Senior Pictures and I Didn't Ruin Them

So, that's a big relief!  I know I can take okay photos, but that's when it's for me and when it's what I like.  Why else would I do it?  But if I try to take a photograph that someone intentionally asks me for  my hands suddenly shake and I forget what buttons are for- pulling, admiring, pressing, licking, what?!!  Sometimes, I could literally draw a stick figure version of them on notebook paper and get a better resemblance.  I'm not even talking about the times I meant to do that.

Knowing I get that way, I took my daughter, son, and her boyfriend to Galveston for a relaxing day trip waaaay back in October when there was no graduation pressure.  We went to her favorite places by the water, she was genuinely laughing and smiling all day and it was okay with everyone if I paused to use my land camera.  No pressure.

We wanted to see what we'd get on a natural weekend trip, not a photo shoot with a pro.  Intentional portraiture is just not my thing.  I want to capture people, moments, memories.  I like a running conversation in my photos, not staged, Pinterest inspired shots so much.  I like it when they don't notice and I don't always care about composition.  So I had to get over that.  Then there's my love affair with blur and darkness or blinding light.  I also had to get over that.  I wanted her to have a recorded memory of a real time with family and friends, one that was like so many other times in her youth.  I think we accomplished that.

For the sentimental take on this event see this post from a few months ago where I shared some of my favorite shots before final edits.  At this point I'm racing to address invitations, planning prom, thank you notes, end of the year concerts, and generally running around with my hair on fire.  Sentimentality will have to wait.

some more on my flickr