Category: Your Session

  • What Happens During Your Senior Photography Session

    What Happens During Your Senior Photography Session

    Last week I wrote about what happens after you’ve booked your session. We went through the process of picking out a date that works, keeping an eye on the weather, deciding on a location or two, and going over outfit choices together. Yay! This week, we’re talking about what happens at your session. The day has arrived, and you’re ready to go. Let’s take a look at what a typical senior photography session looks like with me.

    Senior girl lying on the ground with fall leaves for her photography session

    I normally get to your location for your senior photography session about five or ten minutes early. I’m a punctual person! Check out this post on what you should bring to your session. You might think you’ve remembered everything, however, it’s a good idea to look just in case. If you got your makeup done, we will have scheduled it so you can be right on time to your shoot.Ā  My makeup artist is great at making sure of that. You’ll have your mom or sibling or friend in tow with you, and you’ll probably be feeling a little nervous and excited. That’s totally OK! In fact, I still get nervous before every session, and I’ve been doing this for years.

    Senior photography session for a boy sitting in front of a waterfall | Midland, Michigan Photographer

    Once you get there, the fun begins! We’ll walk around and scope out where the light is. I’ll tell you where to stand, exactly how to pose, and help you feel comfortable and look your best. The only thing you’ll need to do is listen and do what I say! Your mom or friend or whoever you brought will be an awesome help at keeping your outfits organized and holding the reflector for me when I need them. Here’s Grace. She’s the best reflector holder. šŸ˜‰

    Senior girl holding a reflector for her friend

    I’ll be watching the time to know how long until you need to get into your next outfit. You don’t need to worry about how much longer until we need to head off to your next location. I have you covered! I’ll make sure we get all the poses we can, pace ourselves, and still have an amazing time.

    Senior girl sitting on a pathway at Dow Gardens holding her knee and smiling | Midland, Michigan Senior Photographer

    Swing around next week and we’ll talk about what happens after your session. Thanks for stopping by!

  • What Happens Before Your Senior Photography Session

    What Happens Before Your Senior Photography Session

    If you’ve never gotten senior pictures with me, you might be wondering what happens before your senior photography session. Here’s a post just for you! Now that you’ve booked a session with me, let’s take a look at what happens next.

    Senior girl standing in a field of sunflowers smiling. Michigan photographer

    First, we decide on a date. Sounds easy, right? I take a limited number of sessions in a year, but I am able to shoot on weekdays and occasionally a weekend, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to line up that perfect day for your pictures. After we do that, I send out an invoice for your $100 deposit, as well as a contract for you to sign. I do these things through my amazing customer relationship management company, Dubsado. They rock and have made it so easy to interact with my clients! After you sign and pay the retainer, I send you my client welcome packet. This beauty is one of my favorite things about the business side of my work. It has all you need to know for your session! What to wear, what all my prices are (even for prints and products), and FAQs.

    Senior girl posing for a senior photographer in Midland, Michigan holding a ukulele on her shoulders

    Before the day of your shoot we’ll be looking at the weather together to make sure there’s no rain in the forecast. As long as there’s no rain, you’ll be in love with the pictures we get whether it’s overcast or completely sunny.Ā  We’ll also be in contact regarding any questions you have about your outfits or locations. We can also go over what the benefits are to the locations you’re looking at. I’ve shot at them all, and there are so many beautiful locations here in Midland. I’m here to make sure you don’t stress! This process is fun, and the more we communicate, the easier it will be to make sure everything runs smoothly.

    Senior boy leaning up against a wooden fence outside before the sun sets | Portrait Photographer in Midland, Bay City and Saginaw, MI
    What to expect before your senior session with Eve Tuft, a senior portrait photographer in Midland, Michigan

    Sometime before your shoot (or even on the day of), you’ll pay the remaining balance of what’s due. If you wait until the day of, I accept checks and cards and will have my card reader with me to make it easier for you. And that’s it! Tune in next week to see what happens on the day of your shoot!

  • Bucket List Location for 2019

    I’m not really a person for having a bucket list. Maybe I’m boring. Or maybe I’m just content with what I have. It could also be that I hate being disappointed, and bucket list items tend to do that to people. If I did have a one though, holding a koala would be at the top of it. šŸ˜‰

    When it comes to photography, there are so things I want. But I like to think of them as goals rather than a bucket list. That seems more realistic and attainable. One of the things on my list for this year is a location. Can you guess where? I’ll tell you. The Whiting Forest. Eep!

    Whiting Forest was closed for a couple years here in Midland, and we weren’t able to see it until late October of last year. I feel in love immediately. As a photographer, I’m always scouting for locations to use that are different and unique to the area. While we all adore places like Dow Gardens and the Chippewa Nature Center, it’s fun to go someplace different once in a while too.Ā  I suspect that Whiting Forest will definitely get its share of senior sessions from photographers, and I certainly intend to use it as well. It’s such a great location!

