Fourth Avenue Photography - Senior Picture Session

Hi everyone! I’m Kimberly and I’m the owner of Fourth Avenue Photography based in Zionsville, Indiana.  My family and I recently relocated from Southern California to the beautiful state of Indiana and we are loving every minute of living in this new environment!  I’m married to my college sweetheart, mama of 3 incredible boys and a senior, family and wedding photographer.  I fell in love with photography because of my Dad who always had a camera in his hand and passed his love of documenting the world around him to me.  I think my favorite part of photography is being invited to photograph the different chapters of life my clients are in.

Photography has allowed me to be a part of so many amazing things: your sweet new baby, silly toddlers who make the funniest faces when asked to smile, or those moments before your marry your best friend.  Whatever the occasion, I'm so grateful to the many clients who've asked me to photograph them.  And with that, I wanted to share one of my favorite senior picture sessions with you all.

When Kaitlyn contacted me to shoot her senior pictures I knew this was gonna be a fun session to plan and shoot. We went back and forth about what location she wanted, what she wanted to wear and had all the other normal planning conversations; but then El Nino happened and the mountains surrounding us got a huge snow dump! Which, if you know anything about Southern California, you know how rare this is.  Once the clouds cleared and Kaitlyn had a little break from her soccer schedule, we decided to head up to the snow. Little did I know, this senior shoot would prepare me (sort of- haha) for the snowy winter we're having in Indiana.

Meet Kaitlyn- she was the Hemet High Varsity Girls Soccer Team captain, honor student and Starbucks lover. On the weekends you can find her hanging out with her family or her boyfriend. Kaitlyn is the 2nd oldest of about 18 siblings, just kidding, but she has a lot. I think at least 6 but I could be wrong.  She’s now a Freshman at California State University San Marcos pursuing a degree in Education. With all those siblings- Kaitlyn is gonna make an incredible teacher one day.

Clients often ask me how to plan for their senior, family or engagement session.  I think the easiest place to start is with your outfits.  When planning your outfits, think variety but start with these two concepts: something dressy and something casual.

For the ladies: say yes to that dress!  Long, flowy dresses and skirts look amazing on camera because they bring extra movement to the photos. Cute, shorter-length dresses photograph beautifully as well. Dresses and skirts look most stunning on camera because they really flatter the female body. Remember, there’s no such thing as “too dressed up” for your senior pictures!  When thinking about something casual, think of bright colors that pop on camera. Pair a patterned blouse with a pair of jeans and heels or boots.

For the guys: say yes to that tie! I know, y'all might be rolling your eyes at me for this but trust me when I say it gives a little variety to the casual look and your Mama will appreciate it. Promise.  You can even pair that tie and dress shirt with a pair of jeans for a more relaxed look.

Obviously with shooting her session in the snow, a dress was out of the question. So for Kaitlyn, we thought about what accessories she liked and what cute coats and sweaters she could bring along. I think she did a great job!

Don't be afraid to use the area surrounding you.  These next couple of images are a few of my favorites. I love to be able to incorporate whatever environment we're in into your photo session! And I loved this quiet stretch of road and how Kaitlyn wasn't afraid to strike a pose for a couple moments.

Lastly, let's talk timing...

If you've ever heard a photographer mention the "golden hour", well, these next couple of images are examples of shooting during the golden hour.  I mean...can you even handle how buttery and warm that light looks?! The golden hour my friends, will make the most beautiful backdrops for your images!

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this. If you have any questions at all regarding planning for a senior session or engagement session, even if you're not located in the state of Indiana I'd love to share more with you!

If you're in the state of Indiana and are looking for an engagement photographer, senior pictures or a family photo session, I'd be honored if you contacted me.

Love Deeply friends,

Kim- Fourth Avenue Photography

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