I (Caryn) thrive on being around people. The energy in people is like a Monster drink shot straight to my nervous system. I’m instantly awake, vibrant, and if I can say ~ on a good day, even funny. Why? If I spend time alone, I feel tired. I feel unproductive, sleepy. But a voice on the other end of the phone or even better, the presence of another human being caffeinates my soul and brings me to life. I love people. I love you, the person reading this silly post. I feel your heart beating, smell your energy, hear your inner laugh. And when I walk into a room where people are there, my synapses start firing and my adrenaline starts racing through my veins. SO… this is one of the BEST reasons I love what we do. When we book an appointment, inevitably you show up at the same place where I’ll eventually show up (hopefully, we pray, on time!) And when I do, the fun begins! I love your jokes. Your quirky comments. Your nervous energy about having to pose for pictures or smile for too long. But every time, we just laugh and hang out and capture a few awesome shots of you feeling your most awesome and amazing self.

And this leads me to our most recent high school senior portrait session. We always suggest you go with our “Senior Experience” session since it includes Cori at Moxie Hair for full photo styling and Carly was excited about the idea. And I have to say, within 2.4 seconds of entering the salon, I KNEW we’d have a blast! Her mom and I clearly were BFF’s after our few phone calls. (Seriously, let’s have coffee soon!) And then there was this ball of firey energy that blew me away. Carly is a kick. No easier way to say it. Funny? Yes. Beautiful? Um, yes. Quirky and crazy? Absolutely. What FUN we had cruising around Towne Center in El Dorado Hills. She clearly knows Tyra Banks personally or something, the way she worked the runway ~ er, sidewalk. And I laughed along with her mom the whole session at how much fun she was having. As always, THANKS for the experience!! Here’s a sneak peek at our day…..

So up til now, we really only tell the senior girls that we offer senior styling like hair, clothes and all that stuff. But never thought to tell the guys about it. Why would they go to a salon and get all prettied up?? But didn’t realize if you bring a female photographer, assistant shooter, mom AND a big sister, that guy’s getting gussied up if he likes it or not! This young man held his own, I have to say, given all the commands, direction, prodding, assistance and just plain female guidance he was taking! He must have thought distraction would get us all off his case since at one point, he insisted on sitting on a bridge. Maybe he just wanted to give all of us something else to talk about than his smile, hair or clothing choices. It worked! I for one no longer cared if his hair was flat or off to the side or if his smile showed teeth or not! So Dillon, if there was an award to taking all that estrogen and female craze in stride, YOU WIN. Hands down. Here are a few of my favorite images from the day. Happy Graduation.

The best thing about procrastinating is getting the cool stuff other more planned people miss. Like the thrill of just making it under the wire. The excitement of not knowing if you’ll meet the deadline or totally embarrass yourself and your family. The rush of adrenaline knowing you could be on the verge of something AMAZING or just moments too late to turn anything in for credit at all. I’m a procrastinator. I’m sure there are groups, meetings, gatherings of secret societies somewhere. Everyone showing up late and missing all the introductions though, so many probably just don’t come back. But today I shot one of the very last seniors we’ll probably shoot this year. Unless there is one like me, just waiting for the very last moment to call.

I’m certain Angela wasn’t late or procrastinating, I just happened to be posting her pics on a day I’m chatting away about my regularly scheduled tardiness. You know, she’s just in this one for fun and lasting senior memories with her Mom and I, but it did remind me of my forever procrastinating ways and the joys we late-comers get from moments like these. You know what we got today? The best sunshine. The wildest wildflowers. No stress to hurry and finish up for graduation announcements or thank you cards for gifts probably already received. No, because we’re just glad to be out there, styled, amazing and getting in just under the wire. I love it. Thanks Angela for just coming out for the fun of shooting pictures. For joining me in the world of last minute thrills. Here are a few of my favorites from the day. And yes, all your proofs are ready so if you want something for your party this weekend, girl, just give me a call! We’ll have it just in time!

