Ian's Senior Session, Dallas Christian High School

Waxahachie, TX - Ian is a Senior at Dallas Christian High School in Mesquite. He is a State Champion in tennis and plays a mean sweeper for the DC Soccer Team. He came down to Waxahachie and we got some very cool shots of him. Here are a few of my favorites. I am booking up fast for sessions in early 2009. If you want a session like this, get with me fast and get on the calendar.

Stephen, Dallas Christian High

Waxahachie, TX - Stephen is a Senior at Dallas Christian High School in Mesquite. He came out to Waxahachie to shoot with me this weekend. We got some very cool stuff from a new location (If I told where it was, I'd have to kill you). I am booking now for Senior Portraits for 2009. If you aren't on my calendar, you need to be. Don't settle for those stuffy studio shots with a guy who doesn't know Face Book from a Library Book. Ask any of my Senior clients, and they'll tell you they had a great time and their photos captured who they were. Here are a couple of favorites from Stephen's session.

Wind & Cold Didn't Stop Ryan's Senior Session

Waxahachie, TX - This morning was the coldest, windiest day of the fall so far. Did I say WINDY ? Yeah, windy. But Ryan, a Senior at Midlothian High School didn't mind. He even played his guitar for me in that cold wind. If you've ever played the guitar, you know you have to enjoy alot to play it with frozen fingers! What I like about my job is that I get to meet great people and learn about them. Ryan is a great kid who loves his guitar, participates in his youth group at church and is headed to Tarleton State next fall. When his mom called me and told me he wore a cowboy hat and played the guitar, I had one image that immediately popped into my head. I got that shot. I'm proud of it, and I hope Ryan enjoyed helping me get it :-). Thanks Ryan.

Shemberger Six, A Family Session/Senior Session

Dallas, TX - This session was unique because I mixed a Family Session with a Senior Location shoot. Elizabeth contacted me and asked if we could shoot a family session, and take some separate time to get some shots of her son, Jave, for his senior photos. Jave is an actor and needed some new head shots for his portfolio, also. Of course, I was more than happy to help and I think we got some great stuff from the Senior Session and the Family set. Here are a few of my favorites from the afternoon. We shot on location in Deep Ellum and at my favorite park near downtown Dallas.

My #1 Client

For any of you that know me, you know my daughter, Chandler, is 17, and graduating from Dallas Christian High in May. She's a National Merit Scholar, has personality and wit (just liker her dad), and I can't remember the last time she caused me any trouble. Yes I know, she's too old to have a dad my age, but that's not her version of the saying (I'm too young . . .).

Today, we went to downtown Waxahachie to work on her Senior Portraits. I'd been looking forward to this day for a while, but not so much that I wanted it to get here, more that I wanted to spend time with her and see how great she would look when we were done. Since she is a special "client", I thought it would be a good time to share some of the images, and talk about the different finished looks I can produce. We haven't decided on which of these we will print, but I processed a few versions of my favorite two shots from the day. I wanted to explain each and show you what you can expect in terms of finishing when I shoot a portrait for you.

Here is the first image. This is a good shot, even straight out of the camera, but you'll see it is a little bit washy, and doesn't "draw" your eyes to any one specific part of the shot. I like this pose for her because it is very natural, very relaxed, and makes me think she's still 14 and needs a ride home from the movies :-).

The next shot is the "basic edit", I like to call it. I color corrected it, softened her skin some, and brightened her eyes. Pretty basic and its ready to print.This is a basic black and white process from the same image. Its a classic feel and the focus point really moves to her face in this one. I burned in the edges a little to draw your eyes in.
I call this one the Wash Out. Essentially its a high fashion style process that blows out all of the highlights in the shot. It makes skin look super bright and is a very non-traditional antique look. I suspect Chandler will use this one for her Facebook page because its "COOL!".I call this one "The Look". I used a similar process as the "Wash Out", but didn't blow the whites out, and kept the colors fairly natural. Again, the focus here is on her face, where it should be. Her green eyes really pop in this version.


Ok I used a few different processes to finish the next image. First, the out of the camera version. Not bad and this actually works for me since the scene calls for a vintage feel. Again, a little bit washy, and needs "pop".

The next version is the "basic process". A little boost in contrast, a little color pop, and some skin smoothing to make her skin even more perfect.Now, my personal favorite, the black and white. This is actually a special black and white that is realted to the Sepia family, and has a little more red left in it than normal. It works great with the old rail yard we were shooting in.
And finally, my favorite, I call this one my HEY edit. Which came from the man that taught me this processing technique. Its essentially a boost in contrast, and some added warmth, along with a really strong vingette technique. To me this one looks like a catalog image for whatever brand of jacket Chandler is wearing. I'll probably frame this one for the office.
I hope this illustrates some of the really cool processing techniques I am using. At least it shows the various results. I can't tell you exactly HOW to get these looks from your own photos, of course. But if you're handy with Photoshop, you can probably get creative.

If you want to see Chandler's Senior Gallery in progress, click here.

A Senior Location Session: Heather

Dallas, TX - Last week I had the chance to shoot with Heather in Downtown Dallas. Heather is a senior at Crandall High School. We spent some time in Deep Ellum shooting her Senior Portraits. Heather has these AMAZING blue eyes, so be sure to click on the images to see them up close. Heather had never had her picture taken professionally before, so she took a little while to warm up. Once she did, I think we got some great stuff to help her remember her Senior year.

A Senior Session: Tricia, Part 2

Dallas, TX - Last week we shot part one of Tricia's Senior Location Session in Downtown Dallas. It was raining so Tricia wanted to come back for a second session and some late afternoon sunlight. We found just that and did some beautiful work. If you haven't booked a Senior Location Session with me, you better hurry. Fall dates are booking fast. Here are some of my favorites from today's session with Tricia. Click on the photo to enjoy a larger view.

A Senior Session: Tricia

Dallas, TX - Tonight we shot the first part of Tricia's Senior Location session. We did a casual shoot in Downtown Dallas. Tricia was awesome to work with and I'm looking forward to part two next week. Tonight we were expecting rain, so the umbrella made a great little prop. Here are a couple of my favorites from tonight's session.

High School Senior Graduation Announcements

Last week we finished shooting for Bryce, a Midlothian High School Senior. This week we designed his graduation announcement. This prints 4"x8" on a flat photo card. We can include a custom designed, one-of-a-kind graduation announcement in your package. Call or email me for details on Senior Location Sessions.

A Senior Session: Bryce Part 2 - Portraits

Dallas, TX - On Thursday I had a chance to meet back up with Bryce, a senior at Midlothian High School. We did part one of his session the week before. We shot some paintball action then, and we followed up with a casual portrait session in Downtown Dallas. Bryce was great to work with, took direction very well, and we had a great time. We caught a break from the rain and even got in a few rays of fading sun. Here are a few of my favorites from Bryce's session, and a link to a complete slide show with a full compliment of shots.

A Senior Session: Bryce and Paintball

Midlothian, TX - Last night we completed part one of Bryce's Senior Location Session. Bryce is a senior at Midlothian High School and an avid paintballer. Ok, I just realized I'm not exactly sure what you call someone who plays paintball, but you get the idea. He's good at it, and I think the photos we got show that he loves it, too. Watch here next week for part 2 of Bryce's session where we make him look like a rock star in his street clothes.