Bad Dreams and Senior Sessions

I had a nightmare that I scheduled a senior session for the same time that my mother had scheduled a newborn shoot. We were both using the same in- home studio. I was frustrated because she didn't communicate that she was going to use the studio, because she was doing a free shoot for a friend. My client showed up but I didn't know he and his parents arrived until I heard extra voices coming from the studio.

I know this was nightmare because:
1) I don't have a studio in my house.
2) I wouldn't do a senior shoot in a studio.

No need to stress because this wouldn't happen, ever. Seriously though, I would never stand for a senior session that was so uninspired as to take place in front of a boring paper-backdrop.

Each high school Senior has a unique personality and their photo session is not just a picture of them in a cap and gown for their graduation invitations,  but a way to showcase who they have become and where they want to go.

Here are some of my favorite High School Senior photos from the past few years.

Copyright - Bright Photography

Danielle Bright

brightphotosbydanielle.com

What lead to this image.

Inspiration doesn't always come until after I have seized the opportunity. 

Such is the case with this image, I have titled "Bathsheba."

Monsoon season is something we in the desert of Arizona look forward to, almost how a child looks forward to the ice cream man driving around the corner. 

As a photographer, I know I should seize the opportunity and go take photos, but I never had the inspiration to create something new and different. Oh, sure I could design a paper boat and have one of my children stand in the water and then do a composite of the child in the boat in the water...but that has been done, it isn't new. 

On this Summer day, as the rain poured down in sheets, my children felt my excitement and desire to go create something. "Mommy, are we going to go take photos in the rain?" I said yes, and told my oldest to go get dressed as I perused my boxes of random photo wardrobe items I had begun to collect. I grabbed the pink terrycloth bath wrap I picked up at a garage sale from the free bin and hollered to my daughter down the hallway that I have something for her to wear. Oh, "and grab a bottle of shampoo!"

By the time we reached the desired location and positioned in the right spot, the rain had reduced to a trickle...this displeased me, but I was already here, so I might as well shoot.

As Sadie lathered the shampoo in her hair, I sang a bit from the musical South Pacific, "I'm, gonna wash that man right outta my hair. I'm gonna wash that man right outta my hair. I'm gonna wash that man right outta my hair, and send him on his way!" Those who have had me do their photos in the past know that I will break out into song at any moment.

Our shoot decidedly finished when my daughter spotted a father and daughter walking their dogs toward us and she became bashful. It was good that we stopped, because the dogs came splashing in the puddle to say "Hi" to Sadie.

It wasn't until I was done editing and picking through the images that I decided on the title "Bathsheba." 

Note: This was only because she was "bathing" outside, and has nothing to do with seduction. Yes it is named after the Bible story character, but in a completely innocent way. 

Moral of the story -> Don't wait for inspiration to strike. Seize the opportunity and let the journey inspire the end result. - Danielle Bright

Say Cheese?

My youngest has a little camera and is walking around saying, "Say cheese!", and it made me think, why? If someone didn't understand the reasoning behind this request, it would seem quite odd.

The purpose is to make the subject, assuming they speak English and are able to speak, make the "E" sound, and thus turning their mouth into shape resembling a smile.

I have a few other words I use to get clients to make this face. They are, in no particular order:

1. Mommy
2. Daddy
3. Cookie
4. Puppy
5. Kitty
6. Poopy
7. Papaya

Number 6 is a popular one among little boys. Number 7 makes adults smile just because it is unexpected. 

So, the desired effect is a smile, but unfortunately it can also result in what my family calls the "Chicken Run" face.

I have learned that "cheese" doesn't translate well in Spanish, but the result is humorous enough to get Hispanic clients to crack a smile. "Say queso!"

I recently did what could be called "marathon" portrait sessions at a church nativity event, where families were lined up for a free photo with a pretty backdrop.

I had to get complete strangers to quickly pose and smile for a photo, which means I had to create an instant rapport. I can say it takes a very specific set of skills which have been developed over the years to successfully take photos in this manner of individuals with a variety of personalities.

It takes a lot of energy for me to step into the role of confident, extroverted professional photographer. It is just a facet of multi-dimensional me. :-)

Anyway, back to cheese. Where did this begin? Why cheese and not peas? What do photographers in other countries say to get their clients to pull a smile? Probably not queso.






Photo credit - PetaPixel, Rotten Tomatoes, Bright Photography

Why so serious?

So, back when the camera was first invented and people started having their photo taken, they had to stay very still and didn't smile.

This is an old family photo, I can't remember who all is there, but you can see that it is kind of a theme. The reason they did this was due to a mechanism that is still in cameras today. That part of the camera that makes the "click" sound is the shutter. It is the part that opens and closes really quick to let light (the photo part of photography) into the camera. Anyway back then the shutter was not automatic and the plate with the light sensitive chemicals on it (no film yet) needed to be exposed for 3 seconds at least.

