Senior portraits mark a significant milestone in a student's life, capturing the essence of the high school experience and the exciting transition into life’s next chapter. In this blog post, I feature 3 fun and authentic ways to celebrate your graduating senior with Michele K Photography.

1. The Classic Portrait Session: Capturing Individuality in a picturesque setting

A traditional portrait session is a timeless choice for senior photos. During an MKP senior portrait session, graduating seniors get to express their individuality and personality in a picturesque location - whether it’s a beautiful park or a cool, urban setting. A mix of poses, expressions and backgrounds ensure the images tell a unique and authentic story. MKP offers both deluxe 1-hour portrait sessions and “mini” 30 minute sessions to suit your senior’s goals and style.

2. Cap and Gown Session: Embracing the Symbolism

A cap and gown session can add a touch of formality to senior portraits, emphasizing the significance of this academic achievement. Cap and Gown Sessions include both classic, cap and gown shots as well as some fun, candid images against their school backdrop. These can also be fun when taken with a group of your friends. Contact MKP for details on how to book!

3. Friends Forever: Group Sessions for Lasting Memories

Senior year is synonymous with creating lasting memories with friends. Incorporate the joy of friendship into your senior portraits by booking a group session with your friends. In addition to capturing individual moments, time is set aside for candid, group moments at the end of your group session. Choose a setting that holds sentimental value for the group, such as a favorite hangout spot, a park, or choose one of many of my favorite senior locations. Contact MKP for details on how to book!

Whether opting for a classic portrait session, embracing the symbolism of a cap and gown shoot, or capturing the bonds of friendship in group sessions, MKP senior portraits celebrate this great milestone in your senior’s life. Senior portraits are more than just pictures; they become cherished moments in time that can be forever looked back upon with joy and remembrance.

Working with babies in their first year is one of my favorite things to capture. It’s a joy to capture their unique personalities as they reveal themselves over time in front of my lens. Those belly laughs, expressions and squishy bodies are moments meant to treasure forever. When working with these little-est subjects at my milestone sessions, I have learned some key tips and tricks to ensure we create the space and environment to allow for the “magic” to happen on set. These are tips anyone can use - even if you are working with an iphone camera!

My Top Tips:

1) Music - I’m sure as a parent you know which music captivates your little one. Play it on repeat! :)

2) Feather duster - I learned this tip while working with a product photographer while shooting babies for a toy brand I worked for. An assistant would quickly tickle the baby under the chin with a long feather duster! It most always did the trick of creating sweet smiles!

3) Get down low - If your baby is sitting/standing get yourself at eye-level to your subject. Not only will your images look better, you will most easily be able to connect with your little one.

4) Consider age-appropriate props - Until about 4 months, you will likely be shooting above baby as they may not have the ability to sit or support themselves unassisted. For those that can sit, consider a pretty, textured blanket or even a stable wooden bowl they can sit in (photographers usually will have such a prop that is safe and stable). As babies start to stand, a low baby-sized chair or stool is great to capture them as they crawl to a stand position (and they love it!). Be sure to capture each developmental stage - lying on the floor (shooting from top down), to supported tummy time, to sitting, to assisted standing, and then standing).

5) Feed baby before photographing - A full belly often = a happy baby. So, don’t start on an empty stomach. And, if possible, try not to shoot during an overlapping meal time. For younger babies, feeding can make them sleepy, so consider the timing as best you can and be sure to burp adequately!

6) Work quickly and consider morning shoots - babies are at their best when freshly rested. Your best chances to avoid crankiness: shoot in the morning. Also, work quickly - after 20-30 minutes babies are generally out of smiles, less focused and quite frankly, “done”.

7) Use “surprise” as a secret weapon to spark some attention. Interactions such as peek-a-boo, and happy but surprising sounds like “Boo! at a high pitch tend to bring babies personalities and smiles to life. I find it useful when it seems baby is close to “done” at a shoot… If needed, I can usually get a couple more shots when trying this.

8) Have a helper. From putting baby back into position, to helping you get their attention, to giving baby some comfort - it can be really hard to do all these things while shooting. In addition, having a parent/favorite caregiver stand directly behind you (the photographer) is key to have baby’s focus directed to camera. Have your helper interact with baby (talk, make sounds, sing).

9) Embrace your baby’s personality. We all want to capture shots of babies smiling and happy. However, some of my most favorite shots are those quiet moments - they really show off how beautiful babies are. Be sure to capture all of the feelings you see. I have images of my daughter in a full crying fit, and while that may have been a stressful moment, it’s still one I want to remember and go I back to (and fun to chuckle about!).

10) Sing! I am by no means a good signer. BUT… I cannot tell you how many times singing the “Itsy-bitsy spider” has saved the day when working with babies and toddlers. They love to hear us sing and interact with them, so don’t be shy and have some favorites at the ready!

