Heels and skirts, and softballs that burst...

To say this one had her bases covered would be an understatement.

Yet... literally and figuratively accurate.

A shortstop on one of the very best softball teams in the state of Iowa, Morgan Kappel had big plans for her senior pictures.  So big that she was willing to drive over an hours away to get exactly what she wanted.

She could have done something as routine as her fielding a one-hopper to short and stay around home for her session... but that wasn't gonna cut it.

This girl had done her advanced scouting.

She admitted that having many respected opponents from NICL rival East Marshall that were also on her facebook friends list was a big factor in her knowing about us here at Stewart Photography.

Morgan had lots of her own ideas... and through her Mustang colleagues... she knew just where to go to make them happen.

So she and Mama Sue were off on the 56.9 mile, and 1 hour and 8 minute journey to Montour.

With her phone full of Pinterest ideas and a closet's worth of clothes and accessories, Miss Morgan was ready for her day... but was I ready??  Only time would tell.

Most of Morgan's pre-set notions about what she wanted centered around her biggest passion in life:  sports.

As as most of you know... she was definitely in the right place for that!

But in the meantime... we had four super fun ensembles to bang out before we could get there... and I wasn't gonna lay down a sacrifice bunt there...  It was time to dig in my back foot and take a big ol' swing for the fence!

So we were off to a couple urban locales in the area... and let me tell ya... the onlookers were out in full force on this day.   

Our guest of honor nearly caused a handful of accidents with the rubber neckers trying to catch a glance of what we were doing.  Morgan and Sue got a kick out of it.   The authorities need not to worry about texting and driving... rather... Miss Kappel and her pencil skirt and heels needed to be taken away for the public at large's safety!  ;)

Morgan joked with me that perhaps her pouchy middle-aged photographer was the REAL distraction on this day... I give her high marks for modesty... and low marks for BS.  

Perhaps an eye exam is in order?

Once traffic in Tama/Toledo and Marshalltown was restored to its normal safe levels, it was time to get what she really came for...   Her Cougar uniforms got busted out and it was go-time!

One doesn't finish third place two years in a row at state softball without having a stud at shortstop.   Everyone knows you have to put your most dynamic fielder at short, and AGWSR is no different.   My task then, was doing justice to this two-time state place-winner.   With a few ideas of her own... and a healthy dose of Stewart Photography flair, we got some unique stuff... and wasn't THAT the idea in the first place???

The afternoon turned into night, which is rare for sessions (even by our ridiculous standards) to last that long.   But, in this case... it was by design.   Morgan had an inspiration to have an image made where an burst or explosion of water would be coming out of her bat (or, in theory... the ball).   With some initial hesitation due to a fear of toeing the line towards cheesy results if we weren't perfectly careful...  we focused in our execution... took the time to do thing perfectly... and the result was pretty fun, I must admit.   

It not easy pulling all that off in the dark (not too mention Mama Sue's ability to pitch the ball....err, water balloons), but we did it... and I'm glad we could make another one of Morgan's dreams come to life.

Miss Kappel knows where my heart lies in the realm of the NICL West softball pecking order, but as long as her Cougars reside in Class 1 or 2A and my alma mater stays 3A... It will be quite easy for this photographer to root for the team in blue and purple to get over the hump and win the state title next year.   And even if that doesn't happen... she should know regardless... that I'm a huge fan of the shortstop.

Thanks Team Kappel for coming all this way for your senior session... that means a lot.

Two fellas, some f-stops, and a fauxhawk...

Admit it... one can't style a fauxhawk much better than what you see here.

If I actually HAD hair I could be even more envious of Hunter Ralston's do... awww who am i kidding... I'm jealous either way.  

:)

Hunter and his folks, Robert and Olga Ralston made their appearance at our studio recently.   And after many questions and queries and communication and even some miscommunication, they were finally in the house.   Mama Olga did most of the pre-session question-askin' and for anyone that knows Olga... trying to decipher a thick Columbian accent (especially for those highly under-travelled and under-experienced fellas like me) was not easy!   Nevertheless, Hunter was in the house... all the policies and procedures were finally understood on both ends and it was time to have some fun.

