It's getting to be that time again, a new batch of seniors getting ready to take flight! Most of them not knowing how much their lives will be changing shortly! www.lizleestudios.com I think back to my graduation, um, a few years ago... and my children's graduations; full of excitement and yet a bit of uncertainty. It doesn't matter where they are going after as long as they  continue to grow and put one step in front of the other.

It seems to me that these young people certainly have things more together than I did at their age! Is that a sign of the times or is it my imagination?

I seem to think technology has helped them grow and have fewer fears than we did at that age. Through the lens of my camera I can see the change! We did formal portraits in a studio. We didn't go out to a park or school yard or downtown streets, we went to the same photo studio that occupied the same spot for more than 20 years. www.lizleestudios.com I sat on a stool and the photographer poked me in the back and said this is an imaginary string that is pulling your shoulders back. Tip your head up, now angle it down but keep it up! Today? Wow, today it's a different story! They book a minimum of an hour session and I consider the first 15 minutes the warm up. It's the time where we get comfortable with each other. We get to figure out how long it takes them to relax! Each student fills out a questionnaire about interests, family members, friends, pets, school stuff and we go from there! I find out what they want and hopefully am able to guide them so they can feel comfortable enough to achieve the types of poses they want. I make it a challenge for them, step out of your comfort zone. I know it feels weird but the  photos turn out great! We climb trees, sit on window sills; we even take photos on water falls that have no water, because I can add water! I have almost as much fun as they do! I'm creating in my head the things I have to do during editing to make this  just  perfect! I've also noticed that this is our way of life now... taking photos with people walking in and out of the shots! They don't care! It actually gives them a better, more relaxed smile! I love my work!