Senior: Cinda

By no means will I be the one to tell the rain to "go away," but it sure is wrecking havoc on my session schedule these days (that and its cousin, the 100 mph winds!). We cranked out a few shots for Cinda before it started raining, but we kept shooting. This was my first shoot in the rain & it actually wasn't half bad! The wetness really saturates the colors and I loved how it made the old truck look (see final photo). Besides, it'd really be hard to take a bad picture of Cinda!

I have taken pics of old trucks before, but this was a new model (so-to-speak). There is some speculation that it might have been Cinda's dad's old truck, but we weren't for sure. Either way, it's a good lookin' old clunker, isn't it? The rain really made it shine!

Location: Leedey, OK

Heather In All Her Hilarity

I love it. I really, really love it.

College Grads: Heather & Micah

Heather is a good friend of mine. Together, we survived our Mass Comm classes at SWOSU by leaning on each other, whining to each other and laughing at/with each other.

That would probably explain why I like this picture so much...it's Heather in her natural state: laughing! She has the best laugh...it's very contagious.

And yes, I know you're thinking it so just go ahead and say it...she has the best lips! Everyone envies those lips. You're not the first. ;)

I also got to meet Heather's sister, Micah. Micah is also graduating this semester from SWOSU. Their parents must be so relieved...I mean, PROUD! :)

Micah is a surgical tech (hence the awesome pinstriped scrubs). I wish I could handle the medical field but everyone knows that I can't even make it through one episode of ER without dry-heaving. Sad, but true!

Congratulations, ladies!!

May wherever life leads you be filled with happiness and laughter!!


(P.S. Stop by tomorrow to see the many ridiculous faces of Heather)


Location: Oklahoma City, OK

Senior: Melissa

Meet Melissa...another beautiful senior girl from Elk City.

Yes, it may be windy here, but you just can't beat a sunset in western Oklahoma. Natives that have moved away always talk about how much they miss seeing them.

This shot's for you, Melissa!

By the sneek peek I've collected here, you might think Melissa's quiet and somewhat serious, but she's really pretty spunky and full of smiles. My favs just happened to be the ones where she was doing "the somber look."

...like this one. Love that profile against the blooming bushes. Take a good look...these are the same blooming bushes that might not survive the blizzard-like conditions rolling into the area today. :(

Thanks, Melissa! Hope you enjoy your senior pictures!

Location: Elk City

Senior: Shana

Senior girls just keep getting prettier and prettier. I'm telling you, there must be something in the Oklahoma water! ;)

Shana brought along her favorite prop: her boyfriend, Mike! I always encourage seniors to bring special things to incorportate into their sessions whether it be a Harley Davidson, a puppy or a special person.

A little something in black and white....

...and a little something different--the antiqued look, I suppose.

No one is happier than I to see bushes and trees in full bloom. Now, if we can just get the grass to grow!

Enjoy your senior pictures, Shana!

Location: Leedey, OK

Amanda: Too Many Favorites

First off, Amanda wins the "funniest client of the year" award. She had called weeks in advance to schedule her appointment; she was planning ahead (good girl!). When I called the night before to confirm, she was laying out her wardrobe (good girl!). She was right on time for her session, traveling to Leedey from Elk City (a 35 minute drive) and we started discussing which locations we would visit to first:

Me: "What are you going to wear? Let's look at your clothes so I can decide which location is best for each outfit."

Amanda: "Okay, they're in the back."

(I open the back)

Me: "They're not back here. I don't see anything."

Amanda: "They are in the Dillard's bag. I thought I put them back there." (No Dillard's bag) Check under the seats...Oh my gosh. Where are they?!? Mom?? Where's my Dillard's bag?? Did you see where I put them in the car?!? Help me find them!!!! Oh my gosh...oh my gosh..."

Other expressions of panic were to follow.

Amanda is the only senior girl I have ever known who left her entire senior photo shoot wardrobe at home!! She wasn't even wearing an outfit that she planned to be photographed in!

Luckily, big sister + brother-in-law saved the day by making a mad dash to Leedey. We were afraid we were going to run out of sunlight--and we almost did--but it all worked out wonderfully. So wonderfully, in fact, that I had a very hard time choosing what to post on the blog.

A beautiful girl + perfect evening light = too many favorites!

Amanda brought her artwork with her...which I loved. These are your senior photos; let's make them personal! I encourage seniors to bring anything that is significant or unique to them & we will try to incorporate it however we can.

Since I didn't know she was bringing her artwork, I didn't have the supplies I needed for what I envisioned. Never fear--Photoshop to the rescue!

"Hey...remember the time when I left all my clothes at home for my senior photo shoot? Oh my gosh, that was so funny..."

Trying a little tint here. I think it works!

We were running on like two ounces of sunlight at this point, but I was determined to try. I really wanted the yellow leaves as a background to her hot pink shirt. But I admit, I'm a sucker for autumn leaves no matter the wardrobe...

Thanks for the laughs, Amanda! Enjoy your images and your senior year!

Alex (#2)

When Alex #2's mom called to ask about taking senior pictures, I was seriously in disbelief. "Noooo...he can't be a senior. Really? He's a senior, already??" Even my husband argued with me later about it. "Ummm...I think his mom would know whether or not he's a senior," I counter-argued (conveniently failing to mention my own disbelief from earlier).

So, apparently, the old saying is true: time DOES fly!

Here's a little sneak peek from Alex (#2)'s senior photo shoot in downtown Wichita Falls, Texas.

This is one of my favorite locations to shoot at in downtown Wichita Falls. It used to be a great little hidden spot, until they tore down the building next door. Sadly, I don't think it's much of a secret, anymore. Shucks.

Funny story: So, we wanted to get a few pics on the train tracks. We drove to a spot where we wouldn't have to worry about traffic....you know, cars constantly driving over the tracks. We didn't have to worry about any cars, but we did have to worry about a train! Confession: I had a really hard time getting a good shot because I was so shaky (I tend to get like that at the end of a long day...plus, I hadn't eaten dinner yet) and because I was frantically trying to get all the shots I needed before the train got too close. Alex wisely mentioned that if we didn't get our vehicles back across the tracks, we might get stuck on the other side (with no exit route). You can't see it in this picture, but there's a big white light right behind his head from the oncoming train! (By the way, wasn't that fabulous backlighting?)

Con"grad"ulations on your senior year, Alex!

Alex (#1)

This post is titled Alex #1 because I photographed two Alexes back-to-back: one in Oklahoma and one in Texas. Can you guess what my next blog post will be titled?

As for Alex #1, we met up for a senior session in Elk City. He was so great to work with--so laid back and easy going! His mom and girlfriend came along to act as wardrobe assistants, photography assistants (I put them to work) and smile prodders. They did a great job, too! :)

This is what I like to see in senior guys: ACTUAL smiles! GENUINE smiles!

Earlier in the session, Alex's girlfriend yelled out,

"Smile! You've got good teeth!"

Cracked me up!

I loved the colors at this location.

Alex is apparently multi-talented. He plays tennis, football, is a Key Club member

and is getting ready to make his singing debut in his school's musical,

"Seven Brides for Seven Brothers."

I've gotta admit...I'd never worked tennis into a photograph until now.

Posing with tennis rackets is a lot harder than you'd think!

Thank goodness, Alex was patient with me. :)

Thanks for being such a great sport, Alex!

Megan Franks of Four Seasons Photography specializes in on-location senior photography in western Oklahoma including Elk City, Hammon, Sayre, Vici, Leedey, Clinton, Burns Flat, Weatherford and beyond.