Hi Everyone!… I hope you are all doing great!  Over the last several months I have added more senior high sessions to the portfolio.  All I can say is that I am very pleased with how these shoots played out, both in working with some great juniors and seniors, as well as how the images turned out post-edit.  I am confident in saying that it is about as fun as shooting weddings (maybe even more so as it’s almost like doing weddings, but without the stress of a fast and tight schedule)!  I can recall when I had my senior photos done way back in 19xx (well’ no reason to really date myself that much, you get the picture).  Then, it seemed like the trend to hire a photographer or studio outside of the stuffy school yearbook photo company just to do something different.  Even back then though, most sessions were still limited to the indoor studio with a nice chair, fake window light, reflective surfaces and let’s not forget those infamous “Class of” number props.

Well, boys and girl…times have changed!!  Welcome to the fabulous world of on-location, Lifestyle Senior High Photography!  Just as much of the “rite of passage” is on a couple’s wedding day, where the bride has spent months meticulously planning all the details and choosing all the locations and themes that best reflect the couple’s personalities…so is this transitional period in the lives of young people, called high school graduation.  Now the question is, just as the bride and groom want fabulous wedding photos, why wouldn’t the high school graduate want fantastic images to mark this milestone in their lives?

To be honest, I was a little shocked when a couple of these seniors whose pictures you will see told me that there still aren’t many photographers that offer on-location options of their choice, especially given that I am in the Chicago area.  While I know that I am by no means the only photographer in Chicagoland doing on-location senior high sessions, the feedback I have recent received indicates that there is a great market out there for all of us photographers who specialize in these types of shoots, and I imagine that the on-location aspect will become more in demand. With as much fun as I am having with these sessions (no doubt as I live vicariously through this younger generation), I will certainly be working hard to stay tapped into this market.

Enoy!!  :-)

Well, we are a few weeks into 2012!!!  It has been one really exciting year this past year…  I went into 2011 with some serious goals, and I am proud to say that I accomplished many of my goals and the things I set out to do.  I learned many new things about being a professional photographer, and have met some truly great people along the way this past year!  I got a handful of weddings under my belt, as well as grew my portfolio with senior high sessions and other events.  If I were to note any regrets it would mainly be not meeting my goal of doing a blog post each month, having missed both October and November (but seriously, they both very busy months for me at work).  On the other hand, some months had more than one post to share, so I should be too down on myself.  Beyond that, I just regret not having more time, more hours in the day to get more done, whether at home or for clients, and to devote time to other things I feel are important… But hey, I think we all go through that some times.

So I wanted to share with you some highlights over the past year!  And no better place to start than with the first wedding that I shadowed over a year ago on December 18, 2010.   Many thanks again to Katie (Salvatori) Hernandez of Katherine Salvatori Photography for allowing me to come and shadow her for a beautiful Christmas time wedding at the Morton Arboretum (see the first pic above)!   Throughout the year Katie’s work has been an inspiration and it’s been wonderful watching her grow professionally, and am happy for her that she recently has had her work published on various wedding related blogs and websites!  She and her family have also grown personally as she became a bride herself this past year and married a really great guy, and they already have a precious little baby girl on the way!  Be sure to keep up with Katie and her work by visiting her Facebook page for the latest inspiration and news!  Here are a few more pics from that beautiful winter wedding…

To kick off 2011, I photographed the New Year’s Celebration event at Abbington Banquets…

Moving forward into 2011, it was time to get some training.  Here are some great shots from a couple of workshops in 2011…

And now on to some of this year’s highlights and some of my favorite captured moments!!  Whether real events or workshops, there were a lot of great shots this year!  Enjoy!!

Some boudoir beauties…

A Romantic roof-top proposal.

A pre-wedding engagement session.

Then a “happily ever after” wedding…

An awesome maternity session…

Then a newborn session…

A more intimate affair…

My sister-in-law’s senior high session…

Then a colorful Indian wedding extravaganza!…

A baby baptism…

A charming country wedding…

The images following are just a few from a beautiful Maui wedding and a couple of senior high sessions that I have not yet published dedicated posts for, but since these were still 2011 events, it’s only proper that a few photos be included.  Here are a few from the Maui wedding…

Now for a few of the senior high pics.  Two brothers, two very different personalities…

I hope you have enjoyed this “year-in-review” post!    At the top of this webpage, you will find links that will take you to call of the complete posts represented here as well as other posts not included, with the exception of the last two sessions.  Please be sure to visit here often to stay on top of what 2012 will bring!!  :-)

So far this is my first and only teen/senior high session at this point, but I had TONS of fun with one… WHY?…  Because she is my very own sister-in-law!  The reason why this shoot was fun was not only because of the photography itself, but before that, we took her to the salon for a little make over, and then shopping for a couple of great outfits!…  All I can say is, she came down that weekend a horse loving, ankle length skirt wearing girl from farm country, and emerged from her salon visit and wardrobe shopping trip a chic and mature looking young lady (who still loves horses by the way).  

From some of these images, family and friends found it hard to believe this was Catherine in these photos, but no one thought she was anything less than stunning!!!  And these are some really great photos to prove it!!  Love you Catherine…thanks for a fabulous session!