Over the years, I learned, that parents are all looking for the same thing for their seniors portraits, and it’s not the same as it was when I was in school. It used to be that parents just wanted a formal portrait of their senior with a big smile looking straight at the camera. Now, parents want a photograph that captures their seniors personality – something that truly showcases what they love, their style, and their talents. This is just one of the many reasons I love being a Senior Portrait Photographer! Each senior I have been blessed to photograph has been different from all the others! Which brings me to the beautiful girl pictured above.
Rachel and I first met when I did a Winter Model Call this past winter. She was absolutely stunning and incredibly comfortable in front of the camera. Her Senior Portrait session was no different! She looked flawless in her boho cowgirl dress and lace kimono cardigan complete with boots and jewelry to match . . . and even a wild flower in her hair! The setting she chose , Curtin Village, was just as perfect! This historic village houses old barns, open fields, a small bridge, a nearby stream, and so much more!
Just to be clear, this is not just a style choice for Rachel . . . this is who she is. She is a competitive horseback rider. She competes for the American Quarter Horse Association , where she rides her own horse, and the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, where she rides a horse she has never ridden before. Rachel is going into her 7th year of competition with the IEA and has gone to Nationals 5 out of her 6 previous years of competition. Great Red Code – aka Banjo, Rachel’s 5 year old gelding, compete together in Ranch Riding. In April this year, they went to the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio to compete at the Level 1 Championship show. They competed in the Level 1 Youth Ranch Riding, where they were named Champion, and in the Rookie Youth Ranch Riding, where they were named Reserve Champion. They also competed through the summer at Centre Hall, showing at the Pennsylvania Quarter Horse Association Mid-Summer Madness and the Keystone Showdown, coming home with Reserve Circuit Champion in the Level 1 Youth Ranch Riding and in the Open Youth Ranch Riding at both shows. They are going to compete at the All American Quarter Horse Congress this October and will be competing at the Youth World Show in August of 2020.
In the photographs below, you’ll see Rachel ROCKING her Belt Buckle from her Level 1 Achievement which she won riding her old horse, Sonnys Deluxe Day – aka Alvin. To earn a belt buckle like this you have to earn enough points in a Level 1 class. Rachel and Alvin reached 42 points in the Level 1 Youth Horsemanship, which was enough to bump them into the Level 2. Rachel told me, “Alvin is near and dear to me because he was my first show horse, taking me to the All American Quarter Horse Congress, which is a nationally recognized show and runs for a whole month.” They showed in the Level 1 Youth Trail and ended up placing 7th out of 86 entries. They have also earned many Top Ten and Finalist titles in the horsemanship, showmanship and trail at the Level 1 Championships. This year, Rachel and Alvin qualified for the Youth World show in the summer, but ended up not going due to her competition in the IEA Nationals. This girl LOVES her horses, in fact . . . ” My horses are my best friends and my life!” , is what she said exactly. I have no doubt that they love her too!
Rachel was so fun to photograph. Her fun loving, free spirit filled the air while we shot together, and she was up for anything! From spinning in her dress, to climbing trees, and laying on the ground. It was clear that this farm girl wasn’t afraid of doing anything in front of the camera. To finish the session off . . . we got in the water! Rachel went in boots and all . . . while I stumbled around barefoot with frozen toes. It was totally worth it! It turned out to be such an amazing session and I would gladly photograph this beauty any time!
Whatever YOUR style is . . . Whatever YOUR talent is . . . be sure to BRING IT just like Rachel did for her Senior Portrait Session, and I’ll be sure to capture exactly who YOU ARE for you and your parents! Contact me today to schedule your session.
xoxo,
Mindy 🙂
Life Through The Eyes Of My Camera Lens 
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