Because when faced with the decision of how to narrow seven outfits into a four or five outfit session, Team Knaack used the famous shoemaker slogan: Just do it.
After a quick consultation with Mama Lori and a look at our senior Mikayla's and her "it-doesn't-matter-but-it-really-does" look the decision was made... time to upgrade... in a big way.
Four outfits turned into seven with a blink of an eye (and a swipe of pen in the checkbook) and it was game on for Miss Mikayla.
My experience with sessions of this size, it seems to be due to having to work in lots of "extras" like sports, props, cars, pets, collections, or any of the myriad of things that seniors are passionate about.
The funny thing here was... Mikayla really wasn't that way.
A few pictures with her brother and her BFF cousin was all that she asked... and the rest was up to me.
Translation: Just make me look good, Mr. Stewart.
A quick glance at our Gladbrook-Reinbeck guest of honor, and even a blind man could see that THAT wasn't going to be difficult.
Because we're Twitter friends, I knew that Mikayla was anxious about her images "turning out," and again... I had to laugh. This one fell under the "I've got bigger problems than making you look good," category. I made sure she knew that. #insta-smile
I warned Team Knaack that the session would get lengthy with the additional outfits, and if you throw in the myriad of sports discussions with brother Erik, it got even LONGER!
It was filled with lots of laughs however. The girl was hilarious and gave me a healthy dose of self-deprecating humor. Nothing seemed off limits with Mikayla. Let's just say that topics like bathroom humor that would mortify most 16 to 18 year old girls, were part of her regular discussion. It's not often that I'm left speechless... but, I can't lie... this beauty was not afraid to act like I was an old friend from way back. You know how it is in a relationship when you finally get comfortable to belch or pass gas around the other? With Miss Mikayla, that happens at hello. No. lie. In fact, she wears it like a badge of honor.
Maybe it was just being comfortable in her own skin... or having her loved ones surrounding her. Either way, Stewart Photography was transformed into Mikayla's World... and I was just along for the ride.
The other refreshing thing I found with Mikayla happened when we got to the dinner hour. Outfits six and seven pushed the Knaacks past the point of no return in the hunger department (perhaps the smell of the grills at Rubes had something to do with that, too). Mama Lori came to the rescue with a quick trip over to the steakhouse next door to get some chicken strips, fries and, of course... at the request of our senior girl... Cottage Cheese.
Most girls that I'm photographing refuse even a bottled water for fear of "looking too bloated" for their session. Not Mikayla, though. She proudly woofed it all down and boasted to me how fast it would get done.
In the end, I hope that Mikayla thinks her images are as big as her wonderfully supersized personality. When it was all over, I had nothing left in the tank. That being said... I wouldn't have it any other way.
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