Golden Hour Shoot with Port Huron Northern Senior Photographer

Vibrant Fall Senior Photoshoot

Kennedy

   Yesterday the sun was out for the first time in what honestly felt like 6 months and I said out loud to myself- oh my god. 2 minutes later I caught myself saying it again.    I’m all about the relaxing feeling of the doom and gloom, the rainy days, and the overcast days that bring out the artist in me, but I was honestly beginning to feel like a vampire.
   Kennedy’s Senior Photoshoot was shot last year when the leaves had fallen but we were still soaking up that golden glow. My gosh do I MISS that!! Scroll down and see the shot of the sun shining through her hair. Perfection.
   When the snow first flies I get so excited, it’s clean, it’s white, it’s pure, it’s like magic to shoot in. Then Spring comes and the drab tones are actually really pretty to photograph in, you have this muted palette that’s like a blank canvas ... but come on Michigan, I’m over it! Take me back to this beauty!!!
   Kennedy rocked her shoot, and this just shows you how diverse an outdoor shoot can be! At AJBC locations are HUGE to us! We literally spend hours every year scouting out new spots- grungy, country, city, chic, boho... We want to make sure that when you book YOUR shoot looks TOALLY different than your friends, or even anyone on our site, so going to unique, new places is a must! Location scouting has actually become a secret hobby of mine... I can’t hike anywhere, drive anywhere, vacation anywhere, shop anywhere without thinking to myself- oh my gosh... I HAVE to come back here for a shoot, or hey hubby.... can you make that for me for a shoot, or can you haul that home for me? Like the god only knows how many hundreds of pounds vintage piano I had to have for a shoot! hehe
   We have so many little corners of the Earth that we shoot in that the girls on my team and I had to actually put together a Location Look Book, a collection of all the places we’ve shot at in the past, just to keep them all organized and not forgotten about, ready to use when you bring us the outfit that was just meant to be there. And if you come to us with an outfit that doesn’t fit any of those spots we’ll hop in the car and hunt down something that will tie it all together.
   Kennedy’s fashion was on pointttttt. The layers, the way the colors made her eyes pop, that hair, gurlllll, you rockin this!
   From the trees, to the shoreline, to cliff sides, and graveyard tunnels, Kennedy was so fun to work with at all these different spots, and I feel like a new personality and style shined through at each location, from free and fun to grungy, to fashion.

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Check Out Our Full Senior Gallery!

If You Like This Grunge Look Check Out Alex's Senior Session!

For More Fall Fashion Check Out Andrea's Senior Photoshoot!

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Senior Fashion- how to diversify your look during your photoshoot

    I like girls who don’t exactly play by the rules, especially with fashion. Take a few risks, I promise you it will pay off. Even if you’re not ready to totally get WAY out of the box, even the smallest of details will make a huge difference!
   Andrea didn’t know at the time of her shoot I would be using her as this fashionista example, I didn’t even know it, but looking back at her shoot now it’s clear she put together some killer looks and there’s some things you could learn from her and what she rocked during her Summer and Fall Senior Photoshoots (yes- she’s so fab she did 2 shoots!)

   First off, this green “dress” she’s wearing. It’s an oversized sweater. She bought it larger than her normal top size so it would be the perfect slouchy, comfy sweater dress. So get creative with pieces and sizes! The boho headpiece- it’s just a necklace! As she was putting it on she looked like a little gypsy with it on her head, so we snagged some fun shots!

   This bold pop of color in her next look was great and notice the accessories- a few bracelets and watch. It’s these tiny things that add extra texture and bling to your portraits, so don’t forget parts of your wardrobe that you think will be hidden- we’ll find a way and a pose to show them off!

   Ok! I’ve waited long enough to talk about my FAV outfit she wore! These overalls and boots. The floral, bright crop top still keeps it feminine but those tall boots with the pants rolled up bring that edge back! I can’t get over this look! It’s unexpected and that’s what’s going to make your portraits stand out! Plus, she’s got moves- I mean look at her just rockin those baggy boyfriend cut overalls!

