Mia phoned me to book a session for her daughter’s graduation photos. She explained how she wanted to have some beautiful senior portraits of her daughter Manty, who had just started her final year at high school. What she didn’t tell me was the extra special reason for the shoot… that would come during the session.
An unusual request
The day of the shoot came around and I welcomed Mia and Manty to my studio. During the makeover we laughed and chatted, Manty and her mum enjoying the music and pampering. Mia then brought in a large package and started to unwrap it. She held up a huge black and white portrait of a man holding a young child, and told me that it was her husband who had passed away many years before. The portrait was more precious to her than anything else and she asked if I would mind photographing Manty holding the picture. Would I mind?!!
The perfect setting for graduation photos
We finished the makeover, and I tried not to choke up while capturing the portrait of Manty with her father’s picture. We then headed out to the lake to take her senior photos. At the time I was based in Minnesota, also known as The Land of 10,000 Lakes, so it was natural that we would find some water to shoot near. Now I’m based in the Lake Geneva area so not only do I have the lake as a backdrop, but the stunning Alps and local vineyards too. As settings for senior pictures go, that’s pretty perfect!
Every session as unique as each senior
We took 2 hours and had 4 outfit changes in several locations. It was very windy so our makeup artist Bianca had a challenge to control Manty’s hair – she did a fantastic job. Manty wanted a couple of photos with an Audrey Hepburn twist, so we did a quick makeover change to capture that too. It’s always important to weave in the tastes, hobbies and preferences of each graduate. Not only do the final portraits reflect them as an individual but they are also as unique as the young adult in the photos. You can read more about my senior sessions here.
They had to have them all!
After the session Manty and Mia came back to choose the photos they liked best. I showed them around 30 pictures and let them take their time. It’s sometimes difficult knowing how many images to present, especially when we get as many awesome photos as we did in Manty’s shoot. But if there are too many pictures to choose from it can be overwhelming for my clients. Anyway, Mia and Manty loved the portraits and ordered a large Folio Box to hold ALL of them. They also chose a framed Fine Art Print to hang on their wall, showing Manty just before finishing senior school and entering the Big Wide World.
On to the photos: you’ll see the picture of Manty with the portrait of her Dad, followed by the others taken by the lake. Also for your enjoyment is a short video showing a behind-the-scenes of this fabulous graduation photos session.
If you are looking to document this time in your son/daughter’s life, please get in touch! Each senior session is personally tailored to your young adult and will be an experience that they will love. Contact me to start planning your graduate’s dream photo session and get beautiful portraits that are as unique and individual as they are.
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Following my move back to Europe, I’m now based in Founex, Switzerland. I’m located between Geneva and Lausanne, and serve all clients in the area of La Cote and beyond. Among other places this includes Founex, Commugny, Coppet, Celigny, Crans, Nyon. Prangins, Cheserex, Gingins, Trelex, Begnins, Gland, Rolle, Allaman, Aubonne, Chavannes-de-Bogis, Bogis-Bossey, Mies, Tannay, Grand Saconnex, Versoix, Chambesy, and over the France border into Divonne and the surrounding French towns.