Free Spirit Class of 2020 Platteville High School

Last but certainly not least is Miss Kristen a Class of 2020 Platteville High School senior and one of my Senior reps for this year. I should also note that this beautiful young lady is my niece. It's been a bittersweet year photographing her senior portraits because Kristen was part of the reason I started photography. 11 years ago I did a session with her for the fun of it as a gift for my brother. It captured my heart and I haven't looked back. Over the years she has put up with me constantly asking her to try new ideas, be my guinea pig, and has dealt with all my crazy ideas. I've watched her grow before my very eyes and in front of my camera. 

So what do you do for a young lady that has dealt with her crazy photographer aunt for the past 11 years? You take her to Vegas for a photography conference and to capture some epic senior portraits! Yes, it was amazing and an experience I don't think either one of us will forget. I would head back to Vegas in a heartbeat for more senior portraits. We traveled down to the amazing art district complete with a container park and amazing murals. It wouldn't be a vegas shoot without capturing the city lights and the famous Bellagio Fountains. 

For Kristen's "normal" session we headed to Brodhead and Beloit Wisconsin for an amazing covered bridge, ice cream parlor, and the ever so pretty Beckman Mill. I loved all of the colors, the beautiful water, and the old amazing buildings. It was nice to out of the area with some new "backdrops" to enjoy for a senior session. For the second half of her session we headed to Governor Dodge State park for an epic waterfall, beautiful light, and more amazing color. The session was absolutely beautiful and the senior was just as gorgeous. 

Part of the Senior Rep Experience this year includes a "This Is Me" session. I asked my reps to tell me something about them that we can build upon to celebrate that tells their story. For Kristen it's always been music, movies, and photography. She wanted a way to display her own photography that she's captured over the years and celebrate all of her other loves of travel, music, and "art". I could see it in my mind, the lights, the "movie set style" teenage room, and a beautiful gazebo. Big thank you to Kristen's Grandma Deb for allowing us to transform her gazebo for this session. The result is perfect. It's like a scene from a movie and oh so perfectly Kristen. 

Kristen, I am proud of the young lady you have become and it has been an honor to capture your senior portraits. I know you will do amazing things wherever your heart takes you. An open heart, an open mind, and your sassy self will take you so far. Be you and the world will fall into place. I love you.