This family was anticipating the departure of their oldest as she headed off to college. So the mom wanted family photos of everyone together before their daughter left. Family photoshoots are wonderful milestone markers, and I’m always honored to document them for families.

It happens every fall; one week, the beautiful fall leaves are on the trees, and the next, they are down! I planned to start in a different spot, but the trees were like skeletons. Fortunately, we found another area in the park where the leaves were still hanging on.

This family came with smiles and props! Did you see the cute family pillow?!?! Adorable. And the blanket is theirs. They also brought other things for the oldest daughter’s senior pictures.

Can you believe she was a little reluctant to take her senior photos? Can’t tell, right? Natural beauty, this one. Did I mention she has flawless skin? How? I asked her what her secret was. She credits her grandmother for passing down that genetic trait.

Funny moments between siblings are also perfect for black-and-white photography. The eye is not distracted by color or lighting. It’s a moment in time. And, of course, the simple couple shot goes well in black and white.

A bright, happy day went well with this girl. She was a great sport because I will suggest where to sit or stand and how. Goodness, she can pull off any pose. Such a dream to work with, seriously.

I’ve taken her photos since she was a girl and, as far as I can tell, she’s always possessed confidence. Can’t you see it in the pictures? With her kind of poise, success is sure to follow no matter what path she chooses in the future.

Blink is right! Where did the time go? Joy is right too. I’ve enjoyed watching this family grow up for the last 12 years. This year, they wanted to reenact some of their favorite photos. So I had to blow the dust off an old external hard drive to dig out some of the images they referenced.

It’s always an encouragement to me to take photos of high school seniors. So far they have been so sharp, it just gives a person hope for the future. There is nothing like this age. They are still have a foot in childhood, and another tentatively placed in adulthood.

Getting family photos taken shouldn’t be a chore, but rather a fun family event where you get pictures to remember your time together. At least, that is what my goal is, especially with my full family shoots.

I wish I could say that it was my charming wit that made them laugh, but no. Just trying a different pose I normally don’t use on clients. I know these guys so I thought I’d give it a whirl.

I was so impressed by this senior guy. He earned enough money from his lawn service business to buy himself this truck before graduating high school.