I took this photo of my hubby a couple years ago just for fun. This is what happens if you move with the shutter open, you get a blur. So of course most photos from the early 1900's have lots of somber faces. 

Well, I just found some Victorian Era photos online of people who were not afraid to crack a silly smile for the camera. These are my favorites found at Vintage Everyday. They are part of a family collection held at Northumberland Archives.

Don't be afraid to be yourself for the camera. Be silly, you know I will be silly behind the camera.

Persistent Proselyting (a comedy)

My cousin Jarom is going on a church mission, and so as part of his photo shoot, we decided to have a little fun at the barber shop.

While it seems like a good idea to engage a captive audience, it is not wise to do so when that person is wielding a sharp utensil. 

What scriptures could he possibly be sharing at the Barber Shop?

This is all just poking fun at those Elders who get so fired up that they forget to take a moment to breath. 

This barber is having trouble even reading the small print. I guess Elder Hawkins had better highlight the verses next time. 

The Zombie Engagement Shoot: Brandi + Derek

The bride-to-be, Brandi, used to babysit my children. So when she said she was engaged, I offered my services. I knew the shoot would be fun as soon as she said zombies, but I had no idea it would be this awesome.

The groom-to-be, Derek, worked seasonally at the local Fear Farm, Halloween corn maze and haunted houses. He had friends that were willing to participate to make this shoot pretty awesome with costumes and make-up. I knew this would be a large production so I enlisted the help of my friend Shaun. Best decision ever!

I had to talk them into a few more classic poses as their parent's weren't thrilled with the zombie idea. That evening, we had limited resources. The power was out at the vendors, so I had to use Photoshop to make the lights illuminate. I also sprinkled a few stars in the sky.

Our couple enters the haunted house, where the Derek protects Brandi from a madman. Is that a zombie in the doorway?

Trying to escape the zombies, Derek gets bitten!

In the cemetery, Brandy notices the bite on Derek's arm, but it is too late!

Death means cool blue tones!

Zombie Derek finds the perfect ring for his zombie bride on the hand of a conveniently hiding (and not very well) victim, under a church pew!

Sweet and creepy all in one shot. Love it!

This cute zombie couple shares a moment in an abandoned Spanish chapel.

They are dying to get married.

My youngest daughter is 3 and nerdy!

My youngest is the cutest little nerd I know, so I took her to the local library for a fun birthday photo session. The outfit was provided by my best friend Michele.

She wears these cowboy boots everywhere! 

I had originally purchased the dinosaur toy for an experimental shoot with my nephews, but Amelia fell in love.

At the ripe age of 3, she is already a die hard Doctor Who fan. I knit this 10-foot-long scarf for this shoot, so she and I kinda fight over who it really belongs to.

Mommy So Pretty!

One of my favorite memories was of a time when my mother let my brother and I do her hair and make-up. It was a rare treat to play with colors and relay our creative abilities onto her willing canvas, a.k.a her face.

Children have so much love for their mothers and beam with pride whenever they share their drawings.  I came up with this concept a while ago and as it is Mother's Day weekend, I thought the timing would be perfect. I sent out a message on Facebook and invited all women with children ages 2-5 to come to my house for a special photo shoot. I informed them that they need not do their hair or make-up as that would be done for them before the photo. I carefully avoided telling them until they arrived that their own precious toddler would be their make-up artist and hair stylist. While reactions ranged from welcome to apprehensive, all the moms stayed and had a fun time watching their children make them so pretty. I have included the documentary photos as well as the portraits to this blog. 

Mr D. took a while warming up to playing with the make-up. But once he did, it was wonderful. He chose to put a tiara on his Mommy.

Since this little guy is the only boy in his family, he doesn't get too many opportunities to do fun make-up stuff with Mommy. This was a great bonding activity. Look at the focus on his face!

Miss M. focused much of her artistic attention to only one side of her Mommy's face. Still so pretty!

My friends were complaining that I wasn't getting a make-over, so I joined in the fun with my youngest daughter. She wanted to put make-up on herself almost as much as she wanted to do put it on me. I am pretty good at directing a shot, but I am so awkward in front of the camera. My sweet husband helped take my photo.

Some of the Mommies chose to reciprocate the love by putting make-up on their children. Note: There really is no way to pose a toddler, I just have to shoot and pray that I got a good shot. Sometimes toddlers give me the best poses like the one below. 

This poor Mommy was doubly decorated, as both her little girls participated in making her so pretty. The hair style is great too!

I made sure that the children wore large shirts so they didn't get any make-up on their clothes, and sheets on the Mommies for the same reason. Looks like the sheet was slipping in this shot. 

The stylish Mommy is wearing green eyeshadow on her forehead and blue mascara this season. At least that is what Miss H. had in mind for her favoritest Mommy ever. 

Miss A. believes that it is all about vertical line patterns. One must also apply every shade in the lipstick pallet directly to the cheeks

I am so grateful for the wonderful participants for this project. It was so much fun!

If you liked this entry, go check out Adults eating like Babies!