slowly, know a good Air Conditioning Repair Guy, keep a big pitcher of iced tea close at hand . . .
and of course, NOTHING beats a little POOL TIME!
Inspired by Macon, GA photographer Lee McDavid who says that a $12 kiddie swimming pool was one of his best investments ever, I started thinking about new ways to keep our summer senior photography sessions super cool. After a visit to the Goodwill store with one of my favorite high school seniors, we hit the pool with prom dresses and cameras in hand.
Sooo much fun! After a little pool and waterfall time, we finished our session by breaking in my brand new bamboo shower wall.
I’m loving my private portrait park just a little bit more every single day.
Our summer may be flying by, but we’ve still got two or three more months of intense heat. We’re onto something very cool over here!
Don’tcha think?
by Shelly | Jul 17, 2011 | engagement, SPCcreative, wedding |
When Laura and John asked me to photograph their wedding, I was beyond excited.
Laura and I first met several years ago through our positions in medical nonprofit public relations, and we’ve been involved in several projects together since then. Her gutsy “Take-on-the world” spirit has always impressed me, and the sparkle in her eyes only begins to reflect her generous caring heart. You’ve GOTTA love a gal who devotes her days to saving lives by promoting organ donations all across this great State of Texas.
And John . . . well, he is absolutely head over heels in love with Laura. Good choice, John! Great catch, Laura!
We met for engagement photos on the grounds of the beautiful Houstonian Hotel and Spa. This is where they had their first date and also where John proposed to Laura, giving her his grandfather’s heirloom diamond in a beautifully–set ring. Sentimental? Oh yeah!
After our session we just HAD to swing by Tasti Delite, one of their favorite hangouts for frozen yogurt. Oh MY! It is GOOD STUFF!
I can hardly wait until their big day — January 21, 2012 — and I’m sure they’re a bit excited as well!
by Shelly | May 17, 2011 | family, SPCcreative |
Little boys grow up entirely too fast! I know. Mine sure did.
Fortunately, my friend Montse is wise enough to have figured that out. Her sons have entered that fleeting age where they bounce between being little boys full of mischief and silliness to young men with generous hearts and gentlemanly manners.
What better way to freeze this moment in time than a non-traditional family-lifestyle photography session?
Montse wanted to capture her family’s personality and activities, and she was super-enthusiastic about our session. She packed several sets of clothes, and had the kids bring a few of their favorite toys including light sabers (and Jedi Robes) , hand-held computer games and even the WII controllers. She and her oh-so-easy-on-the-eyes husband even hauled a laptop computer and a book to the park.
They’re going to keep on growing up, but Mom and Dad will always have these super-fun portraits on their walls to stir their hearts full of memories.
by Shelly | May 15, 2011 | senior portraits, SPCcreative |
For Kandi’s senior portrait session, she wanted a fun and funkly urban look, and I believe we pulled it off beautifully.
I had first met her mother last summer when she and one of her very good friends rocked the camera in a Trash the Dress session that I blogged about back in July.
Anyway, and I could hardly wait to see her again and to meet Kandi.
We picked a Friday afternoon to meet in downtown Houston for a walking session that covered just a few city-blocks where we found a great variety of settings.
Oh my goodness it was fabulous, and I can hardly wait to go back down there to shoot again.
Here’s the album we created with her favorite images. I feel certain that she’ll enjoy showing these off to her friends and family for years and years to come.
Enjoy your graduation celebrations, Kandi, and have a wonderful time in college. I know you’re going to SHINE.
