The Senior Spotlight for today is focused on Miss. Julia! Julia has graduated from San Ramon Valley High School in Danville, California!
I was fortunate enough to work with Julia and her family while they were back in Iowa visiting last summer! A California girl getting senior portraits done in Iowa is a change of pace and I had a really great time getting to know this family a little bit!
Julia was definitely quiet, but her smile really lit up any space we were in! I adored her outfit choices and even though she was on the shy side, she definitely owned each set she was photographed in.
We started her session in the morning in Montezuma at a fellow photographer's space to use her piano (thanks Jo!) From there we picked a few spots in the Montezuma area to photograph at! It was a wonderful session even though a storm was threatening near the end!
Here is a little more to learn about Julia:
Me: What are your major accomplishments your senior year? What are you most proud of?
Julia: "Although my senior year did have a rough start with my mom’s accident, it really has brought us together more. I am proud of myself and my family for overcoming all of these obstacles and growing closer over these past months."
Me: I know the year isn't quite over just yet; do you have any big plans to finish out the year? Is there something you are looking forward to before graduation?
Julia: "I’m looking forward to deciding what college I will be attending next year; I have yet to hear back from 11 colleges."
(She ended up choosing Santa Clara University!)
Me: Were you involved in any sports or extra curricular activities? If yes, please list them below.
Julia: "Dance and Youth & Government"
Me: What's your plan for this summer?
Julia: "This summer I am excited to visit Iowa to see my dad’s side of the family and spend more time in our newly renovated house there. Additionally, I look forward to my family’s annual trip to our cabin in the Sierra Nevada’s built by my great grandfather."
Me: What does the future have in store for you? Have you already picked your school? If so, what major? (Or explain whatever future plans you have below).
Julia: "I applied to 14 colleges this fall and am still waiting for all of my admission decisions to come back. Because of my love for math and sciences I have decided to pursue an mechanical engineering degree."
Me: What are your absolute favorite images/sets from your senior session?
Julia: "I had one set where I was wearing a blue checkered shirt and standing in a field of flowers that I really loved."
And let's take a look back at her session now, too!
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Thank you so very much for letting me work with you and your family, Julia! It was absolutely wonderful getting to know you and your family during your session! I wish you all the best as you head off to Santa Clara (HOPEFULLY Covid-19 allows) this fall!
Marie Grace Photography is now booking 2021 seniors! Click Here to get in touch with us!
Alley Tish
Marie Grace Photography
Sigourney, Iowa
Sigourney Iowa Professional Photographer
Today's Senior Spotlight shines on Miss. Alyssa who will be graduating from Mount Pleasant High School in Mount Pleasant, Iowa!
Alyssa is another member of the MGP Class of 2020 Senior Model team and it has been so incredible to have her be a part of it all! It has been a lot fun to watch her take part in all of the different shoots and to see her personality come through! Alyssa is a little reserved and shy at first, but when she gets comfortable she is a lot of fun to be around!
Alyssa has been a lot of fun to spend time with during photo shoots; she is quick with the sarcasm and she goes along with all of my crazy ideas and pretends she doesn't think they are crazy! :)
We've had quite a few different photo shoots together and I think my favorite one with her was probably her individual senior session. Traipsing through the mud to get to a Missouri Crossing always sounds good in theory, until you have to do it. And then the current is a little strong and almost takes you out. But those are memories, right, Alyssa?
She's a beast in the discus ring and I am incredibly bummed for her to miss out on her senior track season. But this girl still has big things coming!
Alyssa did fill out her questionnaire pre-pandemic and some of her answers reflect that.
Alyssa's Spotlight:
Me: What are your major accomplishments your senior year? What are you most proud of?
Alyssa: "This year I am proud of myself for trying new things. I auditioned for a school play and got a part. I have also been broadening my horizons and learning more about my community as I volunteer at the Henry County Heritage Trust Museum every week."
Me: I know the year isn't quite over just yet; do you have any big plans to finish out the year? Is there something you are looking forward to before graduation?
Alyssa: "I am looking forward to competing in the 2020 track and softball seasons. I have also gotten a part in the upcoming school musical. During my high school years I have learned that I love performing. I can’t wait to portray my character on stage!"
Me: Were you involved in any sports or extra curricular activities? If yes, please list them below.
Alyssa: "Yes, this year I participated in school activities such as a football manager, fall play, spring musical, show choir, track, and softball. I have also spent time this year volunteering at the local museum."
Me: What's your plan for this summer?
Alyssa: "This summer I plan to take a trip to Washington D.C and New York City with the music department from my high school. I plan to finish my high school career by playing softball. I also want to spend my summer with my family and friends before I start my life’s new adventures."
Me: What does the future have in store for you? Have you already picked your school? If so, what major? (Or explain whatever future plans you have below).
