Hayley has got one of the best serious faces EVER! Seriously, this girl can work.it. For this reason, she was crazy fun to photograph. I met her when I did the varsity cheer shoot last year. When I saw her again this year, I couldn’t believe how much she had grown up and come into her own. What a beautiful person she is, both inside and out! Thank you so much, Haley, for letting me take pictures of you and capture that beautiful personality!
I am so excited to have the amazing Meredith, with Memories by Mere, guest blog for me. I always try to educate my clients on how to make sure they don't mush into be background... but now you get to hear it from someone else! (YAY!) ;) Without further adieu... Meredith:
I often have clients ask me what they should wear for their photography session. While the quickest and easiest answer is to send them a “what to wear guide”, you may still be shooting yourself in the foot. For example, if I was photographing a senior session in a meadow and really wanted her to stand out, a green dress or top would blend in while an outfit with a pop of red would make the image more visually interesting. This is due to something called complimentary colors and they can be found opposite each other on the color wheel. In the case of the photo below, the red vest and pirate headband add visual point of interest to an otherwise very green image.
The three major complimentary color groups are green and red, orange and blue, and purple and yellow. By using this knowledge you can bring visual interest to an otherwise blah picture location. Let’s face it, while you may not be able to always control what your clients wear, you can control where they stand.
In the case of this little boy, if I had placed him in front of a green meadow or the blue sky, he would still be cute. By paying attention to what he is wearing and his eye color, I can plan for a more visually stunning effect. I noticed an old orange brick wall where we were and had him stand in front of it. By scouting my location ahead of time, I can map out where and what I want to photograph.
Whether you photograph children, landscapes, or objects, knowing your complimentary colors can vastly improve the look of your image. The photograph of this historical home was done at night as I experimented with HDR for the first time. The yellow stucco of the walls played will with the purple blue of the sky and made the home stand out from its surrounding brown Texas landscape. For your next photo session why not try implementing this element of art. It is one widely used in painting, marketing, and other art forms.
Meredith Ryncarz holds a M.Ed. in Art and has taught at several universities. She currently is the owner and principal photographer at Memories by Mere Photography. When she isn’t busy snapping photos or mentoring, she can be found chasing after her two crazy kids and trying out new foods with her foodie husband.
I met Emily at my make up night a few months ago. I knew right when I met her that I liked her. She has such a kind heart. I was SUPER excited when she chose me to photograph her senior pictures. I also got to take pictures of her at the Patriotic cheer shoot I did for her Varsity Cheerleading Squad in June. Thank you, Emily! I had SOOO much fun!!!!
I love layering for your Senior Session. Why? Well, it's simple. You can get several looks without really changing. Blazers are a great way to do this. You can assemble a really darling outfit with a blazer and take pictures. You can then take the blazer off and take more pictures! You can then quickly throw on a scarf and take MORE pictures. Three looks without even changing. Taylor did this for her senior pictures and it worked beautifully! It's genius, really.
Black and White Striped Blazer
Black and White Tailored Blazer
Burgundy and Cream Striped Blazer
Some girls are dressier. Some girls want to dress more maturely. Some girls want to be sure to express their inner adult in their senior pictures. Plus, coral is crazy in right now and contrasts amazingly in a natal setting. This outfit is for those girls.
This little cutie was so much fun to photograph. I took pictures of her with the lovely and talented Brittney Kluse at the Chic Retreat in Seattle in May. Don't you just adore her hair???
Every year after the cheer pictures, I offer to the girls who are still there, to do a few friend pictures. Just them and a friend hanging out. This year we had a few girls left over after the end of all of the individual and group pictures so I was able to snap a couple of quick pictures. I love how these girls are so much more than "on the same cheer squad". They are friends. They are there for one another. They love each other.
I cannot begin to tell you how much I like Chelsie. She is so kind. She has a lot of friends and rightfully so. I first met her at Addilyn's 5th birthday party. I then met her again... and again... and again. I really enjoyed my time with her and am REALLY excited that she is one of my Senior Spokesmodels for the Class of 2015. That means I get to so another session with her at the end of her senior year! Woot!
When I was growing up the local varsity cheer teams had ONLY juniors and seniors. Period. There just weren't underclassmen on the varsity teams. This cheer team has shown me year after year that it's not your age; it's your talent. I can't image how nerve racking it must be to be one of the youngest on the team... but it doesn't seem to bother these girls much. They can definitely hold their own.
I love it when girls go super duper girlie for one of their outfits for their shoot. Every girl has a wee bit of girlie-girl in her so why not flaunt it every now and again? I tell my seniors that if they would like their hair up for part of our session together to get their hair done so it looks great down, then have their hair stylist do it up BEFORE they leave her house! That way we can start with it up and let it down later in the session. It's really hard to put your hair up during the session... not to mention the valuable time it takes!