    Wouldn’t it be awesome to have some pictures here? You know, without the extra people in the background. šŸ˜‰

    Small girl with hat on a rope pathway at a bucket list location | Michigan senior photographer

    And just look at these pathways. I know they’re gorgeous in the fall, but they would be beautiful anytime of the year.

    Father holding his daughter outside in the fall on a pathway | Senior Portrait Photographer in Midland, Michigan

    Have you booked your senior session with me this year? If so, I’d love to take your pictures at the Whiting Forest here in town. It’s on my bucket list for the year.

  • Benefits of a Sunny Day Senior Photo Shoot

    Benefits of a Sunny Day Senior Photo Shoot

    Last week I wrote about how much I love senior sessions on cloudy days. I really do! But there are just as many benefits to shooting on days with full sun. I LOVE the sun. I love using the light to my advantage. Here are some reasons to do a little happy dance if your session is on a sunny day.

    #1 Backlight

    Ah, backlight. We photographers swoon over it. Backlight is when, well, your light source is in the back of your subject. I think I can honestly say that it is my favorite type of light to shoot in. Side light comes in a close second though. šŸ˜‰ When the sun is nice and low in the sky, the light is diffused, and my seniors just glow. It looks quite magical and adds a little something extra to my photos.

    Senior girl in a field on a sunny day with her hand on her hip | High School Senior Photographer in Midland, Michigan

    #2 More light to bounce back in my subject’s eyes

    Do you love catch lights as much as I do? On a sunny day, that sunlight will bounce off my reflector and make your eyes pop! Though you can get the same effect with a cloudy day, there isn’t as much light reflecting into your eyes. I love me some big catch lights.

    Close up portrait of a teenage girl on a sunny day in Midland, Michigan by Eve Tuft Photography, Senior Portrait Photographer

    #3 Silhouettes

    If the sky is not completely cloudy, it can make for some amazing silhouettes at the end of your senior photo shoot. Though this is more of an indirect advantage, you couldn’t achieve this look if it were overcast outside.

    Silhouette of a senior boy playing the trombone with a sky full of clouds | Michigan Senior Photographer

    #4 Not Flat

    OK, this sounds a little weird, but bear with me. Overcast days are great for your skin. The cloud cover acts like a big softbox and is beautiful. Sunny days though can really make an image pop and give it life. It can make you look more 3D in a 2D image. The rim light highlights and contours, giving more shape to you and to your surroundings.

    Senior girl crouching down on a sunny day | Midland Photographer in Michigan

    I can’t control the weather, but IĀ can work with it to your advantage. Whether we get rain or shine for your senior session, we’re bound to come away with pictures you love.

  • Benefits of a Cloudy Day Senior Photo Shoot

    Benefits of a Cloudy Day Senior Photo Shoot

    If you’ve already booked your senior portrait session with me, chances are you’re hoping the weather cooperates! Many of my clients in the past have told me they prefer sunshine on the day of their senior shoot. I wish I could control the weather and give them just what they want! However, cloudy days can be just as beautiful. Here are some benefits of a cloudy day.

    #1 Beautiful Skin Tones

    Ask any photographer – overcast days make skin tones gorgeous! The clouds are like a giant soft-box and make your skin tones look truest to their real coloring. No matter how fair or dark you are, cloudy days give you a beautiful, soft glow on your skin.

    Senior girl in a prom dress surrounded by flowers and the benefits of a cloudy day | Senior Photographer in Saginaw, Michigan

    #2 Even and Flattering Light

    More benefits of a cloudy day include even and flattering light. Again, it’s like a giant soft-box. When there’s no sunshine in a frame, your whole face is evenly-lit. Even light is the most flattering on ANYONE. It hides wrinkles (not like you have any), and covers up acne more than side light and harsh light.

    Senior boy who knows what to wear in a blue, button-up shirt | Midland Photographer

    #3 Variety in Locations and Angles

    Because I’m not working with the sun, I can place you just about anywhere! The light is even, and I don’t have to worry about how it is or isn’t falling on your face. You’re more likely to get better use of every location we go to when I don’t have to take sunshine into consideration.

    A high school girl in a green dress standing on the sidewalk in a downtown area in Michigan | Midland High School Photographer

    #4 Not as Time-Dependent

    Since we’re not working with the sunshine, we don’t have to be as particular about taking pictures the last hour or two of the day. Although I love that golden hour, we could shoot much earlier in the day if we needed to.

    High School girl standing in a field of wildflowers with a barn in the background at the Chippewa Nature Center in MidMIchigan | Senior Photographer

    I love overcast days. As you can see, there are so many benefits of a cloudy day. I promise that you’re going to love your senior session whether you get all the sun or all the clouds. Now, let’s just hope it doesn’t rain. šŸ˜‰