South Dakota Senior Photography: Chelsea’s Senior Slide Show Video
Senior Pictures: Not just for high school – The Postma twins graduate from SDSU today
We had some fun earlier this week when the Postma twins came in for some pictures in their caps and gowns prior to today’s graduation from South Dakota State University. Amber and the girls took a few together then we moved on to the rest of the session. We printed up a couple of 16×20’s for the party after graduation as a surprise.
Congratulations girls!
2010 Senior Slideshow Videos
2010 Senior Slideshow Videos
2010 Seniors
Here are a few of our 2010 Senior Pictures
Class of 2010 senior video slideshows
Check out these senior slideshows embedded from YouTube.
Brian’s announcement card
Brian’s sales session was tonight. He loved the card that EizaBeth designed for him.
Playtime Sessions coming soon…
Cold weather has delayed our Playtime Sessions this Spring. Cold, snow and prom dresses don’t mix well. As soon as it warms up a bit more we’ll be showing you more.
Brian
Brian came for his senior session today. It’s turned a bit warmer than the deep freeze of last week.
I used the high speed flash technique that I learned from Mike Fulton at the NL Winter Seminar. This allows us to get an image in bright sunlight that has shallow deep of field, isolating the subject from the background.
Announcement card time!
Please send in your announcement card flyer with any changes you may have so we can get your cards printed.
Graduation is coming up fast.
Shelby’s Art Poster
Going for the dramatic – before & after
Image enhancement is an art form all it’s own.
When we are photographing a senior, we are always looking for a strong base image that we can take to the next level using Adobe Photoshop. We get it right in camera first. We aren’t trying to cover up our mistakes by spending hours fixing them in Adobe Photoshop.
The current trends of overlay textures, oversaturated colors, blown out highlights and twisted horizons are too easily overdone. A few images from each senior session are taken “over the top”, but we try to go more for the dramatic and classic look that won’t look dated the day after tomorrow.
We love the classic look of black and white with a bit of dramatic contrast wihout blowing out all of the detail.
Caitlinn
It was yet another busy day in the studio this saturday. Babies and kids in the morning and Caitlinn’s senior session in the afternoon.
The sun may be shining and the thermometer may be creeping higher, but it is still a bit brisk when we were taking outside pictures…and bright too.
If you follow Madison Lady Bulldog basketball, you have already seen Caitlynn in action. Notice the very cool warm up pants.
Shelby’s slideshow
Shelby’s senior sale was tonight.
Announcement Card time
Announcement card flyers are hitting the mail this week for approval. When you get your letter please send it back with any changes you might want. You can also order additional cards.
The senior favorites will be available on our main website under CLIENTS. Check your announcement card flyer for your password.
Madison South Dakota Senior Photography: Anthony’s special
Anthony’s sale was tonight. We always make up a few fun things for the parents to look at. This image is designed as a 20×20 composite wall portrait.
Madison South Dakota Senior Photography: 2nd Street Girls
We receive many comments about our display prints that we have in the 2nd Street Diner in Madison.
Marti is a waitress at 2nd Street (and Skippers), plays basketball and is on the school’s powerlifting team. Busy girl for sure.
Beside the three 16×20’s of the girls, 2nd Street also commissioned us to provide images in their Party Room. There are 8 – 20×24 framed black and white art prints of the Madison area.
Chantel is one of our “Prom Girls” from last spring’s Playtime sessions.
Rutland South Dakota Senior Photography: Shelby
Shelby came after school for her senior pictures along with two of her friends to help haul in all of her outfits.
Senior Photography: Rave Books
We ordered a few extra of our Rave Books as studio samples.
We’ve done a bunch of these books for seniors this year. We include them in our Adventure Sessions.
Madison South Dakota Senior Photography: Dustin’s Specials
Dustin’s sales presentation was last night. His mom picked out two “specials” as part of his senior pictures: a composite wall portrait and a composite refrigerator magnet – just like the ones that are part of our Birthday Club.
When we prepare each senior’s images, we make up an announcement card and a couple of composites. We call them “specials” within our workflow. We then can make any tweaks during the sale. With announcement cards all we have to do come February and March is to make any final changes for the time, date and location of the Open House.
Madison South Dakota Senior Photography: It’s cold out there!
Anyone in their right mind stays inside on a day like today. With the temperature hovering just above zero and a stiff breeze making it feel much colder than it really was, we were out taking advantage of a cool sunset.