Alyssa: "I plan to attend Hawkeye Community College to participate in their track program and begin my educational path to become an elementary teacher."
Me: What are your absolute favorite images/sets from your senior session?
Alyssa: "My two favorite sets from my senior session were the pictures that were taken behind What Cheer tavern and the images that were taken at my great great grandparents farm. I loved the rustic backdrop of both sites and including a piece of my family's history at the farm."
And now let's look back at the last year..
From her announcement session..
To her BFF session..
To the Americana session..
Then there was the Rock N Roll shoot..
Next up was her Senior Session..
After that, the next session was the Pizza Pajama Party..
The next session together was the prom shoot at The Studio in Des Moines..
Thank you so much, Alyssa (and Jennifer) for letting me work with you for the last year and a half! It has been so fun getting to know you better and I know that you are going to conquer many things in the coming years! I am excited to watch and cheer you on from the sidelines!
Marie Grace Photography is now booking 2021 seniors! Click Here to get in touch with us!
Alley Tish
Marie Grace Photography
Sigourney, Iowa
Sigourney Iowa Professional Photographer
Today's Senior Spotlight is shining on Mr. Jace, who will be graduating from Prairie High School in the Cedar Rapids area! Jace will be attending Kirkwood this fall!
Jace had the privilege of having two different sessions; the first focused on his favorite hobbies (firefighting for Fairfax FD & bowling) and during his second session we worked on his nicer outfits! It was so fun both times we worked with Jace (and his entire family)! Jace has quite the village of love and support surrounding him, he's a lucky kid!
His first session was definitely toasty, especially for him! Can you imagine getting in full firefighter gear on in upper 80* weather and then trying to look nice for pictures? Of course Jace handled it like a champ and ALWAYS had a smile on his face! His second session we were definitely blessed with better weather! He is SUCH a gentleman too, always offering to help at every turn! Just thinking of him makes me smile!
Let's learn a little more about Jace from his Senior Spotlight, shall we?
Me: What are your major accomplishments your senior year? What are you most proud of?
Jace: "I am proud of the good grades I worked hard to achieve in school. I'm also proud of our bowling team's 4th consecutive trip to State in February, along with my season average of 206, bowling anchor for most of our meets and tournaments."
Me: I know the year isn't quite over just yet; do you have any big plans to finish out the year? Is there something you are looking forward to before graduation?
Jace: "I hope I can finish out my Firefighter I certification. Classes at Kirkwood twice per week started in early November and were to finish in April."
Me: Were you involved in any sports or extra curricular activities? If yes, please list them below.
Jace: "Yes, the Prairie High School Bowling team. Go Hawks!
I'm also a volunteer firefighter for our town. FFD Proud!"
Me: What's your plan for this summer?
Jace: "I plan to work and continue to save money for college. I'd like to get some fishing in as well as a few games of bowling."
Me: What does the future have in store for you? Have you already picked your school? If so, what major? (Or explain whatever future plans you have below).
Jace: "I plan to attend Kirkwood in the fall, enrolled in their Advanced Welding Technologies. I will also continue my involvement with the fire department."
Me: What are your absolute favorite images/sets from your senior session?
Jace: "I like my firefighter pics the best, of course. 😉 My mom says I look the happiest and most satisfied in them."
And now let's look back at Jace's Senior Sessions!
This kid pulls off a black & white really well!
SEE! :)
Can't you tell he's just so in his element here?
A BIG, HUGE THANK YOU to the Merta Family for making the last year (almost two years??) so fun! It has been such a blessing to get to know all of you! And I can't wait until it's Teagan's turn to see what we come up for his session!
Good luck to you Jace, as you continue on past high school. There are so many possibilities out there and I know you will chase them!
Marie Grace Photography is now booking 2021 seniors! Click Here to get in touch with us!
Alley Tish
Marie Grace Photography
Sigourney, Iowa
Sigourney Iowa Professional Photographer
Today's Senior Spotlight is for Mr. Brayden!
Brayden will will graduate from Tri-County Community School next month!
I had the privilege of meeting Brayden last year when he tagged along for a friend's session and then he had his session the next day! I loved his personality and he was willing to go along with almost all of my ideas! Although I feel like his choices in socks were a little questionable, I still enjoyed hanging out with him during his session! He definitely has some of my favorite guy sport images, too! Also, I need to note that he had THE BEST outtakes of any dude senior session I have ever taken. Just wait until you see!
We stayed around the Keokuk County area for his session, using small town buildings for a lot of our backdrops. I love how we have that option in our small communities!
Brayden had filled out his questionnaire pre-pandemic, so some of his answers may reflect that!
Me: What are your major accomplishments your senior year? What are you most proud of?
Brayden: "I’m very happy about how my football season went. I am also very happy about my grades and being accepted to ISU."
