The very name invokes feelings that we all would like to relate to... even just once....
ROCKSTAR.
Taryn admitted to me late in the session, "I'm not gonna lie... I saw the name of the session... and I knew... I had to do THAT!"
#fact.
So, while I can honestly say that I want every senior to feel like they are a rockstar, and the only person in the world at that moment... SOME how... SOME way... we have to take it up a notch a few times a year... when mom and dad pony up for the highest session we have available.
Taryn had tracked us down from over an hour and a half away in Hampton, Iowa. I asked her how she ended up in our camp... and I was surprised with her answer.
"We just looked online... and found your website and loved everything we saw."
I kinda figured that maybe there was a previous connection... a friend or a family member that steered her our way.... but no... It was the way it should be, ultimately... It was based on the merit of the images.
Nothing else.
I have a dear friend that teaches math at her high school... but that didn't come to light until AFTER the family came to visit me this spring to book her session.
The ironic thing was... that I've seen this type of thing before... senior girl from a little further away finds what they think is a diamond in the rough... tries to keep it on the down-low... and BAM... THEY have senior pictures that are totally unlike anyone in their class.
Only problem was... my secret had gotten out.
Due to good friend of the studio and former Hampton resident , Jayne Bryngelson and daughter, Denelle Warneke talking Taryn's classmate, Madison Sietsema into coming our way about a month ago.... I was no longer "exclusive" to the Bulldog seniors.
Surprised spoiled then?
No way.
I assured both girls that trying to keep each of them unique and different was one of the least of my problems. We've photographed 60 or 70 girls from the same school in one year before... Keeping two from overlapping would be NO problem. :)
A quick glance at both girls blogs/books proves this point... and I'm proud of that fact... I've never wanted close friends to feel like they couldn't come to us out of fear of the similarity factor...
Four towns in two counties later, we had all of Taryn's outdoor done in what ended up being another scorcher of a day.
The session was filled with a TON of sports talk... and no doubt it can be directly blamed on Papa Kevin, who stood toe-to-toe with me on everything from pee-wees to middle school... to high school... to college and beyond. I kinda knew this was coming after our initial consultation several months ago. You might as well just put a camera on us and call me Skip Bayless and Kevin, Stephen A. Smith. ;)
I apologized early on to Taryn about her dad and I hijacking her session... and she assured me that she wouldn't have it any other way. :)
A neat moment happened early on in the day, when we were at my folks' house in Gilman and Kevin flashed his phone at me to reveal that it had just become known that his daughter had been selected by coaches around the state of Iowa to be a member of the 2012 IGHSAU All-State softball team.
I asked... "does SHE know?"
Kevin shook his head.
So I knew before Taryn knew! I love a good secret! :)
Not that she wasn't already a rockstar coming in... but now I had an All-Stater willing to drive half the state away just to see me!
#i'mnotworthy!
I had warned Taryn right out of the gate Monday that the scope of this session, sometimes... can wear down the average senior gal after the initial adrenaline rush wears off... after... say... 5 or 6 hours or so. :)
Taryn Lynn evidently took this as a personal affront to her stamina and stick-to-it ability as she reminded me and her yawning mother, Cinda.. .that she was NOT tired... NOT wearing down... and NO WHERE ready to throw in the towel!
I told Taryn that she might have to drive home after the 10 hour extravaganza... and you know what? I think she was more than ready. If I were a coach at Hampton-Dumont... I'd say give me about 10 more Taryns... and I'll cruise to a conference title in about three sports.... she's exactly what you want in a student... an athlete.... and a person.
She wants to play college ball somewhere next year... and while I couldn't pin her down on a choice yet... I assured her that if she wanted to turn out as good as her Math instructor, Mr. Aalbers and I... she'd most definitely wanna get herself to Central College in Pella! :)
Thanks for the amazing day, Team Barz. Seemed like I could talk to you guys all-day long.... and you know what? We about did.
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