Interestingly, however... after all the questions and probes as to what we do... and how we do it... when it came time to actually DO the images... Robert and Olga stepped aside.

As in... "we'll be back when you're all done!"

Understandably, much of the disconnect here was more about perhaps an extra generation of age difference between Hunter's adoptive parents and most senior parents we see... but nevertheless... it just took a little extra time to get everyone on the same page with what we were trying to get done.  Once everyone was comfortable with that... it was on like Donkey Kong.

That being said... Robert and Olga felt it was best that their son and his photographer should just attack this on their own... and they would be back later.

So it was.   Off went the bald photographer and the well-coiffed senior dude and we hit the streets in Hunter's bright red canvas Chucks.

Interestingly, I found that Hunter and I had some things in common.   It sounds like he's spent some time in Adobe Photoshop as he has plans on attending Iowa State for graphic design eventually... which is way cool in my book.

Additionally... Mr. Ralston and I spent a long while discussing his love for gaming.   He had a interview forthcoming in short order at Marshalltown's GameStop to hopefully land a job there.   I've yet to hear how that went... but I'm hoping he found employment there.   

In his spare time... I'm sure Hunter has been passing the anxious moments waiting to see what I came up with for his session by logging more hours on his PS3 playing more Destiny.

Hunter and I eventually got to the end of the session and were rejoined almost simultaneously by his folks... and probably my favorite time of the day was the trading of barbs by the suddenly ornery Olga.   I unashamedly told her I was intentionally going to make her life difficult by giving her WAY too many poses to choose from of her son... and she correctly accused me of "luring her in" with all these wonderful finished product options for her and Robert to consider.   

Being the planner that Papa Bob is... he insisted on having a pricelist to study and plan the all-important order.   I told him that even the best laid plans go awry once 100+ images are thrown in your lap... but he assured me that he was an organizer... and that he would be ready.

I told him I'd hold him to that claim.

The proof will be in the pudding... and now that the images and book are ready... we'll find out whether Bob was telling me the truth.  :)

Tschert-ing his own path...

Stop me where you've heard this before.

We had a multi-sport athlete that wanted a collage.

We talked sports nearly the entire session.

Mom was super nice and accommodating.

Weather was a huge factor.

Alas it all came to fruition again two weeks ago tomorrow as yet another of Gladbrook-Reinbeck's seniors called Stewart Photography their home for half a day.

In a year where we've seen great support from Rebel Nation, it was another wonderful addition to a group of great kids from up that way that I've now added to my list of favorite "sons" and "daughters."

This go around saw Jeff Tscherter (pronounced "charter") on the scene.

With Mama Kim at his side, I quickly learned that despite not being the biggest kid around, Jeff heart and desire were that of guys twice his size.

And it's a good thing too... because on this day... we were gonna need it!

In what has seemingly been a common theme this fall, the weather played a don't-mind-me-I'm-just-gonna-make-your-life-difficult role once again.

If it hasn't been extreme wind or cold...it's been rain... and on this day... it was the wet stuff.

I left it up to Team Tscherter as for most of the day, the precipitation fell into the annoyance category.   At times it was worse that that... at other times it wasn't even a factor.   Nevertheless... if it would have been a senior gal with hair and makeup to contend with?   I have little doubt it would have been a reschedule scenario.

Not the case with Jeff Tscherter, however.   He was a gamer.

So with a little teamwork and picking our spots carefully... we avoided the dreaded reschedule, and Kim dodged having to take her son out of school for the theoretical re-shoot.

I have no doubt that guys that choose to be mechanical engineers as an occupation (that's Jeff's plan to start down the path towards doing next year at Iowa State), are problem solvers... and in this case... he and his mom's will and toughness solved a weather problem.

After all the "regular stuff" and rain drop dodging was complete, we still had the most important thing to complete (at least in Jeff's eyes anyway.)

The sports collage.

