Capturing Kara: Senior Session

Ok, so I've never done senior portraits before and was totally petrified at the prospect I'd one day be asked. Visions of wagon wheels and cheesy chin on propped fist danced through my head (though in fact, there are some amazing photographers out there who are rocking senior portraits!) That said, I am a big fan of the barter economy, and so last year, when Kyle's good officemate Andy offered to help Kyle split our firewood, I offered up a photo session. A year later, Andy was again giving us a hand, moving in our lovely (but heavy!) new wood stove but this time, he brought his darling daughter, Kara, with him. And I couldn't have had a more beautiful or agreeable subject to shoot for my first senior session.

Kara is a tomboy in pink. A feminine farm girl who works after school in a cow barn and wants to be a nurse, something she'll be pursuing next year when she enrolls in nursing school in Nova Scotia. So sweet and devoted to her dad, it was a pleasure spending Saturday afternoon with Kara (especially because that meant we didn't have to help move a cast iron stove!). I took her along with the family dog Dilly across the street to the Portland Trails and then to Mackworth Island in Falmouth. What fun we had and I discovered I really enjoyed seniors sessions.

Here are some of my favorites from the day. I imagine every shoot would be different depending on the subject and the spot, but I believe these shots really capture Kara as she is, in all her beauty and wholesomeness, inside and out.


Dilly is a 14-year-old pitbull. I had never actually met a pitbull, but found Dilly to be a doll. I was excited Kara brought Dilly on the shoot, because I knew how much she loves animals: dogs, bunnies, you name it- she even had a pet snake once!




Dilly made Kara laugh because she was being so stubborn. There were so many new sights and smells for her in the woods, she just didn't know where to look.











Kara is very down to earth, and so we wanted the imagery to reflect her grounding in nature.























And while on the subject of senior portraits, I have to share this site that my friend and SWW groom Jason turned me onto.

It allows you to plug in your picture and see what you'd look like in a yearbook picture as far back as 1950. What do you think of my circa 1960s look? I must admit- it almost works for me. I especially love the glasses (though I'd need a Star of David necklace)!

And contact me if you are interested in scheduling a senior or any other type of portrait shoot. The holidays are closer than you think, which means it's almost time for greeting card season!