Morning Senior Pictures | The Beauty & The Benefits | Gigi
There’s something magical about a sunrise photoshoot — and Gigi’s morning senior pictures clicked perfectly for many reasons. Her and her mom’s clear vision, tight bond, and open-minded energy made for a creative, larger-than-life experience. Add in the dramatic lighting and nonstop laughs, and the energy from this session became nothing short of infectious!
A huge pro for morning senior pictures is that locations are typically less crowded, especially on weekdays. This makes for a calm environment, allowing us to easily think clearly and creatively. We started in Mission San Juan Capistrano, and ended in San Clemente. These are popular locations, so some photo sessions will inevitably be more crowded due to warm weather crowds, but that can also be fun in its own right!
Gigi and her mom, Sophie, are quite the dynamic duo — both whip-smart, funny, relaxed, and not to mention completely gorgeous. They emulated the perfect balance of expressing their vision ahead of the session: a beautiful, flowing plum-purple gown, and their hope for a socked-in marine layer at the beach. They wanted something different for their session, which they did by booking a morning shoot to hopefully catch that perfect foggy marine layer. Then, during the session, they completely trusted in my creative vision. This makes for the best possible end result!
Ever wonder what to do with your arms in photos? You can place your hands softly on your hip bones, and then add in a little asymmetry — send one hand up and shift the other down a bit. You can also hold your arms lightly, like you’re cold!
Another advantage of morning sessions is not racing against the clock. After we wrapped at the first location, Mission San Juan Capistrano, Mom and Gigi expressed a somewhat dire need for caffeine. (Gigi was headed to homecoming that evening and wanted to keep her energy up!) So, we walked a block across the street to Café at the Mission. I told Sophie that I'd pass, that we would meet her at the second location, but she completely insisted.
Next thing I know, my camera bag is plopped in the backseat while we waited for our lattes and chatted with a lovely lady visiting Orange County for the first time. It was a nice reminder to pause and look for ways to indulge in the simple delights of life — like an unplanned coffee visit or meeting new people.
Check out behind the scenes from this morning senior pictures session and get a first hand look at a senior photos session with JenRenPro! (embed of vlog reel)
