Senior Feature - Morgan, Class of 2020

The Friday of September 19th was quite warm for fall, but it was a great start to the weekend.

I was so eager to meet up with Morgan and her family. We met at the Quarry Hill Nature Center in Rochester, MN and let me just say, what a cool place! There were a lot of trails, we could’ve explored the place all afternoon.

We we ended up walking around the pond and then we made our way around some trails where we found an interesting brick wall, some stairways and the stream.

After graduation, Morgan plans on attending Minnesota State University to attain her Bachelor’s in Social Work. She mentioned that she’s done some job shadowing and was really interested in the field. In 10 years, she hopes to be working as a social worker in the Rochester area.

If I can offer any advice to future graduates who are reading, high school or otherwise, I would say that if you aren’t sure what you want to do, get out there and explore every option. There is something for everyone.

Morgan says she looks up to her Bonus Mom, Kelly, as she has taught her more than anyone how to be a good person. There can never be too much kindness in this world. It never hurts to show a little more compassion, understanding, and grace to others.

Morgan participated in the school year book, and is now undertaking post secondary education during her Senior Year. She is also an avid photographer, dressing up her sisters and doing photoshoots! I can obviously relate to this! Photography has a way of bringing people together.

Life after high school is rarely easy, but knowing where you want to go and having people who are willing to push you to achieve your goals make all the difference. Morgan has an awesome adventure in front of her and a great family to help her along the way. Morgan — Enjoy your senior year and best wishes to you!

Δ Abbi

Your Senior Photoshoot - What to Expect!

From my own senior photoshoot (almost 8 years ago), I remember having fun, I remember having an incredibly tired face, and I remember being really excited to see the pictures afterwords. My parents took care of booking the photographer and paying her. But I also remember not knowing what to expect.

To my future Senior Photo clients (both parents and seniors), this blog post is for you!

Before Your Shoot

When you contact me for a session, you can expect me to offer you a half-hour consultation with you and your soon-to-be graduate. I usually like to meet up at a coffee shop, because coffee is life, am I right? This allows me to get to know you and your soon-to-be graduate, but it also allows you to get to know me. Getting in front of a camera can be intimidating on its own, but having a stranger behind the camera can add even more pressure. Knowing who’s behind the camera can make the experience a little easier.

During the consultation, I’ll ask questions such as, “How/where do you plan on displaying these photos?“ “What colors do you have in your home?” “What school activities is your graduate involved in?” “Do you have any specific locations in which you would like to shoot?” “What is your graduate’s personality?”

These questions can help you figure out what colors would look best in your home and gives me an idea of how I want to portray the person I am photographing. I want to be able to capture who they are.

We will also discuss any questions you may have, such as cost, how many photos you may getting, how I will get your photos to you and other options and products I offer.

After your consultation, we will discuss scheduling a time that works best for both of us. I set aside between one and a half to two hours of shooting to allow for walking around, traveling to a different location, or outfit changes.

During Your Shoot

When we meet at our agreed-upon location, I will give you a run down of any ideas I have already come up with. We will then discuss outfit changes, so we have a clear-cut plan to streamline the process.

After we get coordinated, we start shooting! I like to have fun and I do my best to keep the experience low-key and relaxed. The last thing we need are photos that come out looking forced and stressful. I like to walk around with the client and let my creativity come to me, but I am always up for outside ideas. So if you have any ideas, don’t be afraid to stop me!

I have a list of my go-to poses, but as an artist, I always work with the location and the individual to achieve something completely unique to each client.

Once we are done shooting, I will give you the run down of what you can expect in the next couple weeks, and I will answer any questions you may have. I will provide you with a printing release and a business card if you hadn’t already received one. I will also collect payment at this time.

After Your Shoot

I will upload the photos to my computer right away. As time allows, I will edit a few and post them online so you can have something to look forward to! I usually allow two to three weeks to get all the photos processed.

After the photos are complete, I will send them to you on an online portfolio or I will send a flash drive in the mail (or both depending on our agreement). It will be at this time that we discuss professional prints and mounting options, if that is something in which you are interested.

I want my clients to have as much fun as I do. It is my job as a photographer to make sure you have a seamless and enjoyable experience in front of the camera.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s schedule your shoot!

Δ Abbi