It's no secret.

I'm a photographer.  I don't need to tell you that.

I also know that you know about 15+ other people who are photographers. And this is not an exaggeration.  

It's not a secret, you want to get photos that capture who you are, and creates a moment that you will forever cherish, and forever remember.  Whether it be one year old portraits, family portraits, or what I specialize in, High School Senior Portraits, you want them to be memorable.  

So why does it seem like an over whelming fear of PANIC sets in when you hear the photographer ask, "Where do you want to take your photos?".  Over the last 15 years studio portraits have had a stigma as very plain and boring, and not customizable(This will be a in depth topic for another time), so everyone decides to do them outside, or at a location.  But how do you choose this location?  I am here to help you decide and give you some tips to pick them.

I promise..the next few steps will not leave you anxiety ridden, biting your nails, hiding in the corner.  But it does require a little deep thought, and some talking with your professional photographer to work out the fine details.

1.)  Envision Your Happy Place.  

-Take a moment and close your eyes, and think about a place where you are happy.  That when you are at this particular place, it brings you joy and happy memories of your life, or your loved ones.  Where is this place?  Is it in your kitchen, while you make cookies with your children? Is it at the park you walk your family dog? Is it on a sports field where you have dedicated your high school career to and have made some amazing friends?  No matter where the place is, you can use this location to make your session special.

I photograph many seniors whose high school career was spent on one or many sports fields.  I suggest if they want to incorporate this passion, and we are going to a location, then lets go to the very field or court you play on.  As a high school athlete, more than likely this is a sport you have played since you were young.  So when you choose this as part of your senior portraits, it becomes more about just a team, but something that has molded you into the young adult you are today!

Tip: If you are looking to get amazing sports photos that embody your whole high school career and a sport you have loved for the majority of your life. Don’t skimp on the props.  Bring your entire sports uniform, including equipment.  I have found numerous times when someone doesn’t bring 1 or two pieces of their whole uniform, and they look back at a few photos and say “Man I wish I would have brought that to make the photo that much cooler”.  

2.) Choose a location that is a reflection of you?

-Do you like to garden? Do you like to go with your friends to the local ice cream place and laugh and talk about the week?  Do you like to sit quietly at a library and read?  This may also be your "happy place", but choosing a location that coincides with who you are at a deeper level will make take this session from simply capturing a moment right now, to showcasing who you are as an individual.  The point of this is when you look back at these portraits, you remember who you were at this particular time in your life, and maybe even rekindle a passion you have long lost when life takes over for awhile.  We all know this too well when school, children, work, or family takes a hold of you for awhile.  All of a sudden years go by and you look back and what you once were, and who you were striving to be as a distant memory.  Having portraits that showed your true self at this time will help you remember at a deeper level and support your growth to get back to this place.

3.) What is a meaningful place to you and your family?  

-Picking a place where you grew up, where your grandparents lived, or a place where you had a major life moment(engagement, wedding, etc), will elicit fond and happy memories of you and your family.  It's a chance to relive the moments you have had with loved ones that may have passed, or have moved away.  When you look at these photos, you will always remember the family and events that took place in the past.  This is a true blessing in itself.  

When I am working with my senior clients, if we are going to a location for their session, I ask them first if they have a place they want to take their portraits at.  Being a professional photographer, I can look at a location and find the best lighting for my client and that place.  If you think a location may not be good, talk it over with your professional photographer first.  We have been trained to find good lighting(or create it if need be) in any situation.  

Kat came in this week for a periscope to talk about her special place and why she chose it.  For her senior portraits we went out to her home(where she has grown up, and where I had photographed her two older brothers).  We also did portraits with her horse on their property.  Watch the full video here to see why she wanted to use this particular place, and see a few of her photos we created there.

Here is a sneak peek at my special place.  A place where I have loved since a little girl. A place where my childhood memories lie.  A place where I feel safe and comfortable.  A place where my life with my husband started.  5 years ago, we said “I do” on that very spot.  Of course this place meant the world to me, and this was exactly why I picked it.  When I look at these photos, I am flooded with memories of my childhood, my wedding, and my little children running around with their grandparents.  I become a kid again myself, I fall in love with my husband all over, and I am overwhelmed with pride to have my children be able to visit this place.  This is my special place, and I picked it for our family portraits.