   Ok, moving on from my current obsession of overalls- This dress is a great chic look and really mixes it up from the looks we’ve seen so far. It’s something a little more sophisticated, put together, and then paired with the heel, it takes it to a level we haven’t seen yet! Diversity is key to get the most out of your Senior Portraits!

  Next we have this super casual look. When I say casual I don’t mean boring though, the ripped jeans and layered necklace keep it interesting! It’s meant to be a carefree, summer look paired with the easy going, sun kissed location.

   And lastly. So dreamy. This white, soft dress with this floral crown. Whimsy will never get old to us at AJBC! The look turns very editorial / fashion when she gets in the water! And THIS is what you want for your Senior Experience! Something that doesn’t FEEL or look like a typical portrait. The days of turn, smile, click are gone, and so are the “rules” of fashion, because true fashion has no rules and no limits.

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Check out our Full Senior Gallery!

If you like this water look check out Allison's Senior Session!

For more fall beauty check out Delaney's Senior Photoshoot!

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Port Huron Winter Senior Photoshoot on frozen Lake Huron

Michigan Photographer captures Senior
on the ice of Lake Huron to mimic Iceland scenery

   Your Senior Photoshoot should leave you with stunning portraits, but it should also be an experience that truly stands out when you look back on your twelfth year. I can't bare to think it was a day that you look back on and you say- we went to some park and I changed my clothes a few times and then we were done. I need your experience to be more that that- something exciting, thrilling, unique, something you wouldn't normally do, and of course something that expresses who you truly are.
   Celine's shoot was exactly that. How many times do you go to the beach in the winter? How many times have you crawled in between two huge pieces of ice and just released your inner fashionista? Or what about standing on top of a frozen over break wall and just letting the wind take over? Not to mention how perfectly her fair skin paired with the fresh snow in the second outfit making her a modern day Snow White.
   I’m always so thankful for adventurous souls like Celine! Right away she said she wanted the whole shoot done in the Winter, she was not shying away from the cold or the snow, which we don’t hear a lot! Winter shoots have such a sense of whimsy. It was so easy to capture beautiful moments, especially with her sweet personality.
   This shoot was so natural, so effortless that we didn’t have to spend a lot of time out in the cold. Just be yourself, let go, be free, and we can get what we need without you turning into a popsicle on set. Celine also opted to add in our Hair and Makeup package, so all she needed to do the day of her shoot was show up in comfy clothes while our in house stylist took care of everything! Super easy and a little celebrity treatment.

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Check out our Full Senior Gallery!

For more effortless beauty on the beach check out Jessica's Senior Session!

For more beauty in the snow check out Aubrey's Senior Photoshoot!

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10 Tips to help you prep for your Senior Photoshoot

   You are a Junior. Or perhaps you're a mom of a Junior! Next Year is Senior Year. It’s a BIG deal. It’s the LAST year. And you’re thinking to yourself- where do I start- I’ve never done this before!?
   First of all- don’t freak out! I know Senior Portraits are a HUGE part of the Senior process and you’re stressing out but I promise you, we’re going to make this not only easy, but memorable, adventurous, and beautiful.

So let’s get to it- 10 tips to make your life easier when booking your Senior Photoshoot with AJBC Photography.

1- Figure out your Look / Season:

June and July- if you want to avoid the heat but take advantage of that summer golden glow.
Aug and Sept- ideal if you plan on getting in the water or want wild flowers
Oct and Nov- Fall colors come alive and temps cool back down.
Jan and Feb- if you’re daring and want snowflakes or “icebergs” on the lake.
April and May- if you’re super last minute or love the bare trees and spring blossoms.

2- Then figure out your Timeline: 

Typically Senior Photoshoots happen late June thru Early November (but we do photograph them all year!) July - Sept is quite busy but October is by far the craziest. You’re going to want contact us 2 months prior to your desired shoot day for June - Sept and 3 months for October. We shoot Monday thru Thursday both am and pm shoots.

