Category Archives: Seniors

Laila’s Senior Session

It occurred to me as I was editing Laila’s session that High School Senior Sessions are a lot like ordering a pizza or burger from a restaurant… and I am the chef. I have all of my Seniors fill out a questionnaire before their session to not only get a sense of their style and personality, but also as a way for them to tell me things they love or don’t like in photos they have seen. It’s kind of like the menu! Instead of saying “add extra pepperoni” or “no tomatoes”, they say things like “Glowy golden hour photos please!” or “no extreme close-ups”. I think Laila and I created the perfect recipe together because I could barely narrow down which photos to share… is that like overeating? If so, I’m stuffed!

This Senior Season has been a little like that old show “This is Your Life” where they would have a person in a chair on a stage and lots of people from the past would appear to surprise them. Since my own daughter is a senior this year, a lot of the seniors I have been shooting end up being kiddos that we know or that used to be a part of her life. Laila was one of her best buddies in first grade before we moved to a different area and school. She’s a combo of beauty and brains and will be heading to K State to study engineering! I know she is going to accomplish many great things!

Sara Cap and Gown

Shooting Senior Sessions sure hits different when you are the mom of a Senior too. You can just relate to how fast time has gone on a whole different level and appreciate their accomplishments…and their parent’s bittersweet mixture of joy and sorrow. I have known many of the Seniors I have worked with this year since they were little including beautiful Sara. I’m so proud of her accomplishments and excited to see what the future holds for her. I just love how her Cap and Gown Senior Session turned out.

SUPER(Bowl) Senior Session!

Super Bowl Sunday was a BIG day in Kansas City and a BUSY day for Heather Neal Photography! I started the day with a Newborn Session at the studio, then headed straight to Burr Oak Woods for an engagement session in the forest and then I was off to Downtown KC for this SUPER Senior Session! We fit a lot into this hour session including several outfit changes and LOTS of walking! It all paid off with lots of gorgeous photos of this pretty senior and a CHIEFS win!

BSSHS Cheerleaders!

This session has been in the works for a long time. Jayden’s (one of the cheerleaders) mom and I are good friends and she showed me an inspiration photo for this idea a long time ago. I was so nervous to cut and tear the paper and figure out how to make everything look just right, but I think it turned out so great! It doesn’t hurt when you have gorgeous models of course! I think these “torn paper” sessions would be so much fun for all kinds of occasions!

Snowy Senior Session at “The Nelson”

I have been busy this winter and LOVE it! Even more fun is the fact that not only are clients scheduling studio sessions, but I am still getting clients who want to get out “on location” this winter!

There is no specific answer when people ask me what my “dream client” would look like. As a matter of fact I don’t usually know the answer to that question until I show up to a session and there they are. I can tell you it almost always involves someone who is creative in some way though, so when Karinton said she was wearing her “Senior jeans” that she painted herself, I knew she would fit into the category (and it didn’t hurt that she was a beautiful and super photogenic girl!). Even better she was so sweet and fun. Karinton plans to major in Criminal Justice in college and I just know her future is very bright!