When you get the chance to work with an aspiring model – life and all around it falls into place.

Rae, a Legend High School Junior is just that person. She is currently signed with a local modeling agency and spends many weekends learning the skills and knowledge of being a model. When I offered a free photography session to the Legend Titan Band Silent Auction, Rae’s parents quickly out-bid everyone and won the session for Rae.

After school exams and waiting for some nice weather, I worked with Rae and her portfolio session. I love working with teens – and the excitement they are in when it comes to their Senior Session. It’s one of those many little items on their check-list that says “I’m a Senior, almost done!” When working with Seniors or teens, putting them into comfortable poses is part of the job. But when you work with a model, the game changes a little and placing them into poses isn’t required, because they basically know where to stand.

When posing a person, as a photographer, I have taken many workshops, classes, tutorials on how to make the subject look good in their photograph. Showing the curves in a woman, or the masculine parts in a man, there are tricks to achieving these looks and I work on them all the time when photographing any client. But when it came to working with Rae, I would ask her “ever hear of the ‘S’ pose?” and she would go right into it. Something she’s been taught as well as I have on how to make the photograph look amazing.

Rae was an amazing person to work with. She never said no to anything I suggested (sitting on a chair, upside down in a field of weeds) and was up for anything (posing near rock fountains getting soaked) and for that she had an awesome session.

Want to see more? I made a video of her best photos –

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Thank you Rae – I wish you the best in your career and am proud to help be a part of it!

Your Life Photographer
Susan B.

it makes me smile when I make you smile –

don’t forget the International Charity Model Search for the Cutest Family is going on! Voting starts on January 4th!

I’ve been asked what do I like to photograph on my off time. What off time? do you speak of?

I like to take lots of photos on my off time. My favorite is the local high school band – Legend Titan Band. And they are just not a local high school band, they are my children’s high school band. As in – they are in the band. So in other words… I’m with the band.

My lovely 15 year old daughter who is a Sophomore is on the Color Guard team. She’s one of those cute girls down on the field twirling flags, dancing and smiling to the crowd. My amazing 14 year old son who is a Freshman plays the trumpet and just makes mom and dad gush in awe when we watch him march and play at the same time on the field, and sometimes march backwards because sometimes we are pretty sure he can’t chew gum and walk at the same time let alone march!

I go to almost every event they have, I was in band myself in high school, playing the flute and loved my years in marching band that I really have no problem reliving those moments with my kids. Going to football games and performing at half-time, marching in parades and going to contests – it’s just so much fun.

So in the process I have become their official ‘un-official photographer’ and with that – here are some of my favorite photos that I’ve taken this year of the band:

The photo at top that you see? The official band portrait that we are having printed and giving to sponsors in thanks for their support to our band.

I love working with a group of kids that are in for the common good and have fun. So when the band director asked me to make a video of what it’s like to be a part of the band for incoming 6th, 7th and 8th graders (they get to spend a day with the band learning how to march and perform) – I created this video, I’ve had mothers cry after watching this video – myself included.

So when you are at a high school football event – and you see a mom cheering on the sidelines and taking pictures, give a shout out… it just might be me!

My latest Senior Briana:

2008 Year Review:

2007 Year Review:

All new video’s will be posted on the side bar. Enjoy!