Elizabeth - McKinney Boyd High School Class of 2015 {McKinney Senior Photography}

Ahhh....Elizabeth.  Elizabeth is a ray of sunshine to any day - and that really is more than a cliché.  She really is a ray of sunshine.  I have never seen her without a smile.  Elizabeth has been one of my biggest supporters - always re-tweeting my posts or mentioning me on Instagram whenever she can.  I love having such amazing and fun interaction with my seniors.

Elizabeth describes herself as "a little quirky."  I say she really is just comfortable in her own skin. 

We started her session outside our studio at the Historic McKinney Cotton Mill.  I was so excited about putting the chair in the middle of these flowers.  As we walked out to take the pictures, the lawn service was in the middle of cutting them down. I am so glad we didn't have a video of my running across the field waving my arms like a mad person trying to stop them before they got to my spot.  Whew.  Now this is a parking lot so Elizabeth got the last session the wildflowers at this location.

 

 

We ran over to a nearby lake to capture some images before the sun got too high.  Elizabeth really can rock the serious look!

 

 

 

She can also let loose and have fun as well....must be that drama background!

 



We came back to the Cotton Mill to finish her session.  I just love the contrast between her ivory dress and the deep rustic greens and browns of the mill.  So beautiful!

 

 Love love love her sense of style.  Thank goodness she chose a Glam and Style session so that our stylist was on hand to pull up her hair to match the sophisticated whimsy of her outfit!

 

I love a senior girl that loves her car.  Elizabeth's is named after Shaun's car in her favorite show "Psych" - sadly no longer on the air....

 



We ended the session playing with some different backgrounds.  This was where my photography education and training really came into play.  It was almost noon and in full sun.  We were able to use additive lighting to light her face in balance with the sun behind her so that nothing was blown out in the image.  I think this is one of my favorites!

Love this girl!  I am so blessed she was a part of my Class of 2015 Senior Model Team. 

Aimee

Alex - McKinney Christian Academy Class of 2015 {McKinney Senior Photography}

Meet Alex - one of our 2015 Senior Models!  Alex is a fun-loving young woman who is always ready with a smile and willing to step outside of the box to have amazing images.  Alex had some interesting experiences during her session. 

First...she wanted pictures with her cat.  Alex is the only senior I have ever had bring a cat to her session.  Let me tell you...the cat was a trooper...but he wasn't the happiest pet I have ever seen.  He did well anyway, even with the dog.

Later when we were out at the park, the local McKinney disk golfers decided that even though we were in our spot long before they got there, we had to move.  Hmmm....asking me works wonders...telling me...not so much.  So I took my time but we found Alex had Frisbees flying past her head at one point.  We thought they could wait 5 minutes, but I guess not.  We still got some amazing images and had a great time.

A few of my favorites from Alex's session...

Alex's smile ALMOST overcomes the "look of death" in her cat's eyes.  Soooo funny!

About here is where the Frisbees started flying....

Did I mention that Alex can really rock that serious look too!

Texas Tech bound!

Oh yes....another interesting moment....Alex's dad and I went and got the really really tall ladder here at the McKinney Cotton Mill and she did climb up to dizzying heights.  There is no way I would get up there.  She is a brave girl!

Loved your session Alex!  I hope you had as much fun as I did!

Aimee

Senior Guys and Senior Pictures- Making Everyone Happy {McKinney Senior Photography}

High school senior guys  and senior pictures - the subject that causes so much division in homes every year...the struggle between mom wanting to remember her precious child by having pictures taken and son wanting to be as far from a camera and a photo session as possible.

I am a mom of two boys - and believe me, I get it.  I have to hire a photographer every year to take our family portraits because there is no way my guys will cooperate with me and let me get genuine looks and smiles.

But...the upside of my daily struggle with my own boys....I GET it!  I get guys and what they want and what they don't want.  I also get being a mom and what she wants and what she doesn't want.

That is why my senior sessions are all customized for the senior and why I do in person consultations before every session.  I know that if I can get that 17 or 18 year old guy sitting in front of me, telling me what his passions are - and I can assure him face to face that I will make him look cool, will incorporate his passions into his session, and I will make sure he has the best time he possibly can - then I can get him to relax and (almost) buy into the fact that mom is making him take senior pictures.

So what does mom want and what does the almost adult male in her house want?  They want two different things and I promise to deliver for both.

For guys....they want their cars...

 

 

 

They want their sports....

And...they just want to look masculine in a cool location...

For mom - she wants smiles, true personality, and to see her son as she sees him.  For mom - we deliver smiles and personality...

