Midland, Michigan Senior Portrait Photographer | Eve Tuft Photography

Tag: Senior Girl

Gorgeous Senior Session at the Courthouse and Downtown Midland, MI

The Courthouse here in Midland, Michigan is so uniquely beautiful. I love the architecture, the colors, and the little spaces all around it that make it such an ideal location for a senior photo shoot. A few weeks ago, I blogged the first half of Gabby’s session. She chose City Forest for her first location, and I loved that she brought her dog, Henry. For her second location, she wanted Downtown Midland. I love it when my clients choose two completely different locations for their photo shoots! The first place was all natural and green and earthy. The second location was more urban. Because of this, her pictures came out so diverse and varied.

The Courthouse

Gabby knew she wanted Downtown, and I asked her if she wanted some pictures at the Courthouse. She agreed, so we headed there first. My, oh my. This location along with her super cute dress were a match made in senior session heaven.

The courthouse offers such a fun and different location for senior sessions here in Midland. Look at that stone! And those colors!

I’m so glad we chose to come here while we were in Downtown.

Downtown

After we took shots there, we walked around the area and found a few other spots that photographed well. Really, Gabby photographed well, and I just posed her and let her show off her beautiful smile. 🙂

Note to self: The flowers lining the streets of Downtown look absolutely gorgeous in July.

This next one is a favorite of mine.

We took a few more pictures in Gabby’s last outfit and wrapped up with some extra urban locations.

Here’s what Gabby said of her session:

“Eve did a great job taking my senior photos. I brought my dog along to one location because I wanted him to be in them with me, and she was very accommodating with him. I was shocked when I saw the pictures afterwards because they were even better than I expected. Overall it was a fun experience and Eve Tuft was enjoyable to work with.”

And here’s what her mom said:

“Eve is fantastic! We had a great experience taking our senior pictures with her. She is very professional and fun! Our photos are beautiful and great quality. We highly recommend her!”

Gabby and Christine, thank you both SO much for entrusting me with Gabby’s senior session. I loved getting to know you both better.

August 11, 2020
A Senior and Her Dog

I just had my first session of the year a couple weeks ago, and it was wonderful. It was also the first session I’ve done where a senior brings along his or her dog. I loved it! Since Gabby was bringing Henry along, we knew we’s need someplace that allowed dogs. She chose City Forest, and it was the perfect location. All day long we watched the weather because it threatened to rain. The clouds were ominous even as we drove to meet up. I thought for use we’d have to cancel, but Mother Nature was good to us. We even got a bit of sunshine later on. 🙂

Gabby’s dog Henry was nervous at first, but we were still able to get some beautiful portraits of the both of them together. I mean, look. Seriously perfect.

What you can’t see here though are the billions of bugs swarming around (I totally got attacked by a grasshopper) and the 300% humidity. I’m pretty sure Gabby has the best hair to have handled it so well.

We took several more with Henry, and this next one may very well be my favorite of the two.

Like I said, it was so hot and humid, but you’d never know it from these pictures. Gabby changed into her second outfit, and I loved the flow of her dress and the color on her. She’s a dancer, and every movement she made was so graceful.

Hold up. This next one is my absolute fave. We caught it just as the light started peaking through the clouds at City Forest. These classic portraits seriously get me every time.

Gabby also brought along a jean jacket to wear, and it really helped to diversify her outfits by pairing it with this dress.

Next time, I’ll be sharing the second half of her session. The location and her outfits seriously came together so well! See ya then!

July 22, 2020
Do I Need to Bring a Prop to My Session? The Cons

Cons. What a not-so-fun word. Today though, I’ll be showing you how not bringing a prop to your senior session can actually be a good thing! Back in February, I wrote about the pros in bringing a prop to your session. There are certainly pros to bringing along an instrument or a jersey or a pair of running shoes. However, not everyone can or should bring along a prop! My last post in combination with this post will hopefully help my clients choose whether or not bringing a prop is a good idea for them.

So, let’s get started!

Prop Cons #1

The biggest of the cons in my mind in bringing a prop is that it is just one more thing to carry around. When we go out for your session, I will have my hands full with my camera and bag and extra lenses and my reflector. And, if you’re much taller than I am, I’ll also have my stepping stool with me. 😉

The friend or parent you’ve brought with you will also have their arms full too! They might be holding your changes of clothing, your phone, their purse, different pairs of shoes and maybe even jewelry you’ll want to switch out. Hopefully we’ll be at a location where we can just leave most of those things in the car. But adding a prop or two onto your other things can get heavy and cumbersome.

Cons #2

Another con I see in bringing props with you is that it’s one more thing to remember to do and bring. Many of you will have a makeup appointment. You might even be getting your hair done. We’ll have gone over your outfits together, and you’ll have jewelry and shoes to go with each outfit. Adding yet another thing on top of that can be a bit stressful, and I definitely don’t want my clients arriving at their sessions stressed out.

