Grad 2014

This was the first year I only had male graduates to photograph! (Being as the graduating class only had 4 girls, this isn't really that weird!) The challenge for me in this was finding creative poses for each session that would still reflect the uniqueness of each grad, but not be too crazy. With girls there are usually dresses to fluff and hair to fix, and these shoots tend to take much longer to get through. Girls are more familiar with instructions such as "tilt your chin, drop your shoulder, turn to the right, pop that knee...other knee" , while the guys get more and more anxious as every instruction is given and they feel more awkward with it. 
It was a beautifully warm day as far as weather goes, but cloudless sunny skies can be a photographer's nightmare. Lens flares, squinted eyes, and shadows exactly where you don't want them make it an extra challenge to be creative and sensitive to the comfort of those being photographed. And the poor guys were close to roasting in their fancy tuxes!
I've also just realized, each of the Grads you are about to meet were the youngest in their families! How cool is that?  Anyway, let me introduce them to you...

Adam

Here is a bright  young man that I have watched grow up - I kept saying out loud "I can't believe you're graduating!" throughout his photo shoot...mostly because I can still remember babysitting him when he was just a little older than my own kids. Now that I've successfully dated myself, here is the handsome young Grad: 

The youngest of 5 siblings, it was easy to see that Adam was both doted on and bossed around - all in good fun of course! My camera caught many looks of pride from older siblings as they watched Adam revel in his moment. Mom had mentioned her fear of losing it if she thought too hard about her baby graduating, but she did awesome and didn't shed one tear (that I noticed). 

This last one is probably my favourite from Adam's shoot...and I almost didn't get it! I had sent everyone but Adam and his escort back in to change...but then felt inspired to get them back outside for one more pose in the driveway. This was the fun result. Thank you Mackeracher family for allowing me the pleasure of capturing this milestone in your lives. Congratulations Adam! 

SHAY

There was no mistaking the excitement that Shay was finally done with high school!  He was stepping out in confidence about his future, and it showed. This is one of my favourites from Shay's session: 

This family was laid back and seemed totally relaxed with the whole "Grad Day" thing - there were laughs, and jokes, and no mistaking the pride radiating off of Mom and Dad. They were literally beaming!

Thank you, Brehm family, for allowing me the opportunity to get to know you a little better, and to capture this exciting moment in your lives. Congratulations Shay! 

Lane

Lane is one of those people who strikes you as quietly determined.  I can't remember his dog's name, but I could tell that it was important to have her share this moment with her master. Isn't she cute? This is definitely one of many favourites from Lane's session:

I had never met the Milton's, but I quickly felt like I had known them all a long time. They are easy going, and we all got lots of good laughs out of my trying to direct them on how to stand and pose - and them usually managing to do something entirely different, but us going with it anyway. Boys will be boys (and I'm including Dad in that reference!)

Thank you Milton Family for being such good sports for pictures. Congratulations Lane! 

GRAduating class from eston composite school 2014

This is the first year I was asked to take the Graduating Class photo for the Eston Composite School, so I thought I'd throw that on here too. Congratulations to all of you! 

1. “Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude.”
   ~Ralph Marston