traverse city

Selecting a Senior Photographer

It seems like everyone is a photographer these days so your options can be overwhelming when it comes to finding the perfect fit for your senior portraits. A lot of time and consideration goes into this decision and it should not be taken lightly. There is more to factor in than just price when you are on the hunt. Here are a few things to look into when researching your options:

Make a Connection

Feeling comfortable around your photographer can make or break your photos. Awkward, stiff, uncomfortable posing does not flatter anyone. It is so important that you get a good vibe from your photographer and trust their expertise. Read their bios, give them a call, stop in for a consultation! You may feel vulnerable standing in front of that camera and you need to know your photographer has got your back.

Style

Are you drawn to their images, do you follow them on Instagram? Do they have a strong cohesive style that you can identify? Is their style going to look good in 3, 5, or even 10 years when your parents are still showing them off and they still hang all over the house.

Expertise

Let’s be honest we always want to look our best when we see our images. Does your photographer know how to give direction and control light to show you in the best way?There are no Snapchat filters that can be added to these images, so make sure your photographer can work in any necessary situation and has the right professional equipment to do so. Do their images show shadows or uneven skin tones? Are they in focus and sharp or grainy and fuzzy?

Experience

What kind of senior experience does the photographer offer? Do they shoot for volume (lots of sessions)? Or do they shoot for quality and detail? Are they easy to communicate with? What kind of reviews do they get? Does everyone have the same experience and same poses and images? Or do they go out of their way to make you feel unique?

At Brick Street Studio we don’t believe in the traditional senior portrait, we like to create a kick ass experience that you can relive through our artwork for years to come. We want to showcase your personality and spirit in every single one of your images. We have a timeless style, we showcase bold colors, a high contrast, and matte finish, a style we have been fine tuning for the past 8 years. Unlike standard portraits we craft sessions with our clients, meaning we send out questionnaires and actually talk, not just text, with you to get to know who you are and how you envision the session. We take on a very limited number of clients so that we can give everything we’ve got to each session. To learn more contact us at brickstreetstudio217@gmail.com or (616) 523-4400 to schedule your free consultation today.

Check us out on some of our other platforms:

Website

Facebook

Instagram: @brickstreetstudio217

Thanks for reading!

The Lopez Boys

I have been photographing this family since before these boys even came into this world. It’s crazy to believe that Shannon is about to have her third boy and I’ll have the opportunity to photograph him as well! I can’t wait to meet the little guy.

For the last three years I was convinced the twins didn’t like me. They never wanted to smile for me and they ALWAYS cried when they saw me. BUT this time was different. It was a nice May Saturday and the sun was shining. It was a little windy but that was alright, we made it work. Shannon had signed up for a Mommy & Me session only to turn it into a full session surrounding their family. On this day, these two didn’t cry when they saw me, they didn’t turn away, they ACTUALLY SMILED! I got smiles. I cannot even believe it. They gave me big cheeses and continued to do it throughout the session.

We strolled around downtown Ionia on the beautiful brick Main Street and stopped at a few random places throughout the hour we spent together. Shannon wanted a “city” look so we did the best we could in this small town of Ionia utilizing the brick walls and alley ways. They turned out beautifully! I sent Shannon the gallery and she was ecstatic to see them, she said “These are exactly what I envisioned! Perfect!”

Happy birthday to these two cuties, I cannot wait to photograph them for years to come. I especially cannot wait to catch their faces the moment they get to meet little brother.

I hope you’ve enjoyed these just as much as I do! Thanks for reading ❤

-K

Danielle- Class of 2019

Meet Danielle!

Danielle was selected to be our Senior Model from our Instagram Giveaway that took place a few months back. We were excited to have her join our little Brick Street Fam and we found out why last weekend during her first session. She is such a joy to photograph! Easy to get along with and such a beautiful personality. She made it fun and easy for us and I think we did the same for her. We are definitely excited to do a few different types of sessions with her as well as her full senior portrait session. Keep a look out for those throughout the up coming year!

A few fun facts about Danielle:

She is involved in a lot of actives such as Cheerleading, Basketball, Snowboarding, and more
Her favorite movie is The Blind Side (such a good movie!)
Has a genuine and fun personality
Her favorite band is Florida Georgia Line

We are taking on class of 2019 seniors so get your dates scheduled soon! If you’re not sure that we are the perfect photographers to capture your senior year, set up your pre consultation with us free of charge to go over any questions you might have for us. Our goal is to give you a senior experience like none other!

Isn’t she stunning?! Another option to add to your senior experience is video by JayBird Films. We were able to do a video during Danielle’s session and it is such an awesome add on option!

Check it out HERE

Let us know if you have any questions regarding your senior experience. For more information check out our website: SENIOR EXPERIENCE

Thanks for reading ❤

-K

Class of 2018: See Ya Later!

As we finish up with the class of 2018, I wanted to share a few of our favorites from the last year. What fun we have had with all of these fellow graduates. We were able to watch them grow throughout the last year and even see some changes from their first sessions into their final sessions.

One of my favorite things about photographing seniors is seeing the changes that take place from our initial consultation all the way through their gallery reveal. A lot of these students, we meet at the end of their junior year and continue working with them throughout most of their senior year. I get to watch them grow as people and see them make their way into adulthood.

