A Time to Relax

Sitting on a nice sunny patio in Florida, got me thinking about all the fun and different sessions that I could do with an adventurous high school senior.

When I was in high school, my senior portraits did not turn out anything like I expected. I wanted to have more of a "model" or "high fashion" feel. This is what I strive to accomplish for my seniors.


So, back to Florida... and all its beautiful water. Adding water to a portrait I feel adds a certain dynamic. Water can add a sense of mystery, it can symbolize innocence, and also add a dimension of light through the reflections. Brave seniors are encouraged to have sessions near lakes (with the option of going in the lake), pools, and fountains.


In my opinion, any setting that is out of the ordinary and lends to the seniors' individuality makes for a great session and wonderful portraits.

Portraits in the Woods

Recently I did a portrait of a father and daughter in the woods at Batsto. I chose a specific trail for them because there were many options for backgrounds--lakes, trees (of course), a bridge, sand, you name it. We had fun and got some great portraits too!

My sister...

Yes, as a photographer, I try to get everyone and anyone around me to model for me. My whole family has been suckered into that role at least once if not multiple times over the years. Afterall, I need to keep my portfolio fresh and updated.

The most recent, my sister. She decided to change her hair so before she changed the color I had her sit before my camera for a little while. I did her hair and make-up too. This is not a look she would normally chose for herself. :) I think it looks great on her. Enjoy a few pictures.

High fashion photography for models and high school seniors...

Since my senior year in college, I have loved doing high fashion type of photo shoots. I love working with people who are comfortable enough in front of the camera to not look at me strangely if I ask them to walk out into the ocean while wearing a bridesmaid's dress, or to climb up on some rocks while wearing a skirt. Sometimes what I ask a model to do may sound strange, but more often than not I'm right on the money and it becomes a great photograph.

I've started a Myspace page dedicated mainly to showcasing my high fashion model images and my high school senior images. I love doing photo shoots to help enrich models' portfolios. They give me vague parameters or a location to work with, and love the results.


High school seniors are a special group of people. I look at these photographs as their first chance to really shine and be themselves in a school portrait. You see, when I was a senior in high school I would have loved it if I had been treated like a model for a day. Don't get me wrong, my photographs turned out well, but I like to take it a step further and treat my seniors the way I would have liked, as if they were models doing high fashion type photographs. I also always try to keep it real and incorporate elements that represent part of their life, whether it be a pet, sport, or car.

Where to do on-location portraits...

Since I am predominately an on-location portrait photographer, a common question for me when I am scheduling a portrait is, "Where should we do it?"



There are several thing to consider when planning this. One question to ask yourself is "Do I want indoor or outdoor photographs?" If it is in the wintertime, make sure if you say outdoor you wouldn't mind being a little chilly especailly towards the end of the session. I have done great portraits in the colder months outdoors and even in the snow!



If you want indoor photographs at your house, make sure your furniture can be moved around if need be. Also, consider as an option a place important to you or your family, perhaps a yearly vacation spot. Even if you're not sure how conducive the spot will be to photography, ask! It might make for fantastic photographs. For example, recently a couple wanted their engagement photograph taken at the pool hall where they met. Even though they ultimately chose a different spot, the location, lower light aside, was a great idea.