Photography By Dain

First impressions are big…like it or not it’s a fact of life. When I met Jason, here was a young man that got out of the car, reached for my hand, looked me in my eyes, placed his other hand on top of my hand and said, “I’m Jason, nice to meet you.” Impressive coming from a young man of 17. I’ve met adults that could take a lesson from Jason’s social grace. Jason plays baseball, short stop to be exact and even has been known to throw a pitch or two. He’s interested in video and video production and even has a project dealing with the local police department coming up. Man, I wish I had these kind of programs when I was in high school!

Jason, thanks for spending your afternoon with me. It was a true pleasure to meet you and photograph you at this stage of your life. There is without a doubt big things to come for you. I know I’ll look back one day and say…I knew him when… Have a fantastic senior year, my friend.

She was 15 when I first photographed her. She was a freshman going to the senior prom. Her parents are very good friends of mine and they have a son my middle son’s age who play on the same sports teams. Over the years we’ve gotten to know each other and have and the good fortune of having Taylor watch my boys when my wife and I are both working and they’re off from school.  It takes a very special person for my wife and I to trust the care of our children with and Taylor is THAT person.  She’s confident yet humble, beautiful AND smart. When I was asked to photograph her and her two friends for their senior session I knew it was going to be fun.

Taylor picked me up at the local King Sooper’s parking lot and drove me to Kristen’s house were the scenery and “props” were limitless. Adam was instrumental at keeping the girls at ease and making them laugh when he didn’t have to be in the picture. It really made for some fun imagery. Taylor and Kristen are heading to CSU to party…um I mean study…yep that’s right STUDY…umm study WHAT is yet to be decided but rest assured mom and dad…they’ll be studying. Nothing to worry about with these girls!

Taylor, I’m amazed that your already a senior. It’s been an honor to watch you grow up into the young woman you are becoming. THANK YOU for introducing me to your friends, and for trusting me with theirs and your senior photos. I hope you enjoy them!

OK…I’ll do it. Nah…I change my mind…Finally, Kristen went and picked him up at his house and MADE him come over to her house for the group  senior photo shoot. Adam has been dating Kristen for the past year and a half and she finally had to pull the girlfriend card to get him to show up. Kristen and her best friend, Taylor, thought they could all do their senior photo shoot together. Pulling off a single senior session can be a big enough challenge, but three…all at once…this should prove interesting!

Luckily these were GREAT “kids.” Adam is looking to go to either CU Boulder or the Colorado School of Mines. You’re looking at one of the potential minds of being able to find a solution to our dependency on foreign oil. Adam wants to be a chemical engineer and to hear him talk about his goals is to listen to a young man who knows where he’s going. VERY COOL!

So not only is he cool, but look at the girls that wanted to have their senior photos with him! This group was a blast and I’ll be posting the girls senior sessions with some different group pictures as well. So make sure to check back for Taylor and Kristen’s post.

Adam, it was a pleasure meeting you. Your sense of humor and easy going demeanor was great. You helped keep the girls at ease and got them laughing which made for some great images. I’m excited for you and your future and am proud to know that their are seniors out there like you willing to make a difference in our world!

He pulled up in his Chevy Blazer right on time. My parents would have been THRILLED if I was as responsible when I was seventeen. He got out of his car self assured and ready to get this “task” off his plate. He shook my hand, was confident in his introduction, and it was then that I knew we were going to hit it off. This is a smart kid who enjoys writing and is exploring all his possibilities for college. Although he was born in Colorado he spent much of his life in Arizona only to have to move back to Colorado his senior year. That’s a tough order to leave all your friends your last year of high school. Richard, however, seems to be taking it all in stride. This ended up being a fun shoot for two reasons. One, Richard was great to work with and we were able to get some super cool stuff (check out the slide show below) and two, I got to bring my wife along on this shoot. Richard and I both got a kick out of watching her maneuver the Red Rocks’ trails in her flip flops and avoid the cactus. Who knew flip flops weren’t meant for hiking?!?!

Richard, thanks for the great time this afternoon. You were a blast to hang out with and get to know. I wish you the best Senior year ever. Good luck and God bless.

The clouds were building but they usually do in August when you live in Colorado. What’s the worst that could happen? We started the shoot and only got about six pictures in when it started raining in buckets. No biggie…It’s Colorado…this will blow over. We sought cover underneath the school’s archway and watched as it started to rain even harder. I guess that would make it raining swimming pools. Anyway, my wife calls on the cell phone and says that she see’s a funnel cloud just north of our location. Yeah, yeah, whatever. Castle Rock doesn’t see many tornados. What were the chances. Well enough rain poured that we had to cancel the shoot. On my way home this is what I saw:

Yeah, you’d think after 13 years of marriage I’d finally have learned to listen to my wife! So, I did what any guy would do when he sees a tornado…and has a camera with him…CHASE IT!

The good news was that no one was hurt and no major property damage was done.

The other good news was that the weather held out for us to be able to get Blake’s senior pictures done. Blake loves the outdoors and playing sports. College is in his future it’s just a matter of where. As much as he was dreading having to do his senior pictures, once we got into it we had a blast. Thanks for the great time, Blake! I wish you nothing but the best your senior year!

Check out Blake’s slide show below!