Emily | Charlottesville High School – 2016

I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving weekend! This has been my busiest fall ever and it’s one of the many things I’m thankful for! Happy as I am to be busy (especially since I’m doing something that I love) I’ve fallen way behind on my blog posts! I have so many amazing senior portrait sessions to share so without further adieu, let me introduce Emily, a senior from Charlottesville High School’s Class of 2016.

Emily contacted me back in August to set up her senior portrait session. She and her family recently moved here from Saint Louis so they weren’t very familiar with Charlottesville. We set up a meeting at their house to discuss some of the different locations available in the area. I also looked over Emily’s wardrobe selection and helped her narrow down her choices.

After talking with her and her mother (and meeting some of her adorable family…she is one of eight children!) we decided that an urban themed session would perfectly match her personality and style. I knew exactly where I wanted to go! We started the session at one of my favorite locations in Charlottesville for urban sessions. I knew that all the vibrant colors and interesting textures would be the perfect backdrop for Emily’s outfits.

I’ve had sessions at this location many times before but every time, I seem to find something different. Like this window with the yellow pattern looping across this window…I am in LOVE with this reflection shot of Emily!

Talk about gorgeous! Smiling or serious, her eyes absolutely pop out of the frame!

For the next part of Emily’s session, we moved onto the Darden School of business in Charlottesville, Va. This was my second time having a session there and it is still such a great location! My husband likes to joke that Darden is a little UVA and he’s right. 🙂 Tons of columns, brickwork and beautiful landscaping all in one small area! The added benefit of it being so close together, Emily was able to change her wardrobe frequently. Thank goodness because had some amazing outfits with her! Seriously, every single one was total perfection!

Emily is a SUPER talented artist so there was no question we would be incorporating part of her artwork into the session. Check out these cowboys boots and hat…she painted the designs on them both!

She also painted all of these spectacular pieces. I actually didn’t have enough room to use everything she brought with her. It was a shame because they are all so brilliant!

For the last part of the session, we wanted to splatter paint on Emily. I tried to help but being completely clueless about painting, I just managed to splatter her teeth with green paint! Sorry Emily! 🙂

Luckily, she was able to clean up my mess pretty quickly and she and her mom finished the process themselves. I wouldn’t have though it possible to look beautiful with paint splattered everywhere but Emily absolutely did!

I had the BEST time with Emily and her parents. Not only are they super fun to be around but they are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met! They all helped out tremendously during the session. From holding my reflector, helping carry or move my lights around, even running back to the car when I’d forgotten something (twice I’m ashamed to admit!) they were a delight to be around!

Thanks so much for everything guys! Emily, enjoy the rest of your senior year and good luck with your future. I know you’ll do amazing things in your life!

CLASS of 2016 – It’s not too late to schedule a portrait session! Contact me today to get on my spring calendar! | 434.906.0418 | photos@alijohnson.com

Ali Johnson is a portrait photographer specializing in senior portrait photography in Charlottesville, Crozet, Keswick, Albemarle and Fluvanna County VA