Eric spells his name with a C — “the right way,” he told me. I have to agree, since I’m married to an Eric.

This Eric goes to Jesuit, my alma mater, and he’s a super smart guy who also has a great sense of humor. He cracked me up throughout our session in the Pearl District last month.

There is just nothing that beats fall leaves. I love that window of time when they’ve turned their most vibrant colors, but just before they’ve dropped to the ground. I wish I could fit all my senior sessions into that window of time!

Thanks Eric, for coming out and being a good sport and letting me photograph you! Good luck in your crazy hard math classes and I can’t wait to hear about it when you get into your dream school!

I’ve been so impressed with the interesting and ambitious high school seniors I’ve met this season. Nikita was one of these ambitious students — she’s going to PCC now on her way to a pre-med degree and then medical school. She wants to be a pediatrician.

Nikita and I had lots of fun on a fall day a couple of weeks ago at the Cornelius Pass Roadhouse. I love how it looked there with the bright fall leaves.

Nikita was such a natural in her photos — casual, laid-back and sweet. She’ll definitely be a good doctor.

Thanks, Nikita, for coming out to be photographed! I had lots of fun and I can’t wait to hear about all the things you’ll do out there in the world.

That’s definitely what I’m calling him. Because when Dylan came out to have his senior pictures taken, he totally rocked it. He has a cool confidence that I thought was awesome, and besides, I loved his cool black jacket.

Dylan goes to Tualatin High School, and he’s my first senior from there this year. Dylan’s mom also does my hair (and his) and let’s just say she’s amazing.

I love that shy smile Dylan would pull out right at the last minute.

Dylan, thank you so much for coming out to have your pictures taken! I had loads of fun and I can’t wait to see what lies ahead for you.

I am loving senior portrait season so far — the weather has been beautiful, sunny and crisp and I am a happy photographer. Photographing Madie, a senior at Jesuit, was a real treat a couple of years ago. I think she looks like a young Anne Hathaway.

When Anne Hathaway first became famous, they said she looked like a young Audrey Hepburn. So I guess what I’m saying is that I think Madie looks like a young Audrey Hepburn. In my book, that’s the ultimate compliment.

Madie wore this cool WWII bomber jacket that was her grandfather’s — she was so cool and at ease. Madie is a drama kid at Jesuit just like I was, so I felt like we were kindred spirits when we met.

I love her big, happy smile. You can tell Madie is a really happy girl and that’s the most attractive thing there is.

Madie: Thank you so much for coming out to have me photograph you! It was loads of fun and I wish you the best senior year ever!

I got an e-mail from Emily just before her session, asking if her best friend could come along, and I was so excited. I love watching people interact with their friends, it’s energizing and fun. These two girls are so cool and you can tell they really are best friends who’ve known each other for a long time (since the sixth grade!)

Emily and Molly are new seniors at Westview this year, and they’re both so excited for their final year in high school.

One of my new favorite things to do during a senior session is to spin — it’s fun for everyone!

Thanks, Emily and Molly, for giving me a fun afternoon! Good luck in school this year and I can’t wait to see you both succeed.

It’s getting to be that time of year again – Stephanie started school last week as a senior, for her last time at Beaverton High. I think it’s going to be a great year for her. A few weeks back, we spent a little bit of time at Oregon Heritage Farms in Hillsboro doing a senior session for her and it was so much fun!

Stephanie is seriously photogenic and is always willing to try just about anything I can dream up. Thanks for being adventurous!

I love Stephanie’s eyes – they are so deep and blue and expressive.

Thanks for being an awesome senior rep this year, Stephanie – you are amazing! I hope you have the best senior year ever.

Well, we started with 40 at the beginning of this shoot, but by the time I transported them in my car and got them upstairs to my apartment, and then back out to the park, we were down six.

These girls came with me on a designer senior session a few months ago and we had so much fun frolicking around in Gabriel Park with balloons.

My senior clients always give me clothing envy.

These girls were seniors last year, and they’ve all just headed off to college now. I hope you’re all having fun out there!

I loved these colors, and they didn’t even plan it! They each brought all their dresses and we managed to put this combo together. I love doing wardrobe consultations on designer senior sessions.

Thanks, girls, for coming out and having so much fun! Have a great freshman year!

Note: My dear friend and filmmaker Michael Ward came along with me to this shoot, and you can see some footage from it in my promo video. Click here to check it out.

I so love spending time with seniors. Their youth and energy is awesome – they usually try my crazy ideas and they have so much opportunity in front of them. Jenn is totally that way – she was one of my senior reps this year and just came back a couple of weeks ago for her second session. She’s changed so much since last time!

Isn’t her outfit so cute? I get all my fashion inspiration from my seniors – ha! – but seriously. They dress way cooler than I do.

This combo cracks me up – reminds me of that old magic trick where they put a lady in a box and cut her in half. Sorry Jenn!

Thank you so much, Jenn, for being such fun to photograph! I hope your senior year is amazing. Embrace all that opportunity in front of you!

Alright, so if you want to get technical they’re not seniors. One of them is – but I dare you to try and pick her out! This awesome group of girls and I got together a couple of months ago for a designer senior session in Cannon Beach, and it was so much fun!

Rosie & Emily

Alyssa & Amanda

Mikayla & Maggie

Shannon & Stephanie

This session was so much fun – and it proves that you don’t have to be seniors to do a designer senior session! If you’re interested in having your senior (or engagement, or family) photos taken at the beach, let me know – I am going to set up a couple of days this fall to do beach sessions and I want to see if there’s interest!

Alright, alright, I know this photo has been on my blog at least ten times already, but it really is a favorite of mine. I feel like it sums up the spirit of my new designer senior sessions – it’s the energy and laughter of teenage girls, which is one of the most fun things ever.

This designer senior session was a total blast – Ali, Chelsea, Kristin, Lauren and Ali were such great models and they had loads of fun, too. We based the concept of this shoot on sort of a Roxy ad-sort of look. All the girls had their makeup done by Katrina, my great make-up artist, and I think they look really stunning. Then we ran around and had tons of fun by the pool.

These girls will all be seniors in the fall at Jesuit High, and I feel like they’re going to have a great senior year. Aren’t they so fun and energetic?

Friends is one of the things that designer senior sessions are all about. It’s about being with your friends and remembering that really special time in your life before you head off into the world.

Thank you so much, ladies, for having so much fun for me and for including me in it. Keep having fun!