Me: I know the year isn't quite over just yet; do you have any big plans to finish out the year? Is there something you are looking forward to before graduation?
Brayden: "I plan to go out for track and baseball hopefully we end the year strong in those. I’m looking forward to the senior class trip that is going to Tennessee."
Me: Were you involved in any sports or extra curricular activities? If yes, please list them below.
Brayden: "Yes. Football, Basketball, Track, Baseball, National Honor Society, and Speech and Drama."
Me: What's your plan for this summer?
Brayden: "I plan to play baseball and get ready to move to college. Spend some time with my friends before I leave."
Me: What does the future have in store for you? Have you already picked your school? If so, what major? (Or explain whatever future plans you have below).
Brayden: "I am going to ISU to major in Animal Ecology. I want to work at a national park."
Me: What are your absolute favorite images/sets from your senior session?
Brayden: "My basketball ones for sure and also the ones by the lake."
Me: Is there anything else you would like shared?
Brayden: "I loved getting my pictures taken it was a wonderful time!!"
I ask almost every guy to do the neck scratch and almost every single reaction is looking at me like I'm crazy. But I love how GQ it turns out to be!
All of his outtakes were during his transition from smiling to serious face. They CRACK ME UP!
Thank you so much, Brayden, for choosing MGP for your senior portraits!
Best wishes as you head off to ISU this fall! Enjoy your summer as much as you can!
Marie Grace Photography is now booking 2021 seniors! Click Here to get in touch with us!
Alley Tish
Marie Grace Photography
Sigourney, Iowa
Sigourney Iowa Professional Photographer
Today's Senior Spotlight is for Miss. Hannah!
Hannah will be a graduate of Iowa Valley High School in Marengo, Iowa this spring! She is also one of the Class of 2020 MGP Senior Models! She has been a thrill to have on the team; I love her style and her personality so much! Hannah isn't afraid to be herself and she has a take-charge mentality, which is so refreshing in this day-and-age (Do I sound old when I say that? I feel like I sound old when I say that).
I could always count on Hannah having fun during photo shoots and she was always one to strike up conversation with the others, too! Hannah is SO very smart and I am beyond excited to see what she does in the coming year(s)!
Let's learn a little bit more about Hannah from her Senior Spotlight!
Me: What are your major accomplishments your senior year? What are you most proud of?
Hannah: "This year I had the honor of portraying Mother Superior in the musical Sister Act. I have also been invited to Allstate as a non-performer for large group speech. My group entered our short film Daisy. I am excited that I have been excepted to the University of Iowa."
Me: I know the year isn't quite over just yet; do you have any big plans to finish out the year? Is there something you are looking forward to before graduation?
Hannah: "This year I am looking forward to my senior year of high school soccer and individual speech. This year I am entered in the categories of story telling and acting."
Me: Were you involved in any sports or extra curricular activities? If yes, please list them below.
Hannah: "Over my four years in high school I have been involved with soccer, choir, drama, small group and large group speech, student government, Speech Leadership Advisory Panel, FFA, FCS club, and silver cord."
Me: What's your plan for this summer?
Hannah: "This summer I plan to work in order to save for college. I would also like to do some traveling to different states with friends."
Me: What does the future have in store for you? Have you already picked your school? If so, what major? (Or explain whatever future plans you have below).
Hannah: "This fall I will be attending the University of Iowa. I plan on majoring in Business and Theater. I would also like a minor in Spanish. I am not entirely sure what I will use my majors for, but I do know that I enjoy helping others and working with children."
Me: What are your absolute favorite images/sets from your senior session?
Hannah: "I love the pictures from my main shoot. I would also love to see the pictures from the prom photo shoot."
Me: Is there anything else you would like shared?
Hannah: "I plan on studying abroad while in college, and I can’t wait to experience new things in college."
Ok, now I'm ready to look back at the last year with Miss. Hannah!
First up is from our very first shoot together!
Here our some images with her BFF, Mady, who is also a 2020 MGP Senior!
She was also part of our Americana shoot!
And then there was her senior session, downtown Iowa City!
And this is when we were trying to get Hannah to be a rep for Nike.
Then we did one of my favorite group shoots, the Rock N Roll Session!
We also had our Christmas Pajama Pizza Party!
And then our final shoot together, for now, has been the Prom Photo Shoot at The Studio in Des Moines!
I have had SO much fun getting to know Hannah (and her mom) over the last year. She is truly a blessing!
Hannah: I know you are going to do big things in your life! Follow your dreams with determination and grace! I will be here cheering you on!
Marie Grace Photography is now booking 2021 seniors! Click Here to get in touch with us!
Alley Tish
Marie Grace Photography
Sigourney, Iowa
Sigourney Iowa Professional Photographer