Behind The Scenes : 2020 Edition

This post is dedicated to my #ckseniors parents who captured SO MUCH of the behind-the-scenes action during our sessions with their senior. Holy cow, did we try some crazy things! I also need to give a huge shout out to all the parents of our family session who carried a lot more of the burden during shoots. Due to COVID precautions, I refrained from touching anyone during our outdoor shoots and when you have a family with littles….I missed holding hands as we walked across a parking lot, I missed helping Mom carry props/blankets/diaper bags, I missed wiping away a fly-away and because of our safer practices, I found I needed to serve my clients in other ways-encouraging words & lots of smiles, clearer posing instructions verbally and praying for them before & after our shoots.

But I digress, let’s see some funnies! Our shooting season started in May with a few fresh deliveries to some sweet families on our roster. This was the ultimate “lifestyle newborn” session opportunity-shooting outside & capturing interaction among family members. We added two adorable schnauzer puppies to Melissa + Ryan’s crew(!) and then moved onto some of our older-child/teen families. Shane can pack a punch, Blaine’s got hops, Melissa handled the treats for the pups, Greg held his pose while Kelsey assisted a wardrobe malfunction, Will gifted Kelsey with dandelions for all her hard work, Keaton tried to eek out a smile on Reece and Carson tried to get Brecker to smile for me by creeping behind me. :)

Moving into the seniors….I try to always get photos of whichever parent(s) are on the shoot with us because often times, their senior’s shoot is the first thing they do to start their child’s senior year. Many times, it’s the first time parents see their child as a senior & “Holy cow! How did they get so grown up!?” I secretly love making moms cry when they see their child’s photos. :)

PS Jackson (with the guitar) had a random walker jump in for a shot while we were at Grey’s Lake. I think he must’ve missed the memo on social distancing!? I especially loved the break dancing Dad, siblings who helped with hair & outfit choices and Moms willing to be goofy or a circus artist for a good smile or shot:

This season did so many new things: fishing, open top jeep, basketball hoop as a seat & framing, dancing, new locations or old locations that had been renovated. We wore masks, we swatted off bugs, we braved the heat, the wind, squinted into the sun, practiced a whole new level of balance, and I found I have a summer shooting uniform with my uber-comfy sandals, navy long shorts & a flowy tank to keep cool. I also learned I needed to bring a step stool with me, as most of my clients were young men who are a decent bit taller than me! This might’ve been where siblings made a much more frequent appearance and I loved it! Sisters are awesome at clothing choices, fixing hair & letting me know if the senior is showing a legit smile—they don’t mince words & I enjoyed the banter/added chemistry it provided. And in some instances, the sibling helped the senior and the parents were able to sit back and enjoy the experience more!

Some of these shoots challenged me physically-mainly balance on a ladder with heavier gear & trying to get a shot through the basketball hoop on Ethan. These photos are brought to you by inspiration found on social media & all the yoga I’ve been doing to maintain balance & core strength. Whew!

The last Behind the Scenes was taken on Paul & Macy’s big day, Dec. 19th, and to keep the numbers in their home as low as possible, this was the first wedding I’ve photographed without a 2nd shooter in YEARS! So, you get to see me in a mirror :)

Truly, thank you to all my clients who made this year such a success with your support, ideas, flexibility & cheerleader-efforts to keep my business afloat in a year where so many crumbled. Because of YOU, this was a record-breaking year and taught me that there are trade-offs to every challenge. As Chip Gaines has said in Magnolia Journal, “At the end of every experience, we either win or we learn.” I think, this year, despite EVERYTHING that was 2020, we did both.

Humbled, grateful & oh, so richly blessed,

Carrie