3- Find out your School’s Yearbook Timeline:

Some high schools allow you to submit a professional portrait to be showcased in the yearbook. Contact your school to find out if that’s available and when the turn in date is. We’ll need at least 3 weeks from our shoot to have your images edited, viewed by you, and ready to send in so allow yourself time. Many schools also require a composite shot, which they may supply a photographer at your school, but we can make sure your composite stands out by doing them in the studio!

4- Get in our system

After we chat about how you envision your portraits we'll send you our Welcome Pack along with our Photoshoot Collections Guide to look over. A $50 deposit is then taken, which goes towards any of the collections, and that gets you in our system and starts your booking process! We take care of the rest!

5- Start to put together your outfits:

Your wardrobe is SO important, it's the first place we start when figuring out how to help you visually express yourself. It sets the foundation for your shoot. If you feel clueless, don’t worry!  As part of your experience here we hook you up with our exclusive Style Guide to help inspire you! Number 1 tip though- think outside the box!! Be a little extra for your shoot to punch it up a bit! And don’t forget the fun details! If you’re still stressing, don’t worry, that’s why we have style guidance, which varies depending up on the Collection you pick!

Also be sure to check out thes blog we put together for you--->
5 Fashion Tips for your next Photoshoot!
Fashion and Beauty Trends for 2018

*You can also add on our Designer Wardrobe Package to any Collection, where we personally shop for you, choosing pieces based on your unique style, vision and body type, to then spoil you with 2 designer wardrobe pieces for you to wear during your shoot.

6- Location

This is our favorite step and one you don’t really have to worry about if you don’t want to! Once we know your personality we can pair that with the perfect location to showcase the style you’re going for. If booking our smallest Collection, In.Style, the AJBC Studio has both an indoor and outdoor shooting space with a ton of natural and chic options! If booking our Vogue or Couture Collections know that we have spent literally hundreds of hours over the years scouting unique locations off country back roads and scouring back city alleys to bring you anything other than over used landmarks. Lastly, If choosing our top Collection, the Vanity Fair Collection, it covers up to 4 hours in travel time to a unique destination that we promise will look more like a far off land than Michigan.

7- Hair and Makeup:

Some of you have this step covered, but some of you, the last thing you want to worry about is having a bad hair day and a crooked cat eye! We have Professional Stylists that will provide everything you need to make you fab the day of your shoot- you just simply show up! Our Hair and Makeup Packages can be added to our smaller Collections, and is of course included with our top 2 Collections!

If doing your own Hair and Makeup for your shoot check out this blog we put together --->
Makeup Tips and Hacks for a Poreless, Flawless face!

8- The Shoot- prepare yourself:

I don’t mean get organized, well, do that too, but what I mean is be prepared to do things you probably have never done before!
We believe in giving you an amazing experience just as much as we believe in giving you high quality portraits. Prepare yourself.
Our shoots are fun, they’re gorgeous, they’re high end, but they also come with a grand sense of adventure and getting out of your comfort zone- it's time to be a little daring, darling. Nothing good has ever come from hiding who you are, we’ll naturally pull that out of you! And when we say adventure, I mean it. You might be on the side of a cliff, up to your neck in the lake, or cat walking thru a huge drainage pipe. That uniqueness sets your session apart from everyone else.

9- The Art:

We are artists for you first, photographers second. Our brush is the camera and our finished painting is your prints. So be thinking about what you want to do with your portraits now, and years to come. Will you be hanging a few up in your home, does family need prints, what about wallets to pass out or open house invites!? Every Collection we offer comes with BOTH physical and digital art, so your Instagram feed can stay fresh now thanks to the digital fad, and your experience can be preserved to enjoy by future generations later thanks to the power of physical print. 

10- Trust

Trust that we got you and we’re here for you EVERY step of the way. Our all female team welcomes you into our AJBC family for a persoanlized experience unlike any other. This is a very exciting and precious time for you that only happens once, and you don’t have to do it alone! So let’s start planning.... What are you waiting for!? Go tackle step 1!