Heather Neal Photography

I’m always excited when clients choose this location in the fall. It’s a beautiful place to walk around and of course take photos. The “good spots” can require a little careful maneuvering and footing to get to but Aidan was a trooper and up for the challenge. This senior from Blue Springs South has a bright future ahead of him! He would love to attend Mizzou or UMKC and major in genetics or biochemical Engineering!

We had a little change of plans for this fall senior session. I always try (note that I said “try”) to show up a little early for sessions so I have time to walk around, check out lighting, find the good spots and be aware of any unforeseen challenges or problems. Well, this session was one of many during the crazy busy fall week and I wasn’t getting ANYWHERE very early. So I pull up to our planned location at Burr Oak Woods and the gates are closed and there are trucks parked in front of them with people in orange vests around them. I’d like to say this is the first time this has ever happened so I didn’t know what was going on but unfortunately it has happened before so I did. There was a “managed hunt” happening. Once or twice in the fall they close down the area and let hunters in to thin out the deer population. So the only “shooting” that was going to take place there that day was with guns, not cameras. Oops.

We hopped in our cars and headed to the closest and most similar area I could think of on short notice and I think it turned out great! Morgan was a natural in front of the camera which didn’t hurt either. He isn’t sure what he wants to do after high school yet so I think he should consider modeling, right?

Senior sessions have been a lot more emotional for me this year. Having a senior myself, I can relate to how bittersweet it is…especially for mamas. This one was as hard to believe that it was really happening as my own daughter’s though. This beautiful girl and my daughter, Marissa grew up together. Marissa came along for the session and we took a few photos of them together and I could stop picturing them as little girls in matching outfits with toothless smiles making up dances and gymnastics routines together. The girls don’t have time to get together often anymore, but we had so much fun with her and her mom taking pictures and laughing like old times. It’s hard to believe they will both be heading off to college soon, but they are such great and beautiful girls and I am so proud of them and can’t wait to see what the future holds for them!

My grandmother used to say “You have to suffer to be beautiful”. I often think of that as also being a little true for photoshoots. You get out of it what you are willing to put into it both as a photographer and “model”. Ciara was ALL IN! She arrived perfectly put together with her gorgeous hair full of bouncy curls and make-up “on point”. We got one outfit in before it started to rain. She was an absolute trooper and went on with the shoot and was luckily prepared with some good boots to get to a rather muddy (but totally worthwhile) location. Her curls may not have completely survived, but I love the untamed version it resulted in for the more “wild” location, especially in contrast to the beginning outfit. It changed the whole mood of the photos…Happy Accident!