Not just a Cameo appearance...

Friday afternoon allowed me the opportunity to photograph, not only what will most likely be our last senior of the calendar year, 2010, but also my first cameo appearance.

Make that a Cameo appearance.

With a capital C.

In what was part "yearbook panic" part listening to her buddy, Miss Parker made it our way and even though we had sub-freezing temps, we weren't gonna let her down.

Cameo had let me know that she came our way due to listening to co-worker, Taylor Harre. Taylor and her sweet sideways hat saw us LAST year in the fall, and not only can both girls make a mean Dairy Queen Blizzard... but they were both fun to photograph. :)

My dream shot of getting a DQ employee to bring in their work uniform and a Blizzard that we could turn upside down and stick it out at the camera, in the same fashion that our football players do in a menacing way, once again failed to materialize... but we did get some fun stuff anyway.

In perhaps her most unique image, Cameo had brought in a ton of beaded necklaces that her grandmother had use to wear... check that out! Taylor had mentioned that Cameo was "such a colorful person." Glad we could bring that out in her.

As a capper for the day, we did get outside at the very end. The girls had mentioned that that she wanted "one in the snow." So... by my way of thinking... she needed to be IN the snow! :)

With a little resistance... Taylor and I convinced Cameo to sit down in it for a couple... and rumors of her demise are greatly exaggerated.

Barring some last minute change, this will most likely be our last senior of 2010. It's been a wild ride... I'm sure they'll be a few more 2011 seniors to do in the coming months prior to graduation, but the end of the year is always a good time to look back a bit and reflect.

Thanks for all the thrills this year, everyone! And if I don't get back to ya before then, Merry Christmas to all!!!

Excellent Smither(man)

Kind of a small world co-inky-dink deal i ran into Tuesday afternoon.

Not only did I have a second senior fella in what would normally be a slow period for our studio... but they were from the same school, actually. (and NO... they aren't up against it for yearbook deadline, strangely enough).

So in walks Austin Smitherman and his mother... but it wasn't the first time I had "encountered" them.

Turns out last spring... just before graduation I photographed yet ANOTHER BCLUW guy that went by the same first name... and similar last name (Smith).

As I'm known to do anymore... I looked up the Austin Smith on facebook... but... could only track down an Austin Smitherman. BCLUW, yes. But not the right guy.

Turns out... we got that guy too... it was just eight months later.

So, in comes Smitherman and it turns out... I had another "connection" with the guy that preceded him.

Because Facebook tells all... it came to light that our Tuesday afternoon senior has something special going with a young gal name Denelle, who has frequented our studio for family pictures.

So, in between our previous story... his main squeeze... the Hawkeyes and the cold weather... we had plenty to talk about on this afternoon. Throw in an excitable one year old boxer pup... and we had a full day.

Thanks for the business, gang... felt like busy season all over again.

Finally reelin' in Rev...

He was supposed to have been this summer...

His "punishment?"

Eight degrees.

As in single digit temperatures.

Illness kept us from getting Tyler photographed at his original session date, and by the time we got back together again, we're just a few weeks from Christmas!

So, Tyler and his mom and I braved the bone-chilling temps to get at least SOME outdoor done Tuesday morning, but I think his real passion was taken care of inside.

Perhaps it was fitting to be so close to Christmas, as Tyler informed me that he is planning on being a pastor someday. Clearly a strong Christian, we had to bring that to light several ways. I asked him if we wanted to be a youth pastor... thinking that it might be logical for a young guy to want to head that way, at least at this point.

His answer?

"Oh... nah... i'm not so sure about kids."

HA!

I told him it was spoken like a true grumpy old man. :)

Football was Mr. Critchfield's other passion, and no-so-surprisingly, he told me that some of his teammates called him "Rev" (i.e. Remember the Titans) due to his Christian faith. No doubt that faith was tested in a senior season that saw 7 more losses than wins, but the biggest chuckle i got of the day was from his claim that he played EVERY offensive position for the Comets this fall.

After taking a few snaps at QB in the season finale versus Hudson... the cycle was complete for our self-proclaimed "jack of all trades - master of none" on the gridiron.

Whew... dude was busy!

Anyway... Tuesday was a flashback to busy season as Tyler was the first of two BCLUW seniors. It felt good to get back in the saddle again... if only for a day.

Three saxes, no sunshine and a shadow...

Allison chose us a month ago and knew full well she was in the "straggler" category... but we're perfectly okay with that. The more the merrier!

So in rolls Miss Wogan and her mom, Sheri last Friday. I wondered for a minute if the entire Marshalltown High School pep band was gonna follow behind her for a second, as she toted in FIVE musical instruments with her!

Three saxophones, a flute and a trombone crossed the threshold for our viewing pleasure on this day. She assured me that she can play 'em all... so we worked 'em all in. :)

But that wasn't ALL that followed her in the door.

We were also graced with the presence of another job shadow on this day. Budding photographer, Dana Moses made the trek from Iowa City to watch Allison's big day and hopefully pick up a thing or two... and we loved having her along for the ride. Thanks to Allison and Sheri for allowing Dana to be a fly on the wall... and in reality... the extra set of eyes never hurts!

What Dana got to see was what I consider to be a blessing this time of year which is decent temps... and perhaps more importantly, overcast skies.

Much of the full and rich outdoor looks we've been doing for 6 months now have went by the wayside after several hard freezes and lots of WIND and rain. Translation... the outdoor is limited. However... having a thick layer of clouds allowed us to roam where we wanted and we avoided the full sun scenarios that are prevalent nearly everywhere on most days this late in the calendar year.

The result was we got a healthier dose of outdoor than we probably shoulda gotten in November.... which was totally awesome! All I ever want is to be able to give our clients LOTS of choices and to make it very difficult on our decision makers! Good luck, Sheri!

So, in the end, waiting to this point didn't haunt like it could have. Allison let us know what her decision to choose us came down to... and we're glad we didn't have to pull any punches for her! Thanks for your choice A-Dub! ;-)

Waitin' on the ortho pays off...

Getting sessions this late in the senior "season" happens for a variety of reasons... but one reason that's worth waiting for happens at least a couple times every year.

Braces.

Or getting them OFF, more accurately.

So, when I met Susie Petersen in mid-October as she surprised me with a unannounced visit to the studio to talk about her son's images, I told her that this was something worth waiting for.

She told me that they couldn't be FOR SURE... but they were hoping that her son Logan's braces would come off at their next visit to the orthodontist.

We talked about digital options and the fact that the window of opportunity was closing quickly on outdoor portraiture. But, we both agreed that it was something worth rolling the dice on... and as fortune would have it... the dental gods smiled down on the Petersens.

Monday the braces came off and on Thursday we were shooting. And while, like most guys... Logan liked to give me his best B.A. look... we did get our fair share of smiles as well.

In fact, by the time I actually got him in front of the camera... I think the focus had shifted to the fact that Mama Susie had really hoped that she could've convinced her son to get his hair cut shorter. After explaining that I had seen a fair share of dudes with longer locks again this year... that mini controversy seemed to fade... and in the end... it was another conversation filled session between a football player I could relate to (wide receiver/cornerback) and, whether he wants to admit it or not, a very cool mom.

Thanks for listening to all my rants, Logan and Susie... I can feel the senior season winding down... and maybe I'm trying to hang onto it as long as I can. It's been an epic year... and you guys were no exception.