I am a natural light photographer located in Spokane, Washington and I focus my work on high school senior girls and newborns. When I started my business back in 2008, I did everything from weddings to family reunions to catalogue photoshoots. But as I’ve added people to my life (husband…son…daughter) and my time has become more precious, I’ve learned to focus in on what subjects I have a true passion for capturing.
High school senior girls are a big one for me. Gabbing and giggling about boys and clothes happens to be a specialty of mine that I don’t think I’ll ever outgrow so I can relate pretty easily to this age ;). I am also inspired by the carefree way of teenagers and their excitement about life. I love the gratification that comes from boosting the confidence of a young lady whose on the cusp on adulthood simply by showing her how beautiful her uniqueness is through the eyes of another.
I don’t care for extra fluff such as fancy equipment and studio backdrops, but instead I like to help my girls feel at ease in charming outdoor settings with nothing but the suns rays to shine light on their beauty. I feel like most people are happier when they’re wandering through a wildflower field at sunset than they would be while sitting stiff and posed in tight indoor quarters. And for me, a happy client who is genuinely enjoying their experience and feeling confident in their skin is my ultimate goal. Nothing makes me happier than when I finish a shoot and my senior looks at me with a giant grin and says “that was so much fun! I didn’t know I was going to like this so much!”
This particular set of photos was taken in a quaint, small town in the middle of the rolling wheat fields of the Palouse here in eastern Washington. The beautiful, fun-loving subject is named Jolene and she was an absolute treat to photograph. It felt impossible to narrow down my senior sessions to one favorite because I have a tendency to bond with all my clients and therefore fall in love with all my photo sessions, haha. But Jolene’s was definitely up there on my favorites list. The evening summer sun, the charming country setting and Jolene’s cheery personality and spot on fashion sense made it an effortless photo taking experience for me.
I think what makes me most excited about photography is the human connection. The equipment and actually technology involved in photography is just a means to an end for me. As Dorothea Lange said,
“the camera is an instrument that teaches people to see without a camera.”
Basic Invite offers a variety of customizable senior graduation invitations.
COMPANY: Cali Jenae Photography
WEBSITE: www.calijenaephotography.com
SOCIAL: Facebook