My Top No-Nos:

1) Do not offer electronics or phones - I can 100% assure you this never goes well.

Also, do not offer lovies, stuffed toys, dolls, favorite trucks, etc. (unless of course, you would like it part of the photograph! :) Note: Some of my favorite images of my own daughter are of her cuddling her favorite blankey.

2) Don’t attempt shooting when a child is sick - better to reschedule for the following week. From grumpiness to red, boogery noses, it just doesn’t work.

3) Don’t let stress get in the way - If your baby isn’t cooperating or having a good day, or smiling as much as you want, take a breath. It’s ok. If you are working with a professional photographer, they will not judge his/her behavior. I can assure you we have all been there. And, if things are just not happening simply plan to try for another day.

I hope these tips have helped. If you’d like to book a session with me, I’d love to help! Feel free to email me with any questions you might have. I also have a fabulous Milestone package that will ensure you don’t miss a single moment and have a fun, stress-free year of milestone photographs of your little one. To read more about my Little Milestones Program, click here.

Well, given this late-season snow storm we find on our hands in Chicago (hello, March??!), I thought I’d make some lemonade and share 5 things to do with kiddos on a snowy day in the Western Suburbs of Chicago.

1. Go Sledding!
   Ok, this is an obvious one, but it’s got to be first on the list!! Being a local Elmhurst resident, some of the popular local places include sledding hills at Beren’s Park and Eldridge Park. However, if you want a super secret “awesome-for-the-littles” spot, check out the “monkey trails” area at Wild Meadows Trace. I’ve seen families (especially those with the littlest sledders) enjoying this magical, quiet area which runs just north of the Prairie Path. The “trace” itself is a semi-wide, tree-lined path (with some elevation to it’s north) and starts near the Park District’s Safety Town and heads east. You can access the trace from Safety Town, however, I have found it easiest to access this sledding area along Valette Street just east of Poplar Avenue.

Sledder flying down the hill at Eldridge, Park (actually that’s my son!). :)

Wild Meadow’s Trace. Kids sled down clearings on the small elevations to the left of the path.

2. Go for a Winter Walk
There’s so many places to explore! To start, the llinois Prairie Path is a family-friendly choice due to its easy access (and it’s periodic proximity to local businesses). Another beautiful place is Fullersburg Woods. Park in the lot near their nature center for easy access. From hills, to bridges, the Salt Creek and deer/wildlife, you’re sure to have an interesting adventure. Another less-travelled spot (and smaller/easy to access) is York Woods in Elmhurst. The parking lot has easy access to a short 1 mile paved trail. The lot is located right off Harger Road near the 290 entrance ramp. What I really like about this path is it’s size. You can do a quick little adventure without much stress.

Snowy Scene on the Prairie Path in Elmhurst, IL

3. Enjoy a warm, sweet treat! Take your kiddos to the local coffeeshop for a warm cup of hot cocoa. One of my favorite spots is Lezza’s. Located on Spring Road, it’s a great local bakery that also features gelato. Grab a round of hot cocoas (maybe a LaVAzza coffee for yourself?) and some delicious cookies. While you’re there, I HIGHLY recommend grabbing one of their famous (to me anyway!) cannoli dip trays. They are to die for!

4. Escape to the warmth of an indoor garden/conservatory. Sometimes when the winter blues hit hard, I love to pay a quick visit to our local conservatory. Its warm, humid air, seasonally-blooming plants and fish pond always have a way of perking me up. It’s like a quick vacation (well, sort of!) ;).

Elmhurst Conservatory in the Springtime.

5. Go ice skating. Nothing beats some fun out on the ice! We have a great outdoor rink here in Elmhurst at our local YMCA which is great place to check out. Kidlist put out an amazing guide of outdoor rinks in Dupage County. Just be sure to check your local outdoor rink before you head out to be sure the temperature has been cold enough to support outdoor ice.

And, most importantly, have fun!! Spring is around the corner, right!?? ;)

You’re prepping for your little one’s arrival. The nursery is ready to go. You’re nesting instincts are on overdrive as you attempt to plan all the things before life gets just a taaaaaaad busier ;).

One of the things on that potentially long list might be hiring a photographer to capture those first amazing moments with your baby. You’ve seen the photos of babies propped in buckets and boxes and other unnatural poses. But…you’re not quite sure that’s your style - what is a baby doing in a bucket anyway, you wonder…? You’ve also seen beautiful images of a newborn snuggling up with Mom and Dad in their own home and see that labeled a ‘lifestyle newborn session”. Thinking this is more your style (and marvel at the convenience of a photographer coming to YOU), you settle on this type of session.

But, what is a Newborn Lifestyle Session anyway?

