Elementary, middle & high schoolers, oh my!
Man, I am so freakin' lucky I get to do this job. I'm lucky these families continue to come to me for their school photos, whether it's their first time, they show up every year, or they skip a few and return. Watching these kids grow up is incredibly special and I don't take that for granted. I work really hard to create an experience they will remember, I want them to look forward to seeing me, and I want them to expect to have a great time - and even a goody bag. Let's face it, some of them are in it for the goody bag (me too, kids). So strap in, loves, we've got nine kids this year and a whole lot of shenanigans at the end! Who knew it was so hard to hold a pencil under your nose?
If you've been around long enough, some of these kids are familiar - so you know to expect to see photos of them together, not just individually. We book this way on purpose - you get photos of your kids interacting and you don't have to book a separate session for it. That would be...well...silly. Which leads me to these....
There is always a moment, especially in these quick 20 minute sessions where I think to myself, "Well. That got wild...and that's on you". Did you spot it?
The kids know the masks will be there, they know the treat bags will be there. They know the location will serve their personalities and their growth. This is by design. I never want them to feel like the props or set up are too juvenile or too grown. It's a balance. This year, I focused a bit on making sure they remembered to be kids - by balancing pencils under their noses and giving them a little throwback to the chemical bubbles we plaid with in the 90s. They were a hit with the parents and the kids alike. Can you smell these photos? Ahh, the scent of #2 pencils and chemical bubbles thru a straw.
Listen. If you ever want to see your kids DETERMINED to master a weird skill, hand them a pencil and tell them to balance it between their nose and upper lip - with zero additional guidance. That up there? That's what happens.
See you next year!
xo
Dana
