Shooting high school seniors has to be one of the most fun gigs a photographer can have! Teens usually love being photographed, always arrive at the scene upbeat , happy and ready to go! They are  usually  bubbling over with their own ideas as well!  What's not to like?
I lowered my prices for an August special for only $200 which includes the shoot, Pro editing, online gallery and a great print package. Can we say "Great deal!" :)
Did my first session a few days ago which was a Buddy Session. Three sweet and cheerful gals ! (Kala, Virginia and Jordan. )I met them at their favorite location in Rural Retreat and we all had a really good time!
I picked up some props at the antique store , which was some old Dr Pepper bottles (Dr Pepper was the pharmacist from Rural Retreat who created the soft drink. No, it was not some guy in Texas!!) and found an old chair. I also brought a smiley face balloon, which we didn't use much , and a deck of cards  , which we did. (the Girls picked the cards significant to them)
Mostly I just let the girls be themselves and we tried different ideas until we started losing light. My fav time to shoot is the golden hour, you just can't beat that time of day for pretty portraits!
Thanks for a fun session girls!
The equipment I used (for any photographers interested) was the canon 30D with a fisheye lens for environmental shots such as this one on the left.
My fav camera that I use all the time is my canon 1DMKlV, you can't beat the fast focus and shutter on that baby.
The main lens I used was a loan from Canon Pro Services. (You have to be a pro and this is a paid membership) It is the 85 f/1.2 and a superb portrait lens The bokeh (background blur) is the creamiest and prettiest I have ever seen from a lens (and  I have used my share) If you are a serious wedding or portrait photographer I am sure you are familiar with this lens!

For any seniors reading this, here are some tips to make your shoot successful! First, pick a great location! If you can't think of a place, just ask your photographer for some ideas of where he/she has shot before.
Remember this session is all about you and reflecting on your years at school, so be sure to wear clothes which express your
personality and are also comfortable enough to have fun in!

Try to wear colors that work great with the environment you will be in, for instance, you would probably wear different clothes and colors on the beach than at the park. Of course, it is your shoot, so wear what you want, but try and avoid bright load colors and patterns. If this is a Buddy Session, have a meeting and talk it over with your buddy and find out what she/he is wearing so your clothes can compliment one another. Bring a change of clothes if you want to vary the look! Props are great for adding more interest and personality, so think about what would show off the real you and don't be shy about bringing anything along. Some suggestions are : A bike, musical instrument, your pet, a fav book, athletic gear, hats, flowers, etc. Ask your friends or your photographer for help if you get stumped about ideas!
If a parent wants to stay for the shoot, ask the photographer to include your parent(s) in a few shots. It's a nice way to say "Thank You" to them by including them in a few shots!
     Most of all, relax and have fun, this is your time to shine!


My August schedule is filling up, if you are local, be sure and call for an appointment! 276-223-1474
I  can shoot Senior Sessions anytime of the year, but you might not want to miss this great deal!

Still working on the lessons for my workshop and here are some sample before and after images which will be a part of the editing session. There is a LOT to learn in these lessons. Some of the techniques are: Learn to remove braces and fill in missing teeth, Paint realistic hair, airbrush skin and add more life to the eyes. Learn to add external objects to an image such as butterflies. Want to add some grass to a portrait , but you want it to look realistic? no problem! Looking forward to showing you how to do this and more!  See you on the 16th ! To find out more go to my new web site!

On July 16th from 1:00 - 6:00 I will be conducting a Photography-Photoshop workshop at the General Francis Hotel in Marion, Virginia.
This is my very first workshop in real life and I am looking forward to sharing my shooting and editing techniques with those who are interested!
This is what you can expect. It will be held upstairs in the small conference room called the Bowen Board Room.(I am limiting attendance to 12.)
You do not have to bring anything if you just want to listen and take notes, but I suggest you bring a laptop and , if you have a wacom tablet, that is also advised, as that is what I use. (but not mandatory)
We will not be taking pictures, but I will be giving a presentation on how I shoot, what I shoot , how I use light and how I edit. I will be sharing many of my editing techniques that I am 'known' for. So, you will be learning how to isolate a subject for dramatic B&W's, how to place a subject into a different background and how to enhance portraits by painting the skin and hair in a sort of Rockwell illustrated technique and more.
The cost is $200.00 and here is what is included: The above workshop along with my new "Portrait Impact " DVD videos lessons and my award winning Kodak Book "Simple Wisdom" which showcases some of my portrait work.
To sign up for the workshop (There are 4 seats left right now) please go to my new site and you will see the link on the left. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to email me!
please book mark this page as I will be updating it soon. I am just starting work on this event and you will know anymore details as they develop!
Thank you so much for your interest in my work!
Susi