I love photographing high school seniors. It’s such an important and monumental milestone in ones’ life.

Libby is a real sweetheart…she is classic, sweet, down-to-earth all mixed with a bit of shyness. I just loved photographing her! She loves nature so, after having her makeup professionally applied and shooting a few in the studio, we spent the remainder of our time together outside in it. The day was beautiful…a sun-cloud mix, but we did have a bit of wind. Nevertheless, she was just beautiful in her images.

Libbye’s session was so much fun for a few reasons. First, we traveled to downtown St. Louis which is always intersting! Second, she had a friend along who also happened to be one of our 2012 models. Third…she’s gorgeous!

Libbye certainly has a sense of style. Her outfits were precious and looked fabulous on her. Setting her beauty against the backdrop of some city grunge made for striking images. See for yourself! Thanks Libbye for choosing Radiant Seniors!

What can I say about Danielle, known as ‘Dani’. She is just awesome! She is the sweetest, kindest, and one of the most polite seniors I’ve had the privilege of meeting and photographing. We had an absolute BLAST in St. Louis for her senior session. From the St. Louis Arch, to the riverfront graffiti wall to Keiner Plaza it was a day filled with the great sites of St. Louis Missouri. Dani is a senior at St. Dominic High School and plans to attend Stephens College this fall majoring in Fashion. Thank you for choosing Radiant Seniors for your senior pictures Dani!

Our new promo video for our Radiant Senior crowd is finished…and we LOVE it! Thank you to all who made this possible! Thank you Sarah King of Blush Boutique in Kirkwood Missouri for hosting us for this shoot. Thank you to Zach Ruble of Zach Ruble Productions for a phenomenal job creating the video and THANK YOU Radiant Senior models for participating and ROCKIN’ the video!!

This past weekend I made the trip from St. Louis to Louisville KY for an engagement session with a very special couple. Stephanie is the daughter of our pastor and we’ve known them for almost 13 years now. I’ve watched her grow into the godly young woman she is today.

They are both students at Boyce College in Louisville. He is a Biblical and Theological Studies major and she is a Church Ministries major with emphasis in Children’s Ministry. We spent the bigger part of the day together and had a wonderful time. We ended the day just across the Ohio River with a shot of the Louisville skyline at night…a fun shot to capture. I simply adored capturing their love for each other and their love for the Lord, it was both refreshing and inspirational. Congratulations Stephanie and Nick, I can’t wait to photograph your wedding in July!

So you have picked your photographer and booked your session… Now What!? For some of you this is the easiest part. You can go straight to your closet and pick out your top 3 outfits in no time. For others, you may need a bit more inspiration. If digging through your closet with no direction seems a bit overwhelming, it may be time to crack open your laptop and look for some new ideas… Don’t worry! Sometimes all you need is a little bit of inspiration to get you back on track! Inspiration for your session can come from many things including your favorite magazines, store catalogs and, of course, the internet. A good way to start is to find things you like and rip them out, save them online or snap a picture with your phone. A lot of times you may find that things you love in magazines and online are similar to things you already own, but restyled in a whole new way!

One of the best ways to find a whole lot of style ideas fast is hitting the Internet. One website I really love is Polyvore. Polyvore is a great site that lets you build outfits right on your screen. You can search for items you already own or grab a few new items to add to your session wish list. Try using the Polyvore’s search tab and typing in your favorite clothing stores name or maybe just search your favorite color. You can drag the items right to your own style board and mix and match all different choices from accessories, shoes, jeans and more. Another fun site to hit when looking for inspiration is Pinterest. In order to become a member you have to be invited, but you don’t have to be a member to use their search bar. Pinterest is a huge web based pin board of fabulous Internet finds that has been collected by millions of users. Try searching for “teen style”, “senior session style” or a great one to search is “polyvore” which will bring up a ton of outfits other users have already created.

Now that you have made your outfit choices, put a few items on your shopping list, and hit your BFF up for borrowing a few things. It is time to talk accessories. I absolutely love when my clients bring accessories to their session. A great necklace, a chic belt, a fun textured bracelet or a hat can be an amazing way to take everyday wear to the next level. Think of them like icing on a cupcake… A must have right?

