This means so much to a photographer

Many of the children I photograph feel like an extended family to me. This is especially true of the Mehrle family. I’ve had the good fortune to photograph Kerk and Liz Mehrle’s children for many years now. Their home was recently featured in The Northside Sun edition of Beautiful Homes and Gardens. Liz is a talented artist and has a great appreciation for the work of other artists. This is clearly evident by the decor of their home. In addition to the collection of art, there are two walls of black and white photographs that I have taken over the years. Liz commented in the Northside Sun article that these walls contain her favorite collection of artwork in her home. I would love to think that she loves this work because of my photography skills, but I understand that she loves these photographs because they represent her family. Kerk and Liz value family and these walls are a snapshot of their time together. It has been such an honor to be a participant in documenting their life.

I have watched Pryor, their oldest child, go from elementary school to a senior in high school. We recently added her senior pictures to the list of photography sessions I have done for the family. My fondest memory of Pryor was during a session on some hunting land several years ago. Pryor was given the task of driving me around the land to scout out photography locations. It gave me the chance to get to know her a little better as we rode around the countryside. She was humble, sweet and a pleasure to be around. I know how proud her parents are of her and they have good reason to feel that way. I want to say thank you to the Mehrles and all the families that have allowed me to play a part in documenting their lives. It touches my heart when I hear that photographs I have taken are cherished by someone. Thank you all.

Best outfit choices for girls portraits

What type of outfits do you recommend for my senior portrait? This is a question I get asked all the time by senior girls and their mothers. Here are a few suggestions that I hope will help you decide what to wear for your senior portrait session or when being photographed at any age.

Black and white photography

I am a big fan of black and white film photography. It has a timeless look that will never go out of style. I would recommend having one outfit that is very dark or very light for your black and white photographs. In fact, as illustrated above, black dresses or white outfits with texture work exceptionally well. Any outfit that provides contrast and texture to a black and white image is a good choice.

Color photography

Pastel colors and bright colors are great choices for portraits. This is especially true for backlit images like the ones above. Many of the girls I photograph select a pastel top with white jeans as one of their outfits. Colors that highlight your personal features are also important. If your eyes are blue and wearing something blue draws attention to your eyes then by all means make that one of your options. Use a little caution when selecting a red outfit for your portrait. Sometimes red will reflect on to your skin and cause you to look a little red in your images.

Sweaters and coats

I like to encourage girls to bring a sweater or coat for some of their images. One of the most difficult things about having your picture taken is trying to decide what to do with your hands. Wearing a coat or sweater offers a a great solution to this problem. Some other options would be a scarf or necklace that you can hold onto in a relaxed manner.

Detail shots

The final piece of advice would be to consider parts of your wardrobe that would help tell your story. This would include anything that is unique to your personality and way of life. These types of images are often overlooked, but can greatly enhance a portfolio of images from your session. Most importantly, don’t stress out about having your picture taken by a photographer. Just be yourself and it will all work out fine.

Kennedy (Senior portrait)

I was excited to have the opportunity to photograph Kennedy. I have witnessed Kennedy grow up over the years and find it hard to believe that she is about to attend college. We decided to meet at their lakefront property for her photography session. They have an incredible boathouse surrounded by beautiful trees. The location was a big part of Kennedy’s life and turned out to be a great place for photography. The breeze coming off the lake also helped keep us comfortable on a fairly hot day.

I can certainly understand why this location is special to their family. In fact, it looks like another family finds it special as well. Kennedy told me later that a neighborhood duck decided the family boat was the perfect place to lay her eggs. It will be interesting to see if baby ducks will be leaving the nest at the same time as Kennedy. Spending the afternoon with this family and photographing their daughter was a real pleasure. I wish the best for Kennedy as she heads off to college. I wonder if baby ducks are allowed in the dorms. Anyway, best of luck Kennedy!

Mary Swayze (Senior Portrait)

It was so nice to be able to pick up a camera and go back to work as a photographer. After weeks of being on lockdown, outdoor photography sessions could once again take place. Mary Swayze was the first high school senior that I photographed after the stay at home orders were lifted for the state of Mississippi. While there was and still is a need for social distancing, we made a small step in the right direction. We spent the day making our way around downtown Jackson and enjoying some beautiful weather. Mary Swayze was a pleasure to work with and quite comfortable in front of the camera. I was able to focus on photography as she required little direction.

We also had the good fortune to run into one of her closest friends later that day. Her friend was having photographs taken by another photographer. It was nice to see the two of them enjoy this moment of their senior year together. Things were starting to look a little more like a normal senior year for these young girls. Their senior year has been one for the books. As for me, I am back in business and looking forward to many more days like this one.