As many of you know, I always plan my sessions ahead of time. This time the planning took more than a month and our agenda went through 6 iterations of changes. I worked closely with the parents of the senior and herself. We identified that we would go for 3 looks/outfits. Starting with a fresh casual look of straight hair and light makeup. She would like to wear a fitted t-shirt, jeans, and a scarf. I also lined up a professional makeup artist/hair stylist to get her dolled up! The makeup artist does great fashion editorial work. You could see how natural the first look is. We shot the first part just outside of my studio in Kansas City downtown started very early in the morning when there was almost no traffic on the road. Mackenzie’s mom would like to do a road to the future theme. How great is that! I love working with clients like this! This time I am not the only one who is thinking and drafting out the details. We are all working together. Her dad was watching traffic from her back and her brother was at my back to make sure there’s no cars coming. The first two pictures are taken at the exact spot with tilting camera’s angle a little bit. She is just a natural photogenic beauty!
I have to say that I love shooting seniors! Our senior is Mackenzie Renee Mota and she is a proud member of Raymore highschool – Class of 2014. The second look is a glamour high school girl – curled hair with smokey eyes. I love that flower print dress she was wearing and a cute little cardigan outside. It’s totally my style. We went to the top of Liberty Memorial to shoot the second look. Mackenzie is heavily involved in a young Christian group called Young Life. The letter Y and L in the photos below represents Young Life. It is a big part of Mackenzie’s life.
For the third look, Mackenzie changed to a high school senior t-shirt and we went to shoot the last part in an alley at the back of my studio. The brick walls of my studio building is a must for senior photos. We even got her to climb on the emergency stairs. The entire family helped to pull the weighs down to get her on the steps. Mackenzie had lots of fun blowing glitters! That is her idea! At last, still in the alley, there’s a single track abandoned railway, which is such a great photo spot. As a tradition, seniors would jump to celebrate reaching an important milestone in their life.
Finally I am sharing a little behind the scene story. For a detailed shoot with multiple outfit changes with mom and makeup artist involved, things will always change, so we as photographers have to be flexible and make the right decision at the right time. It is always good to have a plan though. Here’s the final agenda I wrote and used for the senior shoot. This is the longest session I have shot, it took longer than what I had planned. We finally wrapped up around noon that morning, but I think it’s worth it.
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Lai, the pictures are also beautiful. you did an amazing job. it’s really hard to say which ones are my favorite there are so many to choose from. her in the middle of the road, the glitter ones, train ones. you make everybody you photograph feel like a princess!
Amazing photos….beautiful girl. It’s going to be hard to narrow these photos down. I am in love with the glitter ones. Great idea Mackenzie!
These are awesome! And thanks for the behind the scenes!!