Currently enjoying a senior year of football that just seen he and his Rebel teammates complete an 8-1 regular season that has earned them a first round state playoff game in The Pit at Gladbrook Wednesday night against Belmond-Klemme, it wasn't hard to go all sports roundtable with Jeff and his mom.   Add in plenty of talk about G-R's fine baseball season they had last summer and even a little track talk too?   Needless to say... it was right up my alley... and I think it was for Jeff, too.

Jeff is a former resident of the state of Colorado... so we even found some time to discuss all things Broncos and Rockies as well.

So to say we saved the best for last would be an understatement.   The sports idea was what probably landed me Jeff's business in the first place... so I wasn't about to let him down.   And when I say the best was last... I'm not exaggerating.

The very last few images we did on this day, I had Mr. Tscherter diving through the air in the camera room to simulate him intercepting a pass in his role as defensive back for the fourth-ranked Rebels.   We made sure to pad the landing No. 8, and I'm not so sure that if I hadn't of asked Jeff to repeat the feat 50 more times that he wouldn't have gladly done it!   The end result is another of our sports composites that I'm proud of what we came up with.... and not only that... we had a blast doing it.

Best wishes to all my adopted Rebel brothers as you venture into the playoffs again this Wednesday.  I don't have to tell you that these are some of the best memories of your life that you'll be making in the coming days and hopefully weeks to come yet.   Nevertheless,  I think your potential is sky high and I hope that your journey ends with a 1:36 p.m. kickoff on Thursday, November 20th at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

Pumpkins, her ol' puppy, and a girl called Squid...

Don't let the pictures fool you...

It wasn't as easy as it looks.

A quick glance at the images from South Tama senior, Sydney Upah's senior session and one might be inclined to think that the warm and vibrant fall colors came forth from a equally comfortable and beautiful morning.

Negative.

With freeze warnings hitting for the first time all season subsiding in the early morning hours, it was little consolation to a senior gal that had a little flowered dress and a short sleeved shirt in her repertoire.   Yet... despite the biting temps... the girl that they call "Squid" would not let it stop her.

The first order of business was to meet Team Squid at her father's well known Pumpkin farm just northeast of Toledo.   It's been a part of Syd's entire life, and it provided a unique and playful spot for us to start her Stewart Photography experience.

So with a warm jacket and a couple of scarves to help offset the 30-degree temperatures, we hit every nook and cranny around the ol' farm.   

By our side nearly the whole time was Squid's best friend, Colby.   Mr. Colby was a sweet yellow lab that could no longer hear me, but was as friendly as they come.   It was almost like he KNEW what we were doing and that he needed to stay out of our way, but nevertheless... he wanted to BE there.   Oh sure... we wanted Colby to be in a few images... and even then it seemed like he felt like it wasn't his place to be the center of attention.   Despite all this, I'm sure the image will be one that Syd will cherish for years to come.

Undoubtedly, the jacket and scarves outfit seemed to be most appropriate considering the conditions and the scenery.   That being said... I eventually had to part with that look and move to the you'd-better-be-braver-than-brave little white dress.

The goose bumps were a plenty and as I'm in my heavy coat and black stocking cap, I was marveling at Sydney's toughness.

Undaunted, she even went to the cold hard ground a couple of times and deserves a medal for her willingness to even put ON the garment in those conditions!

OH!... I forgot to mention!   Before Sydney got into that dress... at one point there was a tractor in the way of where I needed to be to photograph her from a particular angle.   And while the dumb photographer stood there... our senior girl hopped right up on the thing and moved it out of the way confidently.

Whoa...   I was impressed.

Tough as nails... and able to operate large farm machinery.   Someone needs to wife her.   ;)

Until that happens however, we'll let her enjoy her youth and her senior year in particular.   While she had to "earn it" perhaps a little more than most seniors due to the cold morning, a quick glance at the results don't show it and I think all the credit goes to Squid for that.

Special thanks to Mama Marlys for all over her help with her extra set of hands and eyes and thanks to Upah's Pumpkin Farm for the spectacular sights, spots and seasonally appropriate backgrounds.