This week I photographed Larissa, with all her enthusiasm and cuteness. Both big assets to the cause. We started out at the maple tree next door where she and the siblings and cousins play.  I wasn’t very quick to get my groove despite my undying love of this sort of photography because I was put off balance by other events of that day such as the camera refusing me to move the focus point. For once I didn’t have a specific plan for the shoot, but knew that I especially wanted close up portraiture.

When the call came that I could come take pictures, there was joy. But first I had to locate my wallet which was busy sloshing around in the wash machine. All it’s contents had to be removed and dried. Then I had letters to hand deliver to two people I love. I was called into a meeting for an hour and a half with my boss at work. Then there was the requisite trip to a store. After all that was done, then the event could and did happen.

Dinner was served at Larissa’s house a few minutes into the session and I was invited. I figured out the camera focus point problem between bites of rice. The littlest guy in the brood pawned his grilled chicken off on me, sculpted by bite contours but still delicious.

After dinner, the girls  slipped into dresses. Costumes and attire make these sessions.

Larissa had an outfit that she’d asked me about and I gave it the okay, but part of it was trouble. Like a slit dress this panel accessory was strange the way it hung except when the wearer standing still. We got a few pictures and she took it off.

Adjacent to  the house is a property with numerous photo op spots: The tree they climb, a flower lined walk way, patio, and more.

The path bordered with flowers is pure magic when mixed with evening sun and pretty girls.We hit pay dirt.

Then the girls switched to plaid shirt outfits. Larissa brought a western style hat and was the very picture of a ranch girl. She had the choreography of that session completely under her spell from the start.

We ended up on the far side of the house where the trailer is parked and the garbage cans sat. There was a scent of dead mouse. After we’d gotten a slew of pictures in what I felt was an unfavorable setting we were still in that spot despite the smell. She ignored all that and came up with numerous ways to capitalize on the setting.

“Wait,” I asked, “how did we end up over here?”

“Me.” she said. I think she wanted the shoot to her self. No brothers or sisters or cousins to interfere. None of them found us.

Maybe I’ll get to do her senior pics. That is a genre that often makes me cringe, but if it’s like this shoot then it would be a treat.

She wants to be drawn riding a horse, so we improvised.