Anthony thought we were all done, but before he left I talked him into one last series of shots. Normally we would’ve done a few more creative things – 20 to 30 below wind chills cut our time short.
We can’t wait for a little warmer weather. It’s funny how 20 above seems warm after being out in 20 below temps.
Madison South Dakota Senior Photography: Dustin
Dustin is on track to beat the state powerlifting record for his weight division…that’s intense.
yes, we are still busy doing senior sessions. Many area schools have March yearbook deadlines so there is plenty of time to get your session in and images back before then.
Stay tuned for “PLAYTIME”…returning soon…
Bridal show tomorrow in Watertown at the Event Center if you are brave enough to venture out in the cold.
Senior Photography: Kellie
In the midst of our busy season, we missed putting any of Kellie’s images up on our blog.
Here’s a few for you to enjoy.
Not always smiles
Not all senior pictures are full of smiles. Bobbie had her share of happy images, but we thought we show a couple that are just a little different.
Madison South Dakota Senior Photography: Jennifer
We are still doing senior sessions. Call today and book your appointment: 1.877.586.4143.
We’ve known Jennifer and her family forever. It’s been fun watching her grow up.
DeSmet Senior Photography: Bobbi
Bobbi came in for her sale last week.
We had some fun at sunset.
Bobbi seems to be involved in everything
Brookings Senior Photography: Sade
All we can say is “WOW!”
Jesse
Jesse is intense about sports. Football is over for this Chester Area High School senior, but basketball is ready to begin.
Flandreau Senior Photography: Mark’s composite football wallet
Here’s a fun composite wallet. Mark just finished up his high school football career playing for the Flandreau Fliers.
Mark’s art poster
Another art poster to show off.
Rutland Senior Photography: Mitch
We’ve known Mitch a very long time. As a senior in Rutland, Mitch literally stands head and shoulders above everyone else.
We went to Mitch’s farm for the first part of his session and then finished up with a few more in the studio.
Mitch has a distinctive style all his own. In other words, he doesn’t conform to the status quo.
Ramona Senior Photgraphy: Katy
Katy is Shane’s little sister, but she is more like her mother than her siblings. What does that mean? Shane is like Tom Cruise on the movie Top Gun: he isn’t happy unless he is going Mach 2 with his hair on fire. Katy is more subdued.
Sioux Falls Senior Photography: Kari
Kari came to us from Sioux Falls for her Adventure Session. We had another beautiful day for outside pictures.
We started in the studio, did a few in Rutland and then hopped in our cars and traveled north to some formal gardens.
Rutland Senior Photography: Rob
We went to Rob’s farm for the first part of his senior session.
The weather was a little uncertain that day: we had calm and brisk winds, clouds and sunshine, changing every few minutes.
Rob’s girlfriend Kendra, a Black Studios senior from last year, got in on a few.
Mom really wanted Rob to have one in a suit. While casual dress seems to be the trend in senior pictures lately, we still like doing the more traditional look of a suit of formal dress.
Rutland Senior Photography: Hailey
What can we say about Hailey? This Rutland High School senior pushes hard at her studies. Hailey has been great help to us in the studio. And she loves shoes!
Sioux Falls Senior Photography: Cathy
Many of our seniors come from Sioux Falls. It’s really only 45 minutes from the north edge of Sioux Falls to our studio in Rutland.
We don’t have to worry about traffic, stop lights or parking. It’s very quiet here: the loudest sound in the evening is the hum of the street light.
Madison High School Senior: Brittany
We are going to be posting an image or two of seniors that we just did not have time to blog about earlier. Here’s an image of Brittany.
We didn’t think that the rain would ever stop this week. We had to dodge showers in between senior sessions. It’s funny how just a little sunshine can brighten your mood.
We are still playing catch up on computer work and still have many senior sessions in the next few weeks, but do not despair: Although your yearbook deadline can seem very close, we can still get you in AND get the yearbook image submitted in plenty of time.
Megan
Here’s a couple from Megan’s senior session.
Old school black and whites are making a comeback. The cool thing is that now we don’t have to mess with those nasty darkroom chemicals or worry about polluting the environment. It does help to have darkroom experience though when it comes to visualizing the final image and working with it in the computer.
Tara
We’ve added Tara as one of our new galleries on our main website.
This fall season has been a very full one for us. We are thankful to be able to photograph so many outstanding young men and women.
