senior sunday / what to wear

One of the biggest questions I get about senior sessions is "What should I wear?!" So take a deep breath and relax, because I got your back! Here are a few tips and go-to outfits to help inspire your perfect session outfits!

Tip #1: Wear what is the most YOU

It's always super fun to go shopping for new clothes before photos, however here's one thing we tend to forget - How many times have you gone shopping and bought something you love, only to wear it later and realize it isn't as glamorous as you originally thought? If that happens before your senior session, that top or outfit that now hangs lonely in your closet is forever in these images. I'm all about shopping and getting fun new items - just plan this a few weeks before your session so you have time to decide whether the new clothes are truly you or an impulsive store purchase.

Tip #2: What's underneath really does matter

Make sure that when you are planning out your outfits, that you take everything into consideration. Double check that your bra is the right color and type of fit so that your straps aren't going to show under your top. You don't want anything to be distracting from how amazing you look. If you are wearing white, go for nude color under garments to minimize them showing - white under white tends to highlight a lot, and avoid dark colors or patterns as well.

Tip #3: Add variety + you don't always have to dress for the season

Most of you have your senior sessions in the summer/fall going into your senior year - but you might not want all of your photos to look summer or fall. Take this opportunity to mix it up and add variety to your outfits. Jeans, shorts/rompers, dresses - add a little of everything and you'll make sure you'll have a gallery of images you're happy with and fully represent you. I also recommend bringing 2-3 additional outfits so that you and your photographer can pick out the best ones for your location and style of your session.

Tip #4: Be mindful of your location and outfit choices

Bright, bold patterns might be your style, but those don't necessarily photograph well in every location, just like you wouldn't want dark, edgy outfits in bright fields of flowers. Make sure you discuss your favorite go-to outfits and your location preferences with your photographer so that everything will look the best possible. They might even have a few location ideas that fit perfect for your style!

Tip #5: Accessorize!!

Accessories are your friend and can add so much extra to your outfits. Hats, necklaces, scarves, earrings, glasses - all of it! Think about all the little details as they can make a big impact. If you usually wear glasses, definitely wear them to your session as well - you want to look the most you at your session. Just keep in mind if your glasses are transitional or glare, give your photographer a heads up so they can adjust as needed - transitional lenses may need to stay hidden until the last moment if it’s bright out so you can see those beautiful eyes! 

Here are a few of my go-to outfit inspiration boards to help you out - made especially for NBP by the amazing SincerelyMar :)

Urban

Country/Rustic

Natural

the importance of worth + being perfectly undone

Worth.

It’s a small word that affects so much – how we see things and the value we give them. Unfortunately, we live in a society where we tend to over value things and under value people. And we let other people influence the way we value ourselves – what we feel our worth is…or isn’t. Being ‘pretty enough’, ‘thin enough’, ‘popular enough’, ‘athletic enough’…good enough. Media telling young women how they should or shouldn’t look, how they should act or be, what they should like, and very little telling them to embrace who you are – embrace your incredible uniqueness, the true beauty that you possess.

It weighs heavy on my heart that there are so many young women who question their worth, beauty and purpose. I have such a deep rooted need to fight this with everything I have in me. I think girls need something other than the media to tell them what beautiful is…to help them see how incredible they are, how stunning they are.

My model team and I discuss how social media and society today puts so much pressure on women to look a certain way, act like this or that, have to have these clothes, use this make up, or be this size…the list goes on and on. Media paints a picture of perfection that is unattainable, because the painted picture is exactly that…painted. Pictures of models that had professional hair and make up crews, personal trainers, and even then, the image is altered. This has always impacted my heart – but especially now, being a mom to a beautiful, spirited and amazing little girl – it kills me to think that she would ever allow someone other than God define her worth. That she would ever be inflicted with those thoughts and emotions of feeling not good enough. Everywhere we turn, there is something telling us we aren’t enough.

Except you are.

You are more than enough. You are perfection, just as you are.

