There were too many favorites for just one blog post, so here is Part 2 of Ben’s senior portraits session:

Ben and family (and Niki, too!):  Thank you for a fun and successful photo session.  You all were great to work with!

To the Park police:  Stopping in the middle of the road really was the only place we could get the shot we wanted.

I met Ben back in October to talk about senior pictures.  And I knew from that meeting that his portrait session was going to be really fun!

(One of the reasons I like to schedule a pre-consultation meeting with my seniors is so that I have a chance to get to know what they have in mind and help them plan for their senior portraits session.  This helps to make sure that they get the kind of senior pictures they really want.) 

Ben knew exactly what he wanted.  He’s a pitcher for his high school, so some photos at the baseball field were top priority.  He told me that he wanted to remember his car, and he loves wakeboarding.   And since baseball and wakeboarding are spring and summer sports, we decided to postpone his session until the spring to get the best outdoor shots.

My youngest boy plays guitar.  Two birthdays ago, he begged for guitar.  He was going to be 8 that year, and I thought that I had better not invest a whole lot to begin with just in case he changed his mind.  I found a half-sized guitar on Amazon, and he was beyond thrilled when he opened his present.  My bigger investment for that birthday was guitar lessons.  (We are big on music lessons around here.)

I’m going to be honest here and say that the first six months (oh, let’s be really honest–that whole first year) of lessons was a struggle.  He wanted to quit multiple times saying it was “too hard” and “not fun.”  But I made him stick with it, because his teacher said he had an ear for music.  And then he finally learned a “real” song – Ode to Joy.  And then came “Amazing Grace.”  And then?

He started trying to pick out songs by ear.  One day, he decided to show his teacher that he had figured out the first section of the “Mission Impossible” theme song.   His teacher fanned that spark and brought him the tabulation the following week.  Ethan is loving this!  He chooses a song he wants to learn, his teacher writes out the notation for him, and Ethan is really excited about practicing.  Well, I still have to remind him to do the exercises, sometimes.

A few weeks ago, his teacher came out after the lesson and told me there was a problem with Ethan’s guitar.  The neck was coming loose from the box.  He told me I could try to fix it, or he’d be happy to show us some used ones in his shop.  I did repair the guitar with a drywall screw, but it wasn’t a great fix, and we had trouble keeping it tuned.  For two weeks straight, Ethan asked at least twice a day every day if we could go to Dig’s shop and get an electric guitar.  (Easier to play, easier to tune, sounds super cool when you play Mission Impossible, etc…) Then he cinched it by saying he would pay for half of it with his own money.

Sold.

Here he is playing his “new” guitar:

Not the greatest shot in terms of composition.  I’m using the 100 mm lens here because my 50mm is in for repairs, and there just isn’t enough room to back up far enough sometimes. And actually, my favorite shot of this series doesn’t even show his face.  You can view that over at my Facebook page if you are so inclined.

You can participate, too!  Just head over to the I Heart Faces page and submit your photo.  The theme this month is “Play,” and the challenge is open until Saturday evening.

The extra afternoon light and a glorious Sunday afternoon with spring-like temperatures this past weekend has me looking forward to spring and all that comes with it!    I look forward to flowers and nesting birds and opening the windows.  And, of course, I look forward to the spring photo sessions, too!

Spring is a great time to have your senior pictures taken!    Today I’m going back in my photo archives to Ellyn’s spring photo session last year.  Lots of beautiful light, blooming dogwoods and wildflowers and a cheerful waterfall made a really lovely backdrop at this location.  You can view some of the other photos from Ellyn’s session over at my Facebook page.

Class of 2013, there’s still time to schedule your senior photos if you haven’t had the chance to get them done yet this year.   And for those of you in the Class of 2014, I am excited to meet you!

There’s nothing like a mama-hug. ~Terri Guillemets

In honor of Valentines Day, I Heart Faces chose “LOVE” for their photo challenge theme.   I know there will be many beautiful entries of couples in love for this month’s challenge. I suppose I could have chosen to share one of those kind of images as well, but this is one of my favorite photos.  It really says “love” to me,  and so I wanted to enter this one instead. You can view the other images from this session here:

• Fall Family Photo Session

You can enter, too!  Just click on the button below to head over to the contest page.  Be sure to leave a comment while you are there to be entered for the prize drawing.

When choosing an entry for the Best Face of 2012 Photo Challenge over at I Heart Faces, I could have entered a number of photos.  From great clients, to my own  family–there were so many to choose from!

Ultimately, I chose this photo of my youngest son.  He’s my most willing photography model, and he is completely relaxed in front of the camera.  (I hope that lasts for a long while yet!)

I chose this image because:

I love that mischievous look in his eye.

I love the way his nose wrinkles when he smiles.

And I can hear his giggle whenever I look at this photo.

I love this face!

You can enter your favorite face photo, too.  Just click on the button above to head over to I Heart Faces to read the entry instructions.  There are already some really great entries to view.  But the best part is that if you enter a photo, you are eligible to win a brand new Nikon camera!  How cool would that be?

]]> http://www.adriennezwartphotography.com/blog/best-face-2012/feed/ 8 http://www.adriennezwartphotography.com/blog/family-on-location-akron-oh-family-photogapher/ http://www.adriennezwartphotography.com/blog/family-on-location-akron-oh-family-photogapher/#comments Thu, 20 Dec 2012 18:07:35 +0000 Adrienne http://www.adriennezwartphotography.com/blog/?p=544 NOTE: the images in this feed have been downsized or removed for copyright reasons. To see them in their unmodified state, please view the original post by clicking here.

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of photographing this sweet family at one of my favorite Akron locations.  The dad and mom head up our children’s ministry at church and are a tremendous blessing to my family and many others.

These kids have some of the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen.  And the eyelashes!  Gorgeous!

Precious friends.  Thank you for your investment in the lives and hearts of so many!

Class of 2013

Now that I’ve wrapped up sessions for the year, I can finally catch up on blogging some of the session highlights.  This is Emily, surely one of the most fun senior sessions I had this past year.   Emily is very active in her church youth group, and so she chose her church as her first location.

I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will show forth all thy marvelous works.

I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou Most High.   ~Psalm 9:1-2

For her second location, she chose a nearby park and we finished up her session with some fun, casual shots.

 Emily, I love your bright smile and spunky personality!  I wish you all the best as you enjoy the rest of your senior year, and I look forward to hearing about what comes next for you!

“Every child born into the world is a new thought of God, an ever fresh and radiant possibility.”
- Kate Douglas Wiggin

To view more of this session, click here:  Twins – I Heart Faces Entry.

Press Printed Cards

One of the services I love to offer clients is creating customized Christmas Photo Cards and Announcements.  This weekend only, take advantage of special pricing to receive %25 percent off one set of press print Christmas cards.  (Offer expires 11-26-12 at 11:59 PM EST)  These 5 x7 double-sided cards are printed on beautiful stationery cardstock in your choice of matte, glossy, or pearl finishes.  Envelopes included.  So if you had a session with Adrienne Zwart Photography this year, I would love to customize a Christmas card for you!

Haven’t had a portrait session yet this year?  Then hurry and book your date!

Other styles available!

Gift Certificates

If you are looking for a perfect gift for a family member, why not consider a portrait session gift certificate?  Purchase $100 in gift certificates and receive $15 credit towards your own session.  Available in any amount.  Click here to view basic pricing information. (Offer expires 12-31-12 11:59 PM EST.)

Update: Gift certificates are valid until 12/31/2103.