I ask my clients to bring different accessories for each outfit they plan on wearing. Its a good idea to lay out your outfits and start layering on the “icing”. Of course your first stop should always be to your own collection, but if you are missing a few things check out sites like Forever 21, which has necklaces, rings bracelets and hair accessories starting under $2. For less than $15 you should be able to find some great pieces that will help make a statement. If you are feeling really crafty and have a little time before your shoot, think about creating a few items yourself. Hit your local craft store or head back to Pinterest and start searching topics like “DYI headbands” “DYI scarves” and “DYI jewelry. This would be a fabulous way to ensure your portraits will be totally unique.

Remember Senior Portraits are designed to be all about you. Your personal style is what makes you fabulous and with a little planning, you can guarantee a successful shoot. Of course, as your photographer, we are always here to help you and would be happy to answer any questions. We can’t wait to see all of the great outfits you have chosen!

“Someday…when you’re a famous actress, you will want a personal photographer” is what I told Lauren as we discussed the headshots we would be taking to launch her acting career. What an amazingly fun session we had. Lauren was very relaxed and is an absolute natural in front of the camera. She has the energy and connection to the camera that’s a photographer’s dream come true! Lauren, Radiant Images hopes for only the best for you…Break a leg sister!

I’m so completely and totally excited to announce a brand new, exclusive to Radiant Seniors, session available for 2012! No where else in the Greater St. Louis area can you experience a session quite like this. It is certain to become the most talked-about senior experience ever! Check it out and start imagining …. This is going to ROCK your world and create some of the most fantastic senior images you’ve ever seen. It’s called the Imagine Session and this session is an additional session you can experience after you have completed your Radiant Seniors session. Our professional make-up artist will blow your mind with her creativity and you will be transformed completely into a land of imagination and fantasy. Experience Radiant Seniors’ Imagination Session…what can you imagine?

Twenty-One years ago today my husband and I were blessed with our first child…Ashley Louise. She was the purest form of sweetness, love and a living representation of our commitment to each other. These past twenty-one years have been filled with many, many laughs, tears, fights and forgiveness. We have watched her blossom and grow into the godly young woman she is today. Here are just a few of the hundreds of images captured during these first twenty-one years.

I can’t believe how the years have ticked by…it seems like just a few years ago that we brought her home from the hospital.

We look forward to what the future holds for her with expectation and excitement. We pray for her future husband and the family they will have and we anticipate celebrating many more birthdays and other celebrations along the way. Happy Birthday Ashley, you are a true gift from God! xxoo  Mom and Dad <3

If you live around St. Louis, you know what I’m talking about. We’ve had a very mild winter to-date. However, earlier this week, I woke to a beautiful and frosty scene out my back window.

I love birds and this woodpecker caught my eye immediately. He was hanging onto the edge of the feeder tray picking seeds out of the feeder on this frosty morning. He was really the only color visible thanks to his red head. The field and grasses behind our house were covered in frost and the sun streaming in was a sight to behold.

Fast forward to today…the sight I now see out my back window is definitely a wintry one. The temperature has dropped at least 40 degrees since yesterday and the wind is howling something fierce.

Yet, still the birds are weathering it just fine…sitting at the feeder enjoying an early dinner and on this cold, blustery day.  I, too,  am anticipating a hot, steamy bowl of the vegetable soup simmering on the stove.

To everything, there is a season. Winter comes every year to much of the United States and brings with it shorter days, frigid temperatures and a look of death. But, rest assured, just below the surface of this wintry terrain, the lilies, tulips and daffodils wait for those first few warm days of spring to burst through the ground as the whole process begins once again. I am definitely a seasons girl. Born and raised in the mid-west, I love the changing of the seasons. I’ve lived in Florida and Texas where the seasonal changes are much milder and subdued, but I prefer the sharp lines of contrast between winter, spring, summer and fall. I look forward to walking through these days of winter and anticipating the warmth of spring to come.

Warm Wishes,

Lori