You are beautiful – with your natural hair, no make up, exactly as you are – that is so beautiful. And there is so much more to you just a pretty face. You are brilliant, strong, funny, sassy. You are talented and unique. You are a good friend, a fiery soul and a stunning personality. You are fierce. No one else has your gifts and your story – regardless of how broken that may feel. Everything you are is beautiful. The things that you are passionate about, the way your eyes light up when you get excited or when you see someone you love. The way you laugh. The way you view the world. Your ambitions. The things that make your heart beat fast. All these things make you…and I’m telling you –

YOU ARE GORGEOUS!!

You are always more than media and the world tells you. You are always more than you give yourself credit for. There is always more fight in you, more strength, determination, ability and love in you than people tell you. You are always more than your history, than your mistakes, your brokenness. Life is messy, and you are always more than that mess. People hurt us, leave us broken, but you are always more than that brokenness, those hurtful words and horrible names.

You are not defined by these things.

You are infinitely and always more.

Just as you are.

So this is my heart…this is my passion and purpose. To help young women see their worth. To help them see that they are flawless, just as they are, right now, beautiful.

A few years ago, the team had the idea to take a stand against the societal pressures to look any different than we truly are, and do an all natural shoot. Pure, raw beauty in it’s truest form. Being unapologetically who we are. Vulnerable? Yes. Scary? For some. Brave and bold? Absolutely.

You see, I’m not taking a stand against the beauty industry. I tweeze and pluck, powder, mascara, curl and straighten with the rest of them. No judgement there. What I am standing against is the lie that we need to do those things in order to be beautiful. That we can own our God given beauty, come alongside other young women and embrace it. The thing is, society standards and beliefs won’t change if no one stands up and says we’re better than that. There’s strength and security in numbers. Empowerment when you’re surrounded by other young women thinking and feeling the same.

Self love, self worth and real beauty are so important in this world and we need more of it. More images of real women, owning and celebrating their natural beauty. Truth is, sometimes we have to see other people love themselves, see what it looks like to embrace oneself, to see someone be unapologetically who they are to feel like we can take a step in that direction ourselves. 

So here’s the deal: we are doing just that.  

Sunday, April 8 at 4 pm, we're meeting at the Lebanon Public Library gazebo to do a FREE all natural beauty shoot. Bring all your babes, wear whatever makes you feel the most beautiful, with no makeup, let your hair do it’s own thing, and come surround yourself with other women owning their beauty.  

Join us in taking a stand against what we’re being told. Let’s take a step towards loving ourselves a little bit more. Let’s join together and tell one another WE ARE BEAUTIFUL, WORTHY + ENOUGH.  

Let’s stand in that truth together.  

senior sunday / 5 things I wish every senior knew

hey guys!

I wanted to spend some time getting you info you might need in planning for your senior session - here are a few tips I wish all my seniors knew...

1. Senior Photos are about more than just a yearbook photo

There is so much going on in your life right now + there is such an amazing story to tell. Beyond just capturing pretty images of your beautiful face, it's about capturing who you are - the way your nose crinkles up when you laugh real hard, the way you move when you feel confident or how you rest when you think no one is looking. The way your eyes light up when you talk about something you love + how you get super giggly when thinking of some inside joke you have with your friends. How proud you feel when you talk about your accomplishments or how nervous you might feel about going off to college and this time in your life. All these things come together to make this incredible human that is you - and I just want to help capture THAT. Which is about so much more than just a pretty picture that goes in a yearbook. It's about YOU.

2. Not all photographers are the same

Now this might seem like a no brainer - but hear me out. There are a lot of photographer out there that can take stunningly gorgeous images. They can make you look like a million bucks and deliver a gallery full of perfect images. But we all work different. We each have something that drives us and makes us unique. And we aren't all the right fit for every senior.

There are so many things to consider when choosing your senior photographer - what is the style you like, how they capture people, what they have to offer in collections, and of course, pricing. I will urge you to not be just a price shopper when it comes to choosing your photographer. Find one who's style speaks to you. Who you feel like will get you and that you will be comfortable with. Regardless of who you choose - these are all things to consider.

