Erin — Sweet Sixteen Portraiture

I’m so excited to share Erin’s session with you! Sorry it’s been so long between blog posts… it’s been crazy around here, good-crazy, but crazy nonetheless!

When Erin’s dad, Tom, approached me about wanting to give Erin a portrait session for her sixteenth birthday, I was beyond thrilled! I admit it, I even cried. Before you start thinking I’m an emotional basket case that cries over every portrait session, it is sooo much more than that!

You see, I’ve known Erin since she was a baby. In fact, she has a place in my heart few others have. I was blessed to nanny for Erin {and later her brother also} until she was nearly five when Mark and I began our own family. And now she’s lovely young lady of sixteen!!!

Sixteen!!! I’m in total denial! Life just shouldn’t race by so fast!

When a client is shy or quiet or very reserved, it’s such fun to be able to bring out their personality they aren’t always confident to put forward. Erin is sweet and quiet. And photographing her was such a treat. She was convinced she was awkward, nervous and didn’t know how or what to do… but she totally ROCKED this session! I mean look at her images… you’d like she was a seasoned model!! You are amazing, Erin!

In our pre-consultation, Erin and I talked about her desire for natural settings, fields especially, and how to incorporate her love for ballet into her session… so I went on a quest. I knew I had one field already secured, as it belonged to friends of ours, but it didn’t have flowers, so the quest continued. I found a lush field of tall green “weeds” the owner called it {although they were stunning white and yellow flowers in amidst the lush green}.

And then, while running an errand, I found her field… Knowing Erin’s favorite color was purple, I was dreaming that maybe, just maybe I could find a field of purple flowers. And I did!!! Even better the owner was thrilled to have us shoot in it!

When the day of Erin’s session arrived, we weren’t completely sure what the weather was doing, but we met at her home for my hair & make-up genius, AJ Lane, to work her magic. We watched the clouds closely hoping that it wouldn’t choose to rain. 

Of course as we arrived at our first location, it started to rain a little. Erin and I just looked at each other and laughed. Of course it would start to rain NOW! But it was only light rain, so we decided to forge ahead instead of waste time by sitting and waiting.

And I’m so glad we did! The rain didn’t last long and the rest of the day was beautiful! And it not only allowed us to get two totally different types of lighting {we ended up in full, hot sunshine}, but it also helped the field look more lush and green.

It’s all about the experience. And although I work to create an experience that will bless my clients… ultimately they end up blessing me! Thank you for allowing me to photograph you, Erin! And thank you, Tom, for thinking of giving this gift to Erin! What a wonderful gift for a young lady to receive for her sixteenth birthday!