We still have a few openings in the next few weeks for senior sessions. We can still easily make any yearbook deadlines that you may have.
Alyssa
Alyssa came out with her family tonight to pick out her senior portraits with a little help from her friend Chantel.
Theresa
A few images of Theresa.
Are photographers rich?
Do you think that photographers are making a pile of money from taking pictures?
You might think so given the incredible influx of new studios springing up. The fact is that photography is just like every other business starting up out there: long hours, high risk of failure and not a very high return for time and money invested.
Why do we do it?
For ElizaBeth and myself, it was a matter of chasing a dream before we got too old to do it. We get to photograph great seniors like Mary Kate shown here and be a part of a couple’s wedding day. Each week we get to be at a big party. We also work huge hours 6 to 8 months of the year.
We are able to go to school programs, play nurse to the sick members of our family and take vacations when we want to. We have flexibility.
Now there are always wants and needs for new equipment for the business and obligations and responsibilities to the customer. We are not going to get rich but we will be able to more enjoy the life we have.
One advantage to being established as long as we have is that the big struggle is over and customers come without us marketing 24/7. We have a huge client base to get referrals from. Instead of spending all of that time and energy marketing, we can use that time to get better than ever before.
Education is never-ending when it comes to photography. There are always new techniques to learn: lighting, posing, photoshop, sets, sales…the list just goes on and on. The reason that we are good is because we work every day at getting just a little bit better.
School has started!
Rachel and Dacey started school this week along with Rutland senior Kie-Lyn. While it seems way too early for school to start, it’s a welcome break from days with 4 and 5 appointments a day. We can now concentrate on getting orders out as well as designing wedding and senior albums.
Our cool news of the day is that we now have very fast internet thanks to ITC. For the last couple of years we’ve been hooked up with RDC in Egan. I can’t say enough good things about Rod Clark and his service. He has gone above and beyond the call of duty for us. ITC had fiber dug in last year and today we were on the install list. It took a great deal more time and effort than I thought it would to hook everything up and make it work. We even have cable TV now…and another bit of leverage to get the kids to do their chores.
Livin’ large in Canistota SD!
You just know that some seniors are out there enjoying life full blast and not sitting on the bench. Zach is one of those guys. Whether it is hanging out with his friends at the lake or playing basketball, he does it with abandon.
Ashley
We like it when seniors bring cool props. Of course not everyone brings a Corvette, but I’m not complaining.
Not only do seniors bring cars, but we also photographed them with jet skis, horses, dogs, cats and even a 4-H heifer in addition to the “normal” props related to sports.
Not all senior pictures are smiles. We try to capture a senior’s entire personality. Grandma may have to have a smile, but can do so much more.
Madison South Dakota Senior Photography: Little black dress
When Heidi showed up for her senior session with the typical “little black dress”, we decided to have a bit of fun with it. We went places where you would not typically go: outside on the grass, in the CRP, on the playground and yes even in the corn field across the road.
Are they all this good?
We are starting to think so.
Teenagers generally get a bad rap from us cynical adults. I can truthfully say that all of our seniors are beautiful not only on the outside, but the inside as well. They are so optimistic about being a doctor, lawyer, nurse or even a mechanic.
When we photograph weddings, it makes our own marriage stronger. When we photograph seniors, it makes us look forward to tomorrow. Their attitude is contagious.
Hailey’s back!
Hailey left us this summer for a job in Sioux Falls. Now that school has started again, we are happy to have her back in the studio for a few hours a week.
Can you tell them apart?
Ok, I can tell the difference…Well, maybe I can’t. We spent yesterday editing and retouching the Melton twins’ images for their sales presentation last night.
We didn’t separate each girl’s images out, so they were all mixed together. Editing is not always easy, but this time is was very hard: Neither sister took a bad picture.
More galleries added
In addition to our featured senior, Taylor, we now have images of Marti, Chelsea and Breanne. We just added pictures of Breanne this morning. Galleries will be changing more frequently now.
When is the best time to get senior pictures done?
Almost anytime between now and the middle of October is pretty good for outdoor sessions. As it gets later in the year, the shorts and tank tops go away and are replaced with jeans and sweaters. We already have some fall color on the ground below one of our huge cottonwood trees.
Past mid-October, the percentage of great weather days goes down, but we can still do fun stuff outside. We just have to move a little quicker.
We’ve been blessed the last few weeks with light winds which makes taking pictures of girls with long hair much easier.
