Sassy Sara {Colorado Springs Senior Photographer}

This girl was a BALL to photograph. It took us a while to acutally get the shoot done between her crazy school and work schedule and then her home Black Forest Fire burning down in the fire this summer. Her family has the most amazing attitudes. I went up to their amazingly beautiful 10 acres of burned land and took some pictures of it. I was so impressed with all of the laughing, smiling, and love they had for each other. They were doing nothing but looking ahead at the possibilities of things to come.

Stunning Taylor {Colorado Springs Senior Photographer}

This shoot. Oh goodness. Ya know when you have one of those shoots that is just magical... where every time you look at the back of the camera you get giddy? That was this one. Taylor is just beautiful. She's amazing. She's talented. She's humble. She's single. ;)I was so excited that the weather mostly cooperated and even when it was drizzling, we still got some amazing images!!

Professional Hair and Make Up {Colorado Springs Senior Photographer}

With my sitting fee comes professional hair and make up. It's hard to find someone you like in both of the categories but once you do, it's amazing.  I've heard placing an ad on Craiglist works.  I just asked around.   I have found some really talented girls just out of Cosmotology School do help me out with hair.  They go to my clients home and use enough product so that, even at the end of the shoot, their hair looks amazing!  For make up, I have settled on the Clinique counter at Dillards Department Store. I think a lot of different places would work but we are a little limited down here in Colorado Springs. Because I use the Clinique counter (FREE!!) I am able to give the girls a $25 gift card to spend while they are there.  That one seems to be a home run every time with the Senior girls!I have been very lucky to work with some naturally beautiful girls. However, the camera eats make up for lunch!  You need to go a little heavy on the make up to really notice it. I have done it both ways, (with/without hair and make up), and let me tell you, I will NEVER go back. I am also one of those photographers that believes that Seniors should look 18... not 25.  They can look 25 in their engagement pictures!  ;)

Check out these "before" and "after" pictures. These girls go from natural beauties to complete knock outs!  (Thank you Facebook-   - and my beautiful seniors- for the "before" images!)

Twins!~ Colorado Springs Senior Photography

I really love photographing twins.  I love photographing identical twins even more.  My amazing sister has identical twins that I photograph at every possible turn.  These twins (Sarah and Mary Kate) are just as darling (although twice the age as my nieces!)  They were so cute together making each other laugh and driving each other nuts!  It was just perfect!

Go Team! Go!~ Colorado Springs Senior Photographer

This is the second year I have taken the varsity pictures for Pine Creek High's Cheer Squad.  I gotta say, this shoot is always a favorite!  The girls are up for anything and this year we had a fun theme and they even did some stunts for me.  I decided to do an individual shot of each girl as well.  They looked so darling that I wouldn't resist! Obviously I can't post every single one of them here so I am randomly picking a few of my favorites.

Amazing Alexis~ Colorado Springs Senior Photographer

 

I met Alexis' family when we first moved up here about 2 1/2 years ago.  Her family is just as remarkable as she is!  I always tease her mom that I'm going to adopt Alexis and claim her as my own. ;)  I adore her THAT much!  She's got this amazing red hair, yet she's laid back and super chill.  Not the normal red head.  (I can say that because I have redish hair too! :))  I was really excited when she chose to be one of my Senior Spokesmodels because I wanted a chance to do something nice for her since she has blessed my life so much without even knowing it.

Miss Sarah~ Colorado Springs Senior Photographer

We met Sarah in the most unconventional way.  About a year and a half ago her High School had Carter be a special guest at their football game.  It was such a fun experience for the entire family!  Addilyn, at the ripe old age of 4, fell in love with the "pompom girls".  Sarah happened to be one of the famed "pompom girls" and she quickly took my little cutie under her wing.  Addi cheered with them for the rest of the night. I'm pretty sure she thought the entire crown was cheering JUST for her.  We haven't let Sarah out of our sight since.  She's been an involved member of our family, including birthday parties, babysitting, and chatting into the late hours of the night.  I don't think she will ever know the influence she has had on my kiddos, but especially Addi.

Sweet Mary Kate~ Colorado Spings Senior Photographer

This girl is such a riot.  She is not only beautiful (obviously) but she is super smart and an unbelievable golfer!  She was SUCH a tough chick while we were out shooting, too!  She stayed out with me in the SNOW so we could keep shooting!  I was in my heavy winter coat and gloves and she was just cruisin' around in a sweater!  Color me impressed!

Naomi~ Colorado Springs Senior Photographer

While we were in Arizona last spring I took some senior pictures for my oh so beautiful sister-in-law. She's so amazing and is now finishing up her freshman year at BYU (go Cougars!!).  It was so much fun (I so rarely get one-on-one time with her) and the light was PERFECT!  We had so much fun talking about all kinds of things and I'm so greatful I was able to hog her for an entire evening!!!  She is now about to head off to Buenos Aires, Argentina on a mission for our super awesome church.

I'm really going to miss having Naomi to pick on.  She's the youngest in Bryan's family so she gets MORE than her fair share... but she can take it... and she dishes it.  So, it's only fair (although I'm sure she doesn't see it that way.)

I will now start taking applications for the suitors she will undoubtedly have when she comes home.  But for now, she's serving the Lord and growing up from a high schooler to an actual woman.  (Seriously, how old does that make ME??  Pretty sure I'm still only 25...)

Class of 2014 Senior Spokesmodels!~ Colorado Springs Senior Photographer

I am SO excited about my Senior Spokesmodels for the Class of 2014 .  They are the cutest girls who are just as amazing on the inside as they are on the outside.  Not to mention TOUGH!  On our shoot the weather did NOT cooperate with us.  It rained a little.  It snowed a little.  The wind was blowing at least 95 mph (ok, that may be a slight exaggeration ;)).  It.  Was.  Freezing.  While I did my part in buying them all a Starbucks, I felt so dang bad for them while watching them dressed for spring in what turned out to be the dead of winter.  Here is a highlight of the evening.  The rest are still under construction but I wanted to give the girls at least a little teaser!  Over the next few weeks they will each be getting their very own blog post but fornow this will have to do.   So, without further aedui....  

Melissa~ Colorado Springs Senior Photographer

Way back when... Seriously it's been MONTHS, I was lucky enough to take this cutie's senior picutres.  She's only a few months from graduating right now and I gotta say, I'm kind of bummed.  She's super cool.  She's a great babysitter.  She's an amazing example to those around her.  She's just Melissa.  I had a lot of fun taking pictures of her and getting that *real* smile to come out.  (I'm not a fan of the fake grins. ;))

Pine Creek Cheerleaders~ Colorado Springs Senior Photographer

These girls were seriously so darling.  They are the Varsity Squad at Pine Creek High School.  This is a first for me... 20+ girls that are all super cute and very cooperative.  I really had a lot of fun with them.  We have already promised their captain that we will be up at State watching them compete and cheering them on.

There are more over on facebook so head over and check them out.  This is my Chic Critique Glimpses 52 post for the week.