Light Blue Inspired Session | Emily

This year I decided to do something different with my 2016 senior reps. I wanted to step out of the box and get really creative. After a lot of brain storming, I came up with color inspired sessions. Each rep will chose a different color and we’ll  have a photoshoot based on their color. Emily, one of my senior reps from Monticello High School in Charlottesville, VA, chose light blue. If you missed it, check out Morgan’s green or Sarah’s gold inspired sessions…they were amazing!

Just like the other sessions,  I turned to Pinterest to gather ideas with Emily and come up with a general theme. Once again we ended up with something totally different that what had originally intended! We met up at Joann Fabrics (she was fresh from tennis practice, hence the visor 🙂 ) to select our fabric. We were leaning towards an Egyptian style dress but once I got the fabric home, a totally different dress materialized!

I styled Emily’s hair, and Hope, a rising senior from Monticello High School, helped again with the make-up. She did such a fabulous job! I’m so clueless when it comes to makeup so I am in awe of  her expertise! For the first part of the session, we used a blue backdrop and left the dress as I’d designed it. Emily’s make-up was also a little on the lighter side.

I love the photos (Emily chose the perfect color, her eyes absolutely pop out of the frames!) but wanted to change things up and get a little more dramatic. I added sparkly curtains to the background and adjusted my lighting. Hope change up the make-up a little and Emily began to play around with the dress.  It’s amazing how a few small changes can have a huge impact on a photo!

Emily was so fantastic in front of the camera! One of my favorite things about senior photography sessions, is how the girls get a chance to step out of their own boxes! Emily would probably never wear make-up like this on a regular (or even semi-regular) basis but during the session, she got a chance to play grown up make believe! Fake eyelashes, sparkly make-up,  giant earrings, even beads in her hair…she totally rocked it!

Emily’s personality is so sunny and happy, I love that even during the serious dramatic shots, it kept shining through! Serious, smiling or cracking up, she looked absolutely gorgeous in every single shot!

With the exception of the bracelet, which she borrowed from her sister, I bought the jewelry specifically for Emily’s session. I did make one change during the session though. My dad bought me those eye earrings back when I was in high school (we’re talking 1989 baby!) and I used to wear them all the time! The color matched perfectly so I knew I had to take at least one photo of Emily wearing them. Thanks again Dad! 🙂

Thanks Emily & Hope for a fantastic afternoon. I had so much fun working with you guys! Be on the lookout for my new color session. I think it’s going to be red with Jordann, my United Christian Academy rep…so exciting!

CLASS of 2016 – It’s never too early to get on my fall calendar, contact me today! | 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