So I had my senior pictures done a while back and we finally got around to picking out the ones we liked and which one we were going to buy. And let me tell you it is a strange thing having pictures taken. I am so thankful for Sierrah and how awesome she is. I wouldn't have done it with anyone else. Photographers have a tough job and she made it fun while I was doing all kinds of weird things so she could get really great pictures I would be happy with. She's the best!
There are multiple steps in preparing for senior pictures.
The first step is the agonizing process of finding clothes in which both you and your mother have to agree on outfits. It would seem easy but moms can get pretty picky when picking out clothing for such a momentous occasion. She likes something you don't and your pick gets vetoed as soon as you walk into the room. The colors aren't great or that wasn't what she was thinking for the overall look. Then of course you have to please the dad who is cleaning the shotgun in preparation for the nonexistent knocks on the door begging for his permission to date his daughter. It's a complicated mess we weave when we take these pictures I tell ya.
The next process (for girls anyways) is deciding on hair, makeup, accessories, etc. Do I want my hair straight or curled I ask myself out loud and I hear my mother's voice yelling from downstairs, "Curled Sarah Renee". And so curled it is. And then I think- "Do I go for dramatic makeup that will look super cool in the pictures or do I go like what I normally do- minimalist at best." I know that if I want dramatic makeup I will probably end up looking more like a raccoon with black all around his eyes or a child that just got walloped in the face. If I go for minimalist, I could look like a panda bear without any black around its eyes. It's a tough decision y'all but minimalist wins out. It's never good when you receive a picture graduation invitation in the mail and then you show up and you think, "Okay you look NOTHING like your picture did!". And then you think "Maybe it's her or maybe its Maybelline". All that to say, so many decisions.
Once I picked out all my outfits, my sister came in to help accessorize. I fail in this department. I had this trippy (can I use the word trippy? of course I can, it is MY blog after all) necklace and Mom said "Well we will just have to make sure it doesn't get all tangled". This is what I heard: "Probably not the best choice because it's going to be a pain and we are going to have to keep fixing it." My solution: Don't wear it. Any of it. So I didn't. Then when we arrived Mom was all like, "Wait! Where's your necklace! It was so pretty!" And I was thinking..... Huh. We ended up using the photographer's mother's necklace because we were taking pictures at their beautiful house! Thank you!
The next morning came. I did my hair and makeup. Nothing horrible went wrong. I put on my first outfit (because it is BORING to only do one outfit in pictures... or so I am told) and so I packed the other ones, grabbed my dog, and a hat and I was out of the house. Dogs are excellent props in pictures. It creates an odd sensation of too much cuteness to handle and a sense of something I haven't been able to put my finger on. Just kidding. I absolutely adore my dog and couldn't imagine not having a picture with her. She is pretty monumental in my life. The hat. My dad hates hats. I'm not sure why... well I do. He hates the hats I pick out. He calls me things like "hobo" etc. My style is definitely different than my dads. Which is a good thing seeing as he's a guy, I'm a girl.... Anyways! I decided to throw in the hat because they are my pictures, showing my personality. So I thought, eh, we will give it a try.
Turns out, dogs really like taking pictures and are very hyper. We got one great picture. Only one. The rest of the time my dog was whining to get into the picture with me. She knows it's really all about her! The hat actually turned out to be a crowd favorite. Shocking!
But how did we get to these pictures, taking pictures is awkward! There is just no way around it. Seriously, I felt like a fool half the time. Lean this way, chin up... no down a little. Look towards the camera... no, no, no not your whole face, just your eyes. Oh my bad! And then cross your legs, sit up straight. Tilt this way, put your hands under your chin. Then they want you in all the weird positions and spots and it had rained the night before so I couldn't sit on the ground because it was wet but they wanted it to look like it was. It's complicated I tell ya! But Sierrah made it so fun and we laughed all the way through it and the pictures turned out great, so it was totally worth it!
Then you go to change and the wind has done wonders to your hair and makeup. Your hair has started to form dreadlocks and your eyes are watery from the wind- causing mascara to be all over. It's complicated. So you quick fix that and out you go.
The funniest thing is doing a serious picture in a comical position with people watching you. I'm telling you, I couldn't do it. I looked like I was smirking or I was angry. The first one being entirely true. I'm not exactly sure how models do it, but I am amazed. It's a balancing act between looking serene and angry. I personally haven't mastered that.
Once all the pictures are finished you look at them and have to decide what you do and don't like. It's not that there are bad ones, but there are ones you don't think fit your personality or just aren't you or you like one more than the next. Your parents end up picking them and you think what in the world? How do you like that one! And the one serious one you think you actually nailed they nix because they like the smiling ones better. Oh well.
All this to say, picture taking is complicated. I think this can be the case for engagement, wedding, anniversary, baby pictures etc. It's loads of fun and really, all I just said was probably a bit of an exaggeration but it was fun and funny anyways.
Here are three tips to taking a great picture: 1. Always trust the photographer. 2. Listen to your parents. It's easier that way. 3. Don't have an opinion. It makes everything much much easier. Just go with the flow man!
Thanks to my awesome photographer Sierrah! Check out her website! She is so great and so fun to work with!
http://sierrahlauren.com/
*Not a paid advertisement. I just love her and her work!
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