Not Yer Mama's Senior Portraits (What Senior Photographers Want You to Know) ~ Wisconsin Senior Pictures

That was a long title. Jeepers. 

But, it's all encompassing. When I first started really throwing myself into Senior Portrait Photography as a speciality about 4 years ago, I kept having that phrase play over and over again in my mind. How did I want my pictures to look? How did I want them to be different? 

I didn't want them to look like our parent's pictures. Or, hell, OUR pictures. Now that I'm old and stuff. 

I'm still dealing with that. Trust me. I bought PBR for the husband the other day and they didn't card me. This has ruined my month. Legitimately. 

Anywhoo...I'm off topic.

What do TODAY'S Senior Photographers want you to know about how Senior Portraits are approached NOW. For this generation. I feel like Senior Portraits is something that has remained pretty stagnant in certain areas of the country until someone comes along to blow apart the old ideas and start bringing a fresh look into the game.

Allow me to light that fuse, will ya?
 

1. Gone Are the Soft Focus Fuzzies
I remember gazing with adoration at my mom's senior portrait, with all it's 1970's fuzziness and the soft halo of light that made her look like some glowy goddess. 
The thing is, if you flip through the pages of Vogue or any other magazine for that matter, that's not what portraits look like anymore. There's a certain realistic grittiness that's missing that I happen to LOVE. Portraiture evolves....and Senior Portraits are evolving along with it.

2. No, I don't Have Giant Numbers
This was a big thing when I was in high school. That was a lot longer ago than I'm ready to admit at this point, considering I stil own t-shirts that I regularly WEAR that I had then. So, it can't be that long ago and no my music isn't "classic rock".....anyway.....

We don't really pose folks with big giant numbers proclaiming their graduation date anymore. I think that may be more suited for a 1st birthday party. 

Unless it's supposed to be funny....then I may consider it. :)

3. You Do You
I remember my mom INSISTING that I wear this hideous yellow flowered shift dress in my senior portraits. Yes, I'm throwing my mom under the bus here. If you knew me in high school at all, you know damn well I never would have purchased a yellow flowered shift dress....much less put it on.

Moms and Dads still have their say, for sure. I mean, they're paying....typically....so they still get their 2 cents to put in.

But, I strongly suggest you bring a bit of YOU to your portraits. If you are more of a t-shirt, jeans and Chucks person (solidarity, yo) then BRING THAT...because this session is about YOU and capturing who you have become and evolved into over 4 years of high school.

I'm pretty sure that yellow flowered shift dress picture still hangs in my parent's house. I can't escape it.

4. Leave the Tree Huggin to the Hippies (I Say This With Love)
There was a time when hugging trees, peeking around trees, cuddling with trees, and....in general....using trees as a major prop in your outdoor portraits was, like, a THING. 
Unless you are big time tree-lover.....I'm probably gonna try to steer you away from tree spooning. 
 

5. But Seriously, Let's Get OUT AND ABOUT

I am all about dragging my big mama 50" softbox around town and making some killer portraits. I live for this stuff. Which is why I don't charge extra for on-location images. Heck, if you wanna be-bop all around Rock County, be my guest. Let's explore. This is YOUR SESSION. I don't like restrictions. I really don't. Take advantage of that. 

6. But Studio is Nice Too
I'm a big studio shooting lover. I adore what we can do in-studio. It's why I moved from my dusty cave of a shooting space to my killer space in Milton (seriously, if you haven't been there yet, it's amazeballs. Yes. Amazeballs)

I've been shooting studio for quite a few years now and have my "look" pretty down....and I love it. Pink puffy heart love it. It's a bit of a departure from anything else you're gonna find in the area. I love feathered light and editorial looks.....and I look to folks like Mark Seliger to guide me in what modern portraiture looks like. 

If you don't know who Mark Seliger is, look him up on Instagram. His Oscar portraits are to DIE for.

7. Print Yer Stuff, People! 
Remember when people used to carry around those big, honkin' video recorders and all of your family memories were on VHS tapes....that your parents eventually taped over with episodes of Rescue 911 or something?

No? That was just me?

My point is, technology CHANGES. Digital formats are great, but prints are eternal.
Print your images. 

I'm gearing up for one HECK of a Senior Season this year! Class of 2018 has some amazing ideas that they're bringing to me and I'm excited to expand services to Edgerton and Janesville High Schools as we prepare for our move. 

The studio in Milton is primed for some epic sessions and I'm super excited to create some heirloom images for area grads! 

If you still need to book your Senior Portrait Session, don't wait! Spots are limited and popular times, like peak fall color, get snatched up VERY quickly. 

Shoot me a message and let's get you on the books! 

UW-Madison School of Social Work Graduation 2017 ~ Madison, WI Photographer

"The two most important days of your life are the day you are born, and the day you find out why" 

- Mark Twain

For a few years I covered the UW-Madison School of Social Work graduation....then took a 2 year hiatus because of new job experiments and babies being born.

This year, I made my return.