3. Yearbook deadlines are closer than you think!

For most the schools in my area - yearbook photos are due by the end of September/Mid October. This means that you only have about 6-7 months from TODAY to get your images done, selected + submitted. Even if you have a later deadline - photographer's availability starts dwindling, so you want to get in contact with the one you want sooner than later.

4. Those amazing warm sunny dreamy summer session dates fill up FAST

I am already booking for my August + September sessions, which are the most sought after, and those dates go quickly. If you are wanting that sun kissed look in your images + late summer is your fave time of the year - you might want to start talking with your photographer to snag your date now. It seems like you've got time - but it goes way faster than you think.

5. Weekday sessions are the best

Often times weekends might seem more ideal - but here are a few things to consider:

Your ideal location will be less busy during the week than on the weekend when everyone else is off. This means you'll have the place more to yourself, more freedom and less people bustling about. Even if it's during the school year - missing school or getting out a little early doesn't suck. We leave school for other appointments, and let's be honest - your senior photos will only happen once - so making adjustments on time is well worth it!

Photographers tend to book up weekends way faster, so you'll be more likely to get the time of the year you want or have more options for dates if you're willing to take a weekday. I always do a happy dance when my girls are able to shoot during the week - between my family time, doing weddings + everything else - it makes my life a million times easier + I'll be way more likely to be able to give you a date you want.

Also - if you're looking to get hair + makeup done, salons will usually be able to get you in for your date during the week way easier than a weekend. (hair + makeup is totally not necessary - but some people just want to be a little extra pampered which is a-okay!)

There's so much to come on tips for locations, choosing the right outfit, styling tips + more! So stay tuned...

playful arizona desert engagement

Back in November, I teamed up with a few incredible vendors for a giveaway. Harlee was the winner of the giveaway - however she lives in Arizona, so she wasn't thinking she'd get to do the shoot.  It's so awesome how social media allows us to connect with others in all parts of this beautiful world. Luckily, I have travel as a big to-do this year + I was able to extend an already planned vacation to meet up with her + Benson.

From what I hear, it was an unseasonably warm day in Arizona - me being an Oregon girl, I was just excited to be wearing a tee and not freezing or in the rain in February!

These two babes are now MARRIED - It was so much fun meeting with y'all + playing in the desert sun.

winter lakeside engagement

I so love adventuring with my couples + these two have come along on a few with me!

I have known Natalie since she was about 8 years old through church + cheer. I have been so blessed to watch her grow up into an incredible woman + super boss babe. I just love the love these two have for one another + I'm so excited to watch where life takes them!

arizona desert engagement

I gotta hand this one to Instagram! I was planning a trip to Arizona + Emily reached out to see if I could do some engagement photos for them while I was there. It's so awesome how we get to meet amazing people we might not have met otherwise. I was thrilled everything worked out and we both could make the several hour drive to meet at Lake Pleasant.

Emily + Eric are getting ready to make a big cross country move for Eric to go to grad school and they wanted to capture their time in Arizona before moving. It was so much fun hanging out with them and hearing their love story + plans for their wedding.

dreamy foggy cannon beach engagement

jessica + matthew :: dorris ranch

For the longest time, I have adored Monique Serra + drooled over her work..so when the opportunity to learn from her came up, I jumped at the chance to do a 1:1 mentorship with her!!

Probably the greatest thing about it was that I immediately felt like I was just hanging out with a best friend, talking photography + frolicking at Dorris Ranch with two gorgeous people in love...it was incredible!

If you are a photographer looking to learn + invest in your business, I seriously recommend checking out the learning opportunities from Monique! Not only is she super talented, she is one of the sweetest, down-to-earth, and genuine people I've ever met.

Also a huge thank you to Jess + Matt for being our crazy perfect models + giving me my own portfolio I'm obsessed with! I mean seriously, could they be any cuter in love?! Major heart eyes over here.. <3