Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have no doubt that you will blaze a trail no matter what you choose to do in life, Miss Aly.  You have got it all together!  You were so much fun  to photograph!  Have a wonderful senior year.  xo ~ M.C.

“Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Kylie, it was such a treat to get to photograph you!   You were one of my sweetest first grade students and I can see that have grown into a wonderful young woman.  I hope you have a fabulous senior year and I wish you all the best in whatever you choose to do in the future! Much love to you! xoxo ~ M.C.

Such a beautiful girl! We had a wonderful time at Hillary’s senior session.  I love that we were able to shoot at the high school.  And the light at Bayview State Park could not have been more perfect! Here are just a few of my favorites from the evening…

Thank you, Hillary for being such a wonderful model! Enjoy your senior year!

I was so happy when Colton’s mom contacted me about doing his senior photos.  I had the pleasure of shooting his brother Dylan’s photos 2 years ago when his family was visiting from California. It just so happens they are visiting again this summer and Colton is about to start his senior year.

With his beautiful mama…

and his adorable girlfriend.

Thank you so much, Jeanine for asking me to photograph Colton.  It was so great to see you again!  Best of luck to you, Colton.  Have a wonderful senior year!

I’ve been neighbors with these boys since they were just 6.   How fast time goes… I felt especially old when I realized they were just a few months old when I graduated from high school!  They were so much fun during our session.  Thanks for lots of laughs and for being so easy to work with guys!

Sean

Jesse

Ashley is my final senior of 2010.  What a way to end the year too! She is an absolutely beautiful girl with an infectious smile.  She was completely at ease in front of my camera even though she admitted to being a bit nervous before we began.  You won’t see any butterflies in these photos.  Just a gorgeous, smiling girl with a bright future ahead of her.

Ashley, you were so much fun to work with.  I am so glad I got to meet you and your sweet mom.  I hope you enjoyed this little peek (and that it didn’t cause too many tears for you, Mom!)  I’ll be in touch soon…

On a scheduling note, I am completely booked for the remainder of 2010.  I am booking maternity and newborn sessions only for January and February. If you are interested in scheduling a session, please don’t wait to contact me.    Seniors, I am so sad that I’ve had to turn down so many of you for sessions this fall because I have been booked.  If you are hoping for a spring session, please contact me soon to reserve a spot.  And class of 2012, if you are thinking of a session for your senior photos next year, contact me in EARLY SPRING for a summer or fall session.  I book up quickly during those months and often have to turn students away!   I LOVE photographing seniors so I’m always disappointed when I have to say no.  So, get on it and get scheduled early!

We got a chance to get out and enjoy the nice weather this weekend for Kellen’s senior photo session.  This great guy was at ease in front of the camera and made my job easy right from the start.   I have so many favorites from this session. Here are just a few…

Kim and Kellen – thanks for such a great time this weekend.  You were a natural, Kellen!  I hope you enjoyed your sneak peek and I’ll have the rest to you soon.

~ Melissa

I’m sitting here working on a FABULOUS new What to Wear guide for my high school seniors and just had to share some images on the blog.   I LOVE SENIORS!  And I just want to remind all of you that will be graduating in 2011… book your sessions THIS SUMMER! Don’t wait until September and October to contact me.  I book out several months in advance and I had to turn away many many seniors last year.  I will open my summer calendar in May so watch for announcements that it’s time to start booking summer sessions.

Here are a few teens from a workshop I attended in Seattle this summer.  We shot in the alleyways behind Qwest field. It was so much fun.   The girls did a great job of putting together fun and funky outfits.  More info on all of that in the guide!

My last senior of the season… sigh.  I have found that I LOVE photographing high school seniors and Karissa could not have been more fun!  A suitcase full of clothes and a sassy little personality – she knew how to work the camera. And I loved it!  We have been planning this session since July and I think we got it in just in time before fall officially set in.

I loved photographing you, Karissa.  I really had the hardest time choosing photos for this blog post.  I have so many favorites!  I hope you enjoy your sneak peek…

And to the seniors out there, I will begin taking senior sessions again in spring.  My spring-fall dates book quickly, so 2011 seniors please don’t wait too long to contact me.  Summer is a great time for your sessions!

Now… on to a fall and winter full of newborn yumminess!  Babies, babies and more babies on the books! Can’t wait!

It doesn’t seem possible that TJ could be old enough to be graduating already.  My little cousin who was once obsessed with the choo-choo train and loved wearing his little boots everywhere (just like his dad) is now 18 and all grown up.    It was nice getting a chance to photograph him this week.  We got some great shots.  Here are just a few for now…

One of my favorites so far…