Vibrant and Colorful Senior Photos | Ellie | Linn-Mar High School

Vibrant and colorful Senior Photos with ellie

Downtown Cedar Rapids | Colony Pumpkin Patch | Iowa Senior Photographer

Ellie’s mom first reached out to me about her senior photos at the beginning of June. Ellie wanted a photographer whose photos were vibrant and colorful, and particularly loved the sunflower photos I had taken of another senior in the past. We met for a consultation, picked a date and planned out Ellie’s session, including a sunflower field of course! A few days before her session, I went and scouted out the sunflower location I had used in the past to make sure they looked ok, and they absolutely did not! A little panicked, I scouted out a few more locations with the generous help of a friend but alas, they just weren’t going to work for my vision for Ellie’s session. I found an alternative that would work for us (still not quite my vision but would do the trick), but then the day of her session came and it happened to be the day that Cedar Rapids decided it no longer wanted to in a drought. Although the rain had pretty much cleared up for her session, is was very overcast that day. Normally, we’d shoot anyway, but I knew Ellie in particular wanted bright and vibrant colors and a golden sunset that only the sun could provide. So we scheduled for a few weeks later and, I rebooked hair and makeup and scheduled us a spot out at Colony Pumpkin Patch where they have multiple fields of sunflowers!! (My FAVORITE sunflower spot!!!)

I met Ellie at Pretty Lane to get her makeup done, and had hairstylist Meghan Labs (from Virtue Salon & Spa) join us! We all ooo-ed and awww-ed over her gorgeous skin and hair, and then met up with her mom to get the photoshoot started. We started at Greene Square Park across from the downtown Library and explored the area.

(Some fun behind-the scenes shots, courtesy of Ellie’s mom)

We sought out shade whenever we could (it was HOT!) and explored a little more after an outfit change. I love this romper!!

(I love a good “what you see vs what I see” comparison)

We hopped in our cars (thankful for some air conditioned-relief) and headed to our next location: the Sac & Fox Trail just past A Touch of Class event center for the amazing blue bridge down that road. The bridge is amazing, but it’s also a very busy road so we had to be very careful and quick with photos in this location. But Ellie rocked it, of course. We were running a few minutes behind so we decided to not check out the natural trail, skip an outfit, and head to our last destination: the sunflowers!!

We arrived at Colony Pumpkin Patch, got changed, and the nice owner helped us pack up all of our stuff and drove us out into the sunflower field. We are SO thankful for her hospitality. It was SO hot, I cannot imagine having to make the hike up there (with my heavy gear backpack/wagon full of stuff). We got SOOO many gorgeous images in the sunflowers.

It had just rained 3 inches out there the day before, so the grounds were pretty muddy. Thankfully, Ellie’s mom rocks and brought a towel and wet wipes, which we ended up using a lot. Ellie went barefoot most of the time, which worked out perfectly, until I decided to do some poses that would show the bottoms of her feet. LOL! We went through almost an entire package of wet wipes just to wipe the mud off for some classic and cute poses. I think it was worth it, though!!

We used some of the cute props provided by Colony Pumpkin Patch, we hiked through the mud, and we even had time for an outfit change! The sunset was gorgeous. The colors were perfect and vibrantly colorful — JUST like Ellie wanted! I think our vision came to life!! What a perfect night for her senior session (although, I would’ve welcomed a slight temperature drop) and we all had a blast. I’m so thankful I got to meet Ellie and her amazing family!!

Your calendar likely fills up as fast as mine does and it’s SO easy to forget to schedule photos! If you are graduating in 2023 or 2024 (or a parent of an upcoming graduate) - reach out with any questions or to start planning!! Check out my Senior Gallery or contact me for more info!

Trendy Summer Senior Photos | Grace | Marion High School

TRENDY SENIOR SESSION WITH GRACE

Downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Center Point, Iowa | Marion High School Senior Photographer

I first met Grace just two days after the derecho swept through Cedar Rapids. It was such a whirlwind of craziness the days following that I ALMOST forgot to meet with her and her mom! But, after so many attempts to try to reach each other through the spotty cellphone service we were experiencing at that time, her mom and I finally connected and I met them at their home to start planning her session (after having to use old-fashioned word-of-mouth directions, because GPS’s weren’t working at that time either.)

We chatted about the damage in their neighborhood and the surrounding areas, how it had been affecting their family, and how it might affect her senior year - including her senior session with me. Everything in the area was in shambles and all the natural, beautiful areas and parks required so much cleanup. After chatting with Grace, her main goal was to have photos that were different than her friends and to include some wildflowers. Well… wildflowers are hard to come by post-derecho. So, we decided to travel to my hometown, Center Point, to find wildflowers AND have some scenery and backdrops that her friends wouldn’t. Win win!

We started out in Downtown Cedar Rapids, because I felt like it best matched the vibe for some of Grace’s adorable outfits. We just wandered around, found cool spots and took cute photos. BUT I do have to note… it was HOT out!! Grace’s mom wasn’t ever too far behind with the hairspray - good thinking, mom! P.S. COOL new graffiti art wall, C.R.

Then we ventured up to Center Point for some wildflowers. We stopped quick at the Travel Plaza (…or is it just Casey’s now?! Hmm!) and I was inspired! Wayyyy in the back there’s a little bit of land with trees, which would be the perfect way to add some more variety to Grace’s photos. Yay! Plus, I love the little fence and water in the background. I even convinced her to wear my hat and she looked SO good in it!

Then finally, off to the feature location of the night, the wildflower field! Grace is just the sweetest, and isn’t she just straight up adorable?!

Grace wasn’t able to get her cheerleading uniform from the school before her senior session so we scheduled a 15-minute mini photoshoot for her one Friday afternoon after school started. So we took some fun photos to show off her love for cheer and I’m so glad we did! Cheerleading was my favorite in high school too, so my cheerleading senior photos is still one of my favorites! I hope that’ll be the case for her, too.. because once a cheerleader, always a cheerleader! :)

Your calendar likely fills up as fast as mine does and it’s SO easy to forget to schedule photos! If you are graduating in 2021 or 2022, or a parent of a 2021/2022 graduate - reach out with any questions or to start planning!! Check out my Senior Gallery or contact me for more info!