I don't think there was one thing I didn't love about this senior session in NoDa. It was such a fun experience shooting in one of my favorite locations in Charlotte and documenting this incredibly sweet, beautiful girl.

For every one of my seniors, I have a few key goals:

Make sure I capture who they are and make their experience as custom to them as possible. Even if I use the same location for different clients, I aim to photograph each one a bit differently. No two sessions are ever the same, which makes sense, because no two seniors are ever the same.
Keep the butterflies away. It's a weird feeling to be put in the spotlight, especially if it's by someone you don't hang out with on a daily basis. While photo sessions are fun, I know all too well how self-conscious you suddenly feel. Even more so if you're in a crowded area and people are noticing. Some of my senior clients have zero problem being the center of attention. Others, like me, would much rather crawl in a hole. I do my best to help my seniors feel like they're hanging out with a friend verses a professional photographer. And sometimes, it helps for them to actually bring a friend or sibling. If that happens, I'm more than happy to grab a few of them together as well (just an fyi, moms!)
Get a decent variety. If you stuck me in a spot and told me I had to shoot an entire session within 10 feet of that spot, I would still end up with a ton of photos with different angles, lighting, and looks. A great example is this particular NoDa session. While we obviously didn't spend the entire session in the same 10 feet, I did spend a good amount in each area. Actually one spot, we came back to and shot there in a different outfit. So while Rhiannon probably felt like we were getting similar shots, it ended up looking completely different!

While Rhiannon looked absolutely stunning all dressed up during our Wildflower Model Styled Shoot, her true style has more of an edgy, hippie vibe to it. NoDa was a perfect location for her, as it definitely has an artistic vibe... from the artwork to the people... it's awesome. This session is also a great example of how a professional makeup artist can really help pull together the look a senior is trying to achieve. I think there's a misconception that makeup artists will make you feel overdone or unnatural. The truth is a real pro will know exactly how to give you as dramatic or as simple a look as you'd like. Norelle from Makeup by Norelle B did a fabulous job with Rhiannon. She gave her a flawless look, enhanced those gorgeous eyes, all while staying true to Rhiannon's style.

She also happens to be an artist, so for her custom senior experience, we made sure to incorporate that somehow. She and her mom brought some paint powder and acrylics to use at the end of the session. To add some depth and drama, I pulled out my lighting and also used the awesome sunset happening behind her!

We really had a great time, and I'm so glad we were able to capture exactly who Rhiannon is. I hope they'll treasure these for many many years!

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Rhiannon's NoDa Senior Experience

For every one of my seniors, I have a few key goals:

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