Portraits
Pregnant in Stapleton
When my daughter told my husband and me that we were going to be grandparents, I was beyond thrilled. And not only because I would have a grandchild to love, but because I could pretty much use my daughter as a model to try out some ideas I’ve been thinking about. So on Sunday we shot the first of twelve weeks of environmental portraits to track the last trimester of her pregnancy. The photo below shows her finishing up the quilt she sewed for Nolan. (We’ve been shooting another series of photos, but they will be posted after Nolan’s birth.) I had planned to take one shot of Karlyn at home each week and one that I would combine with a message from her and Chris to their son. Now, after her latest doctor’s visit, it looks as if we are going to have to condense those twelve weeks down to eight. So stay posted as we follow the last few weeks before Nolan arrives!
Once Nolan is born, I’ll put the entire series and his first week into a photo book. For now, I posted two different poses of the message shot because I’m not sure which one I like more. Opinions?
Family Time in Denver
I love photographing children, especially when the formal portraits are done and we can just play. Of course, the adults are great to work with also, but I keep finding more excuses to just “take a few more shots” once we decide we are finished. Working with Jim and Dawn and their children and grandchildren, especially before the recent cold snap killed all the flowers, is always a great way to spend a gorgeous fall afternoon at the foot of the Rockies.
Valonte in Aurora
My biggest challenge with Valonte’s senior photo shoot was narrowing the photos down to a reasonable number. He simply did not take a bad picture; in fact, his smile lit up the frame (see for yourself below). I also loved meeting him because he not only is an engaging young man, but he plays on the Overland football team, and I spent years working the chain gang at their games when I taught there. Here’s hoping for a great season, Valonte!
Rachel in Aurora
Photographing Rachel was so much fun because not only is she a beautiful young woman, but she also has a great personality. She was accompanied by her mom and niece Lexi, who provided all the help I needed, including jumping over (or, rather, into) a stream to get Rachel’s hairbrush on the other side. Over time, I have photographed every member of Rachel’s extended family, and this session ranks right up at the top of my favorites!
I couldn’t resist adding a photo of my “assistant”!
Ellen & Justine in Seattle
I love visiting my home state, not only because of my parents and siblings and in-laws, but because I get the chance to see my niece and nephew. And, while I know my nephew would never agree to “glamour shots” (even though he has a great smile), I did talk my 14 year old niece and her friend into posing for me. This gave me a chance to play with some special effects, including removing braces in Photoshop just for fun. 
And spending time with them (even though we didn’t have time to go bowling this trip!) also made me realize once again how blessed I am.
Jillian Senior Pictures in Aurora
Shooting senior portraits late on any summer afternoon is a sure way to tempt fate. Nevertheless, Jillian was so cooperative—and the wind died down (at least until the violent thunderstorm struck just as we finished!) enough times for us to capture her in several different moods and poses. As you can see by the photographs, Jillian is a stunning young woman and her attitude was as positive as the photos reflect. I think she thought I was a little crazy to ask her to go play in the flowers, but the results (last photos) are clearly worth it!
Curtis Senior Pictures in Denver
As I shot Curtis’s senior pictures in downtown Denver on a beautiful Sunday morning, I was reminded again why I taught high school. Curtis is a delightful young man who not only was willing to wander the downtown area as we explored places to shoot his pictures, but whose smile lit up the camera each time he posed. Following is a small sample of the photos we shot.
