You might be thinking “Lisa you have already done this girl’s senior pictures” and you would be right.  This beautiful young lady is my niece and we thought it would be fun to do 4 seasons of senior pictures.  So we did pictures last October, January, April and then we did a fun styled shoot at the Paint Mines at the beginning of the summer.  What can I say….I love hanging out with my niece and she is GORGEOUS so it was all around amazing.  Here is a little preview if you haven’t seen our other sessions.  Or you can follow this link to see the other full sessions.

But those other shoots were purely for fun (and to help me build my portfolio).  So this shoot was her “fo reals” senior pictures.   We really debated about where to go and she likes to be different and didn’t want to look like anyone else’s senior pictures so we decided to go up to our cabin in Fairplay and do pictures up there.

In Fairplay they have a place called South Park City.  Legit.  Like the show.  It is where it comes from.  The creators of the show grew up in Fairplay!  South Park City is a museum/history park of old restored buildings from the 1800’s.  It is very well done and cared for and I love doing pictures there.

They have old trains, barns, tracks, buildings and it makes for such a great backdrop for pictures.  You also don’t really have to worry about too many people being there, so that helps too!

Want to learn a little photography trick?  If you take your photo at the opening of a dark building, then your subject will be well lit while the background will go totally black.  It makes for cool pictures like this!  These were taken at the entrance to one of the barns in South Park City.

Do you see why I have taken so many pictures of my Ashie??  She is stunning.

I can’t believe this girl is going to be 18 in a few months and then off to college.  She really wants to go to college somewhere down south and while I am SO excited for her…..I am sad I won’t get to see her as often.

She wants to be a labor and delivery nurse.  She also spends a lot of her time volunteering to help with disabled kids.  Seriously, I cannot say enough wonderful things about this girl.  I am so proud of her.

Here is another example of light on the subject in the doorway and it blacks out what is behind them.  Such a fun trick!

Her only request for her “real” senior pictures was that there was a water tower.  Check!

This is right outside the old bank in Fairplay.  Isn’t this such a great spot!?

Ashlynn is a country girl.  Another reason I love her! Cowgirl boots and a guitar?  I just about died and went to heaven.

Album cover…right?

Then we added a red barn and a tractor.  Seriously.  Dream session.  Now do you see why we wanted to go up to Fairplay?  Totally worth it.

The hotel in town was JUST repainted and they used this bright blue color.  As we were driving into town I noticed it and HAD to get pictures there.  Especially with Ashlynn’s blue eyes.  Brightly colored walls are my jam.

Another thing I love about Ashlynn?  It had been kind of a stressful time getting to the cabin and she had a few unexpected things come up while she was trying to get up to Fairplay.  She had been to a concert the night before and done her hair.  So she just rolled with it the next day too.  She isn’t super into her looks…..and she looks like this.  With minimal makeup and effort.  I love that she isn’t high maintenance and doesn’t spend hours on her looks.  Of course, if I basically rolled out of bed looking like this, then I wouldn’t need much work either.

Our cabin is such a sanctuary for me.  It is my happy place.  This the road that leads to the driveway.  I have always wanted to do pictures there.  Can’t you see why?

Don’t mind me….I am just sitting at my computer with tears in my eyes while writing this blog.  I love this girl so much and I am so thankful that I get to be her aunt.  It has been such a joy to spend so much time with her this year doing pictures and having coffee and running around finding fun spots for photos.  Please don’t go to college!  Just kidding, but seriously I will always have warm chocolate chip cookies whenever you are home from school.  So you better come visit me.