We have had so much fun photographing seniors all over the state and beyond. We’re really hoping to do a few more traveling seniors this coming year. I travel to Traverse City area quite often throughout the summer and will be giving the option to photograph you up in the Traverse Bay area or other gorgeous surrounding landmarks. This year we were able to make it to an awesome variety of locations including Ionia, Portland, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Penn State, Stanton, Lowell, and more!

Here is to the next chapter of your lives! We want to wish all of our Class of 2018 seniors the best of luck in their future endeavors and look forward to seeing what you will accomplish. Thanks for another wonderful year of senior portraits, we cannot wait to get started with the class of 2019!

Class of 2019 seniors are now booking dates! If you’re part of the class of 2019 seniors and are interested in a date, please don’t hesitate to get it scheduled. Our schedule is filling quickly! We pride ourselves in giving our seniors a handcrafted experience that will be more than just a photo shoot. We make it an experience!

Thanks for reading ❤

-K

Top 5 Senior Portrait Tips

Calling all SENIORS!

With the warm weather (hopefully) approaching and the 2018 school year coming to an end it is time for the class of 2019 to start thinking about senior portraits. When you think of senior portraits there is a lot that goes into planning the perfect session. How do I smile? Am I too awkward to get my photos taken? Where would be a good location? These are just a few questions that our seniors worry about when prepping for their experiences. Today we’re going to give you our Top 5 Tips to make your senior experience one you’ll never forget!

#1: LOCATION

Thinking about senior portraits means you’ll have to choose the perfect location. You’ll want to pick one that means something to you, but only if it is plausible. You need to make sure it isn’t too far away or too difficult to get to. The more meaningful it is to you, the more comfortable you’ll be in that environment. We can always help guide you to a location that works for you or something that we think will really catch your eye. Don’t be afraid to trust your photographer. A few of our favorites include downtown Grand Rapids, the many beautiful state parks (including the beaches) around Michigan, and many other private locations we keep under wraps for our clients.

#2: WHAT TO WEAR?

Clothing is one of the most important parts of your senior portraits. If you’re not wearing something that you feel comfortable in or don’t feel yourself in, your pictures will reflect that. It takes a lot to choose the right outfit and especially one that everyone can agree with. A few things to keep in mind:

Color: Stick with solid neutral tones. Other bright or neon colors tend to cast harsh shades onto faces that you’re not going to want. In some instances like sports/school shirts or grandma’s favorite sweater, we will make work if we have to.
Pattern: This is a tough one to pick out. If you’re unsure then stick with a solid colored shirt or simply send a photo to us and we’ll give you our honest opinion! If you do choose a pattern, make sure it’s not a BIG pattern. Keep it small, simple and not too bright. We don’t want the pattern to attract the eye over the important part of the image, which is you.
Accessories: Bring them! Hats, sunglasses, necklaces, bracelets, etc. It’s always nice to have options! We might decide not to use any of them, but don’t kick yourself by opting out of bringing them along.

All of our seniors will receive a more detailed “What to Wear Guide” after they book their experience with us. Then we can help guide you in the right direction and plan your perfect senior portrait experience.

#3: DON’T OVER THINK POSING

Getting your photos taken can be a stressful and self-conscious experience. Here at Brick Street, we try to make our seniors feel as comfortable as possible. We want to make it a fun experience rather than an overwhelming one. Trust us, and we’ll be sure you get the perfect picture! Keep in that we are there to help pose and place you to make sure you can laugh and have a good time without having to worry too much about it. We do this every day. All that being said, don’t be afraid to try something on your mind. If it works, fantastic! If it doesn’t, no harm done.

Just relax, trust us, and we’ll have some fun.

#4: SEASON

Which season do you love best? It’s important to schedule your session in a season that you’ll be most comfortable in and that will suit your style. Some people photos on the beach and some love skating on a frozen pond. In the end, it is all about what YOU want. In Michigan, every season is beautiful.

Pick your favorite season(s) and go with it! If you love wearing boots and sweaters then fall and winter are for you. If you’re more of a shorts and t-shirt kind of senior, then spring and summer will work great. If you can’t decide, just ask us!

#5: PROPS, FRIENDS, & FAMILY

As I said earlier, being photographed can be a stressful thing. We want you to be comfortable, even if that means having your dog, cat, hamster, or other pet you love in your photos! We think doing a few family portraits can’t hurt either. If the senior is getting a new portrait for their wall, why shouldn’t the whole family?!

We don’t use props very often, but we do have some available. We could stick a chair out in the field for you, or give you an umbrella to hold onto on a rainy day. We also want to encourage our seniors to bring their own props. If you’re involved in sports, band, cheer, or other activities, don’t be afraid to represent that. We’ve even had a few lightsabers in the studio. We want to represent you, in whatever form that takes!

We’re looking forward to starting the 2019 Season with some new Seniors! Our fall dates are filling VERY quickly. If you want that prime autumn time slot, then get your dates scheduled! We do have a few summer dates still available and are accepting weekday appointments. Head over to our website for more information on our SENIOR EXPERIENCE.

We’d love to set up a consultation with you!

Thanks for reading ❤

– K