A quick peek at today’s senior style session. Breathtaking styling by Cori at Studio Moxie, of course. The experience just is NOT the same without our stylist!! Emily, you walked in beautiful and stepped out on location ready for ANYTHING. Thanks for reminding me again why I love this gig. I love to laugh and you brought that out in me today. And a special thank you shout out to Cammi for playing for endless hours at the park with our 5 combined kids while I hiked all over Rasmussen Park with Emily for these shots.

And in honor of shooting an Italian sister, if you will (although Cori is certain she and Emily are of the same genetic makeup and might even be sisters….) we will post a bit in Italian.

Oggi era miravigliosa. Che sole che c’era! Un giorno perfetto per fare le foto della signorina Emily. E io ero proprio fuori di testa d’avere quest’ opportunita’ da passare il tempo con lei. Grazie Emily. Ci vediamo a presto. Sei bellissima!

Finally finally finally… Kristina and I got the chance to play dress up and shoot pictures! She and her mom joined us at Caffe’ Santoro and Studio Moxie for a fun afternoon of senior styling. It was warm but overcast, a great combo for shooting portraits, and Kristina was amazing! Lucky us, we had a “guest assistant” come out for the session, Yvonne Houck, who drove 80 miles to play with cameras and lights! A huge thanks to Bon for coming out for the day. It’s always so much more fun to shoot with other photographers, chatting in “photographereeeeze” about lenses, lighting and poses. Let’s do it again soon!

Oh finally the rain stopped for a minute and the winds died down so that we could meet up with Katy for her senior style session. There simply is no other way to really, fully, completely and whole-heartedly enjoy a photo session without an hour or two with stylist, Cori Mensing. She makes the entire experience more wonderful for everyone. The photographer gets to relax, the senior gets to sit back and be pampered. Really, we should just start having all our family and kids sessions begin with a little bit of time with Cori just because it is that fun. So…. now that we’ve covered that tidbit of helpful information, here is Katy, gorgeous, tall, amazing. I hope no one finds my old senior portraits because I am pretty sure I looked 12 and these seniors today look so grown and cool and stylin’ ~ Well… see for yourself.

It’s fun to get away from the standard images we shoot day in and day out just to mess with the rules and see how we can bend and alter them. We don’t often shoot with lots of dark shadows so we pushed this session with Rebekah downtown at Citizen Hotel. It was so much fun to work with her and then to come back and process these images!

I get a little more acquainted with the aging process every time I complete a senior session where I’ve known the “kid” since they were much younger. Zach was maybe 9 or 10 when I met him. I think I might have been taller than him, but I can’t be certain. He is now 6’5″. Maybe taller. I’m pretty sure my prespective is skewed since he’s at least a foot taller than me. After an entire foot, who cares? The point is, I’m short and he’s not. I had to stand on a 3 foot ladder to get some of these photos. Anyway, height is one matter and age is an entirely different matter. Zach was this pre-teen kid, running around the parking lot after church when I met him. Now he’s a godly young man, ready to head off to college. Of course up until the time I wrote this post, he’s the only one that’s aged in my mind! Then I remember the gray hairs on my head, notice a few new wrinkles and remember that my 20 year high school reunion is this year. Eek. In the words of Dolly Parton, “Time marches on and sooner or later, you realize it is marching across your face.”

We’re looking forward to what God has in store for your future, Zach!

We girls love to do everything together. Pedicures, movies, walks, trips to the bathroom, you name it. Together. So how great is it when the opportunity comes along to get senior pictures together?! These two have been friends since the day their older brothers started kindergarten together. They were 3 years old back then. Now after 15 years together, they had to come out to play on one of the first sunny days of spring. We’re so glad they did.

I am sucker for “best friends.” I get that ol’ warm fuzzy feeling when I think of mine so this session was particularly fun for me. Thanks for all the inside jokes that kept you two laughing!

We ended the session over at Caffe’ Santoro, sipping hot chocolates to take the chill off (yes… it was sunny… but BRRRRR…. COLD!).

And this is Eikon’s newest friend, Rachel. (You’ve seen Kelly above for her individual senior session. Glad you came back and brought Rachel out for some laughs!) Welcome to the family, Rachel.