You might have seen the term on various photographer websites, but t’s not quite clear what differentiates it from a traditional posed newborn session. If I were to explain what a lifestyle newborn session was, I’d say it is a more relaxed and natural approach to capturing your newborn/family in the comfort and familiarity of your own home.

“Lifestyle newborn photography is a relaxed and natural approach to capturing your newborn/family in the comfort and familiarity of your own home.”

Along with its natural style and the convenience of being home, I find these types of sessions to have several other amazing benefits to consider:

1) Sessions are baby-led. Our session follows their needs and we document along the way. Is baby hungry? Let’s take a feeding break. Unsettled? Time for a little snuggle. Sleepy? Take some quiet time and rest. We basically are following their natural rhythms.

2) Sessions are relaxed. While I provide a plan and structure, there are no expectations other than documenting how beautiful this stage is in your home and surroundings.

3) The focus of our session is on your connection as a family. I document the love and emotion I see - whether it’s Mom and baby, Dad and baby, sister and baby or even baby with a well-behaved family pet.

4) Less age restriction - because we are not relying on posing sleeping newborns (a very short stage) we are afforded more flexibility on how old a newborn can be. Sleepy stage works (1-2 weeks), alert stage works (3-4 weeks), alert and smiley stage works 4-6 weeks). Each age brings its own magic.

5) The context of your home and surroundings provides a historical snapshot of this time in your life. That nursery wallpaper you spent hours choosing. The mobile or hand-knit blanket your grandmother gifted you. The style of your home. It’s all preserved for you to revisit and relive over and over again.

In short, shooting in-home newborn sessions is, in my opinion, one of the best and most natural ways to document and preserve the special memories of beginning and expanding your family. I find that this format enables me to tell your very own unique story at a very precious moment in time.

Would you like to find out more about booking a newborn lifestyle session with MK Photography? Click here to connect.

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At MKP Studios, I provide the appropriate venue, the right preparation, proper lighting technique, posing and editing to deliver quality, flattering headshot images that you'll love.  Trust me - you don’t have to be a model to take a great headshot.

While I do most of the work to make your headshot photography session an easy, successful and enjoyable experience, I do believe a little bit of client preparation is also important. Following are my top headshot preparation tips to help my clients show up to look their best in front of the camera. 📷

TIP 1: WHAT TO WEAR

In general, I suggest to keep things simple, classic and neat. When evaluating your clothing choice, I suggest you ask the following questions:

1) Is it neat? Clean, neat and freshly-pressed is key. Flimsy collars/ necklines that don’t lay right look messy and can be problematic.

2) Is it simple? Solid colors are always a good choice (avoid overly bright/neon colors). I also do not recommend busy patterns.

3) Is it appropriate? Consider your intended use when making your choices - Business attire makes sense for some industries, a more casual approach might be more suitable for others. Consider bringing layers - some clients like to bring a jacket, for example. Also, veer away from overly-trendy styles. Classic is always a good choice.

4) Does it fit/make you feel good? This might be the most important consideration. If you feel good in your clothing, it shows in how you carry and present yourself.

5) Bring some options to your session
I always recommend clients bring a few clothing choices to the studio as I can provide recommendations on the day of your session. As your headshot photographer, I have a good knowledge about what will photograph best.

TIP 2: HAIR

Hair
Unless you are planning a significant hair length/style change, I recommend getting a hair cut within 2- 3 days of your session. If you have a hairstyle that requires moderate to complex styling, you might consider scheduling your session after being freshly styled. If your hair is prone to frizz/flyaways, please bring your favorite hair product(s) and a brush.

Trim your ear, nose, and eyebrow hairs if needed.

If you shave daily, consider shaving about 4 hours of your session (but not immediately before due to redness/irritation). If you have a beard, please be sure it’s neatly trimmed.

TIP 3: MAKEUP
In general, keep things natural and simple. Makeup is also useful to remove “shine” on your face, cover up blemishes, and balance out skin tone to help you look your best. If using makeup, please bring some extra matte powder/other makeup products for touch-up and to reduce shine. It is recommended that products with sparkles/shimmer are avoided.

TIP 4: RESEARCH PHOTOGRAPHER TO FIND A GOOD FIT FOR YOU
It’s important to research photographers near you that provide the style, expertise and service level that best fits your needs and expectations. Each photographer brings their own skills, strengths and style and service level to their work. Pick one that is a good fit for you.

TIP 5: Relax and Be Yourself
Showing up to a headshot session may feel overwhelming and stressful at times. However, my biggest tip is to relax and trust the person you have hired. Great headshot photographers are trained to help you relax and pose you to look your best. If you can relax and be yourself in front of the camera, that’s when the “magic” happens: authentic, impactful and flattering images of you at your very best.

Michele

Interested in working with MKP for your next headshot? Click here to book a session: BOOK HERE. For more details about MKP Headshots click here: MKP Headshots