We work hard to make everyone happy!  I think one of my most favorite moments was when one of my cool senior guys tweeted "@aimeelouphotos You made senior pictures pretty fun to be honest!"  Now THAT made my day! 

As a mom of boys, I really love my senior guys and I love to see the smile when they see we captured what they wanted! 

Aimee

Courtney - McKinney High Class of 2015 {McKinney Senior Photography}

Meet Courtney - one of our Class of 2015 Senior Models.  She attends McKinney High School and is quite athletic behind her super model look!  We held her session last summer in downtown McKinney and a really cool field I found not far from my house. 

Courtney was a trooper - changing clothes in downtown McKinney in my pop up changing booth with lots of wind whipping around us.  She held it together and maintained her effortless look through the heat and wind.

We loved having her sweet dog join us for the last part of her session (in spite of my horrible directions which got her mom lost for about 15 minutes).  I am so glad that I was able to capture their moments together and her sweet puppy passed away a few weeks ago.  What special memories we were able to capture!

A few of my favorites from her session...

 

 

Graduation Announcements - We love Custom All The Way.... {McKinney Senior Photographer}

It is coming up on time for graduation for the Class of 2015!  We started the Class of 2015 sessions in June.  It seems almost impossible that it has already been almost a year and time to start designing Graduation Announcements.

At AimeeLouise Photography, we are all about the experience.  We are all about making the senior session all about each particular senior - who they are, what they love, what the think.  We feel that graduation announcements should reflect the same.  When I graduated, our announcements looked something like this...

There is something to be said for the traditional style, but if you want a little personality, and you want to show off your senior images, call us to schedule a design appointment for your graduation announcements.  Here are just a few cards we designed over the last few years...

Jadyn - Plano West High School Class of 2015 {McKinney Senior Photography}

Who is perky and fun, dancer extraordinaire, and about to graduate from high school?  Jadyn Champagne!  Jadyn is a senior at Plano West High School and came for her senior portraits last November.  We had a total blast at her session - which had a little to do with her and a little to do with her crazy mamma that was along for the session. (I can talk about her crazy mamma because I have known her for quite a few years...we won't talk about how many).  Jadyn decided to start her session at our studio in the Historic McKinney Cotton Mill, go on location at the mill, and end in a park at sunset with beautiful fall leaves.

 

It is so much fun to me when the senior girls want to take their images in the grungy section of the McKinney Cotton Mill.  I expect the guys to do it, but I love the contrast of the beautiful girl and the urban decay.  I would say that Jadyn rocked this shot!

 



 

 

Mom wanted some images with her graduation cap - without being traditional and cheesy.  We had fun creating some different ideas. (and I totally LOVE the reflection of the windows on the floor!)

 



 

 

 

 

 

Don't forget the McKinney Cotton Mill is full of beauty as well.  One of my favorite spots is the waterfall right outside my studio.  The contrast of colors is stunning!

 



 

 

Jadyn can even make an old door look amazing!



The way the colors melded with Jadyn's coloring is stunning to me.  It was worth a trek through the mud to get to this location - even carrying a chair!

 

 



So...when we took the shot of Jadyn in front of the old door at the Cotton Mill, what I didn't mention was that all around us were these huge balls of roses left over from a wedding the night before.  We all got inspired to take the roses out into the woods and do this beautiful shot of rose petals falling around Jadyn.  Well...it didn't work as well as I had hoped because the ground was muddy, and the step ladder her mom was standing on was cattywampus as it sunk into the ground and the roses...well they kind of fell in clumps.  So we didn't get the amazing image we dreamed of, but we did get some funny ones!

 Thanks Jadyn for an amazing afternoon.  I can't believe you are graduating soon.  So excited for you!

Aimee

Glam and Style - Our Most Popular Session! {McKinney Photography}

Our Seniors By AimeeLouise Photography brand has several senior sessions you can choose from.  Our most popular by FAR is our Glam and Style session.  This session is all about giving our seniors the experience of a lifetime - beginning with feeling like America's Next Top Model for a day and ending with amazing imagery to hang on your wall or keep forever in a custom coffee table album.

What makes the Glam and Style session so popular?  We start with a personal consultation in our studio.  I sit down with you and your parent and we plan out your session from start to finish.  I want to get to know YOU - what makes you tick...what do you love...where do you love to shop...what is your style...and most importantly, what are your expectations for your session.  We plan the session at the consultation to ensure that the locations, clothing, and everything else flows together to give you an amazing experience that really captures you. 

The day of your session begins with hair and makeup at our studio with one of our stylists.  Our stylists meet with you beforehand to make sure they are prepared to give you the hair style and the makeup as YOU like it.  For girls that love "glammin' it up" - we can totally do that.