Also, I'm sure you're thinking, "Why have a hat AND put your hair up in a bun?!" Well, the hat doesn't have to be worn. You can use it as an accessory... something for your hands to do. Play with it. Throw it up. Use it to kind of hide behind while giving me a fun, flirty look. So many choices!
Gold Watch (In case the coral one isn't your thang!)
It seems like high school girls grow up a lot between their junior and senior year... but they also really grow up once they become upperclassmen for some reason. These girls are no exception. Some of them I have been taking pictures of since they were wee little freshmen. They have really come into their own. They are so sweet and really fun! I'm sure I'll blink and they'll be seniors!
This group of girls are so well rounded. They seem to have their heads on straight. They're spunky. They're fun. They're good role models to the rest of the cheer squad. I am really excited to work with several of them this year as they are my Senior Spokesmodels and clients. What a great bunch of girls I have been able to photograph the last 3 years!!
This is the third year in a row I have been lucky enough to take team pictures for this amazing team of sweet girls. I can honestly say it's one of my favorite shoots each year!! They are so boisterous and fun! They crack me up! I wish I could bottle their energy!!!
Totally loving this outfit for a Senior Session! Check out the stores below to find each piece of clothing. I know I say this CONSTANTLY but ACCESSORIZE! Can't you just see here how the accessories MAKE the outfit? You don't even have to wear the glasses. You could play with them or bite on the edge of them or just hold them! A lot of these items are on the pricier side but it's so easy to just snag the look without breaking the bank!
Floral Blouse: New Look
Necklace: 1st Dibs
Ring: Kelly Wearstler
Earrings: Annette Ferdinansend (you're going to want to find a knock off for these ones! YIKES!)
Glasses: My Theresa
Shorts: Mango Red Demin Shorts
Chucks: (I love me a good pair of AllStars! They go with EVERYTHING!)
Belt: Maison Boinet (I have a massive crush on this belt!)
Jean Jacket: Scotch and Soda
This sweet girl is a rock star. She was one of my Senior Spokesmodels for the Class of 2014. She worked so hard for me that she earned herself a free shoot! I'm thankful for all she did to help me grown my business and I'm SOOO excited for her to move onto new adventures! But, truth be told, I'm really going to miss her!
A few weeks ago I had a make up night at my house! I had my super awesome make up artist come and teach high school girls how to apply make up. They got to practice on a friend and follow along as Tabetha did one of the girls' make up. The girls seemed to have a lot of fun… and so did I! They went home with a beautiful, sparkly eyeshadow attached to one of my business cards… hint hint! ;) I think this needs to be an annual party!
This little girl, our little caboose, has got THE most contagious personality. She is so funny (on purpose!), silly, smart, a dancing-queen, a singing-princess, smart-alecky, compassionate, and such a great sister and our baby girl! I just want to freeze her!! I have to breathe into a brown paper bag every time I think about her leaving me for the big, bad world of kindergarten next year!! (Insert me doing the ugly cry <here>.) This child holds my heart. P.S. Her last day of preschool is taking place as we speak! :(
There are not words to express my love and admiration for this little man. He is courageous, sweet, brave, smart, silly, funny, and an amazing brother and son. Not a day goes by that Bryan and I don't thank our Father in Heaven for allowing this sweet boy to continue living here on earth with us. We would be lost without him. This Friday will mark the last day of his long, LONG, LOOOOONG fight against Leukemia. I remember blogging about this every step of the way when he first got sick. I would use my blog as a form of therapy. I could get stuff off my chest. I remember blogging that he would nearly be 9 when he would be done with his treatment. And now here we are… he's almost done with his treatment… almost done with cancer… almost done with third grade… and almost 9. Carter, you have touched so many lives throughout the last 3 years, two months, and 5 days. It has been a rewarding journey in so many ways but one I pray you will never have to relive.
I have decided that I love assembling outfits. It's fun! It's like shopping but without spending money! And you look cute in everything! ;) I have thrown together a few outfits to serve as inspiration for you when you are trying to plan what to wear to your Senior Portrait Session with me!
Floral blouse: New Look
Necklace: 1st Dibs
Ring: Kelly Wearstler
Earrings: A wee bit pricey but you could easily find knock offs!
Glasses: My Theresa (again, find yourself some knock offs!!)
Shorts: John Lewis
Shoes: Converse (I love my Chucks!)
Bracelets: These ones are super affordable!
Belt: I'm in love with this! It's from Far Fetch but I've seen ones like this at Target and Forever for much cheaper.
Jean Jacket: Scotch and Soda
I hope this has encouraged you to think outside the box which is your closet and to be cute, funky, and creative for your shoot!
Copyright Ⓒ 2017 Jennifer Wyeth Photography