#3

The last of the cons on my list is simple. Your session is about YOU. And while props can sometimes help to incorporate your hobbies and likes into the picture, they can also take away from where the subject should be – you. Getting your lovely face into the camera with a beautiful, blurred background and connecting those who see it to your amazing personality is what I’m here for. Sometimes an extra prop takes away from the simplicity of a perfect portrait.

What do you think? Are you leaning more towards bringing a prop or two? Or do you want to leave them behind? As I said before, each client is unique and special and different in their own way. Your session will be as well. And only you can decide what’s best for you. Whatever you decide, you’re going to love the pictures I capture for you.

As always, let me know if you have an questions! We’ll be in touch!

April 29, 2020
Do I Need to Bring a Prop to My Senior Session? The Pros

“Do I need to bring a prop to my senior session?” You may have been wondering about this for your own session. And it’s a valid question since many seniors love to bring things to their photo shoots that represent their hobbies and interests. In this post, we’ll take a look at the pros to bringing props with you for your session.

Prop Pros #1

One pro of bringing props to your senior session is that it gives your hands something to do. When a person has something for their hands to do or hold, it helps them feel more comfortable and less tense. This helps them look at ease in their pictures. They’re bound to love them more if they look comfortable.

#2

Another pro is that the senior will get professional quality pictures with things that mattered to them. A beloved instrument, a pair of running shoes, a soccer ball. Time stops still, and the focus is on the senior’s passions and interests. I love how Nicole brought her running shoes to her session. Just throwing them over her shoulder like this tells the viewer she’s into running. And how fun will it be in 20 years from now when these shoes look dated??

#3

And I can’t pass up posting one of my favorites ever with a senior and his prop. We went to Dow Gardens for the first half of his session. We ended up at the Chippewa Nature Center where he wanted pictures with his harp. As soon as I had him start playing it, it was like he was somewhere else and had left us behind. A pro here then, is that props can feel like such a part of who you’ve become. It’s like having a dear friend with you in your picture. I played the flute from 6th grade through college. I remember one year in college I dropped it off to be cleaned, and I couldn’t believe how much I missed it! It was awful waiting those two weeks until I had it again.

#4

For the last pro on this blog post, bringing props to your session can help add to the atmosphere depending on the location we’re at. Grant wanted pictures with his trombone at his high school. We took so many here near the football field and on the stands, and I really think having him pose with his trombone helped pull the scene together. Below, Nicole looks so stunning in the fields of flowers. Adding in her viola makes the scene even more picturesque.

While there are many pros to bringing a prop, there are also cons. Next time I blog, I’ll share some of those with you. We’ll be in touch!

February 25, 2020
Why I Love My Job

Last week, I introduced myself a bit here on my blog. I told you the next time I post, I would tell you why I love my job so much.

Ever since 2012, I knew that eventually I would like to try my hand out in a photography business, but it would likely be a family photographer. Most of the shoots I did for friends and for practice were of families, and as a family photographer, you actually get repeat clients year after year! The problem is, I didn’t love those shoots. I didn’t feel like they weren’t my best work. And after every family session, I came home exhausted.

On the other hand, I did not always think I was cut out for being a photographer to high school seniors. My first few attempts were a little rough, and posing was a bit of a nightmare for me. But here’s the thing: I LOVE being around teens. In fact, in my church while we were living in Iowa, I was in the youth organization. I loved working with the teens in my congregation! And what do ya know, a couple years after living here in Michigan, I was called to be with the 12-18 year-old girls in my congregation here.

My husband tells me often that I have a way with the teens. I think it’s because sometimes I still feel like one! Ha! I mean, I’m more responsible and more mature and hopefully a bit wiser, but I feel youthful. I feel a connection with them. And I love them so much.

It had been a couple years since I had last done a senior session when I was in Iowa, when someone from my church asked me to take her senior pictures here in Midland. I couldn’t say ‘no’ to her! After that, I did a few more. And then I fell in love. Posing doesn’t challenge me like it did before. In fact, I would say it’s my strong-suit. Being able to only have one person to pose who actually wants to be there is amazing!

Why I Love My Job

Connecting with the teens here in Midland has been such a highlight for me in my job. I love getting to know their hobbies, strengths, and dreams. That’s really why I love my job – the pictures I get to capture for these incredibly passionate, fun and determined teens is simply the best.

Spending time with them before their shoot, during and after all adds to developing this personal relationship with them and their parents. And being able to give them their beautiful products as a trusted friend afterwards is a reward in and of itself.

The reason why I love my job is because it’s so much more than that to me. It’s building trusting relationships with people I value time and time again. What could be better for a job than that?

January 28, 2020