I love this assignment. I feel a bit of a kinship with the Social Work folks, obviously. I started my college career way back in 199....something or other....wanting to help people. Wanting to CHANGE the world. Wanting to work with those who needed a voice....a hand....options.
I moved from Criminal Justice to Sociology and set out to work with the geriatric population.

Then I started Type A.

Even though I realized that, at the end of the day, I wasn't meant to be a social worker....I totally understand the call. I get that you go into social work not for the income (believe me....), but for the outcome.

Congrats to all of the new MSW students! The full gallery will be ready soon, but in the meantime enjoy this little storytelling sneak peek! 
 

Fractured Thoughts. ~ Wisconsin Wedding Photography

Currently Watching: The new "Anne" series. Even though I'm a big ole believer that you should not attempt to improve on perfection (perfection being the Sullivan production of "Anne of Green Gables").....I really enjoyed this take on my favorite literary character. Consider it endorsed! 

Also binge-watched "Girlboss" on Netflix, which even given the recent bankruptcy filing of Nasty Gal, I still enjoyed. 

Currently Reading: Well....all my books are packed (more on that in a bit) so.....the back of cereal boxes, lately. Articles on how to maintain septic systems. Exciting stuff. Lists on what NOT to do when building a home (like I said....more on that in a bit)

Currently Spinning: Husband played me some Father John Misty the other day, which I quite enjoyed (the little that I was able to hear). Still Hamilton. Yeah. 

- First things first, obvs, we sold the house. WOOOOO FRIGGGIN HOOOO. I was getting all impatient and stuff (me? Surely you jest! NO!). But yes, it is sold and we close on May 26th. So, it's been a fury and frenzy of packing and moving stuff to storage, etc.

- So WHERE are we going? That was the million dollar question. For over a year. I bounced all over the state in my head (I bounced to Washington state a few time.....Prince Edward Island....my brain has a wanderlust unmatched by most). 

One day I went out in the baby bus searching for a particular plot of land near Edgerton, WI that I had seen online. On the way, I happened across a country subdivision. I decided to drive through and it was just GREAT.....big, ginormous lots...houses set way back from the road and shaded with woods. Ponds and trails and your neighbor not right on top of you or right out your back door.

I drove around and around and figured "Yeah, looks great but I'm guessing these lots are ridiculously expensive"

Turns out....not at all. In fact, they were downright affordable.

So....we ACTUALLY MADE A DECISION. I know. Shocking.

We are moving to the Town of Janesville, off Hwy 14, smack dab between Janesville and Evansville to a subdivision called Grand Videre Estates. We purchased a 1.3 acre plot of land and found a house that is just my own little version of Green Gables. It's a dream house. Completely. 

We hired a builder and we are on our way....which is all together exciting and the stuff of dreams and absolutely terrifying all at once.

I haven't slept much this week....lots of stuff on my mind with the move, the build, the job.....oy! But, I'm staying in Rock County, which means I will be able to service all Rock County High Schools for Senior Portraits and continue to bop down to Chicago and up to Milwaukee and Madison quite easily for weddings. 

- We spent the last 2 months or so sick in this household....while all this was going down. Bronchitis, the flu, colds, it's just been a mess, but we all seem to be over everything at this point. 

Kids, man. They're little germ incubators. 

- Wedding season started! Which is always exciting. This is my 9th season. I can't believe by this time next year I will be celebrating TEN YEARS as a professional wedding and portrait photographer. That's nuts to me. 

- Record Store Day came and went. I have to admit, I drove by the old place (Tin Dog) on my way to the post office on RSD morning. Made me a tad nostalgic for our time behind the retail counter, but only for a moment. Tin Dog is in much better hands now and it was so awesome to see them busy for RSD! 

- New Doctor Who has started and I'm actually LIKING it. Whodda thunk it? Capaldi seems far more likable this series and I am digging the new companion. Maybe Moffett had an epiphany. 

- My baby girl....my last baby....my Beanhead turned one. I have to be real here, I had a hard time with this. The last year went REALLY fast and I am not ready for her not to be my little tiny baby anymore. 

COMING UP: 

- I am hosting THREE workshops this summer. One for beginners, one for portraits and one for folks who would like to learn about wedding photography. If you are interested, check out the workshop page here: http://www.typeaimages.com/workshops-2017/

I'm keeping the studio in Milton since we are moving a lot closer so all workshops will be held there.

- SPEAKING of the studio in Milton, I am currently booking Seniors for the Class of 2018. My Senior Models have all been initially photographed and will all be recieving their Rep Cards very soon, if they already haven't.  I am looking to expand into Janesville Craig, Parker, and Edgerton schools as well as Milton and still Beloit, so spread the word! In-Studio or On-Location! 

- Weddings: 2017 is pretty much booked in full, though I do have a few dates in late fall still open that I'd love to fill!  2018 is already booking....and Chicago folks are way ahead of the game! 

Here's some pictures from the last month (including super-exciting pictures of our grass/tree/pricker bush patch that we just spent a butt-load on)

Enjoy! 

OUR LAND! (Just picture it with a house on it.......) 
 

EASTER SUNDAY

BRIDGET'S 1st BIRTHDAY (SOB!)