Location, Location, Location!
I know in real estate, it’s all about location, location, location! As a photographer, location definitely matters, too! (Lighting is also super, duper important, but I’ll save that for a future blog post.)
I have TWO fun family sessions coming up this month, and both families are wanting to take photos in Roseville or Rocklin.
Last night, I sat down to type up a list of my favorite locations in Roseville and Rocklin, and as I was composing the list, I included links to my blog posts which are filled with images at those locations. Because I think it’s SO important for families to be able to see what these locations look like - and the amenities available there, such as golden grass, a water feature, a bridge, a swing, etc.
But when I went searching for a blog post with images taken at Adam V. Baquera Park in Roseville, I didn’t find anything. Turns out, even though I did mini sessions there in 2021 and a full family session, I never posted any of the images here on my blog.
So, even though these images were captured two years ago, I’m going to post them now. Better late than never, right?! It will make my job easier when future clients ask about Roseville and Rocklin location options and if you’ve never heard of Adam V. Baquera Park, now you have!
Spring Preschool Pics | Tutor Totter Preschool
Look at all these cuties at Tutor Totter Preschool!
I love taking photos of these preschoolers every SPRING (with a black background) and every FALL (with a woodsy outdoor feel).
I feel so lucky to be invited back year after year to take pictures of these kiddos. Fall photos are coming up at the end of the month for Tutor Totter students.
If you’re part of a preschool, homeschool or co-op group in Placer or Nevada County, and you want pictures taken, email me at jennieharlessphotography@gmail.com to set up a “picture day” at your school or a local park (for homeschoolers).
Tree Farm Minis | McBurney Christmas Tree Farm
Capturing images of families year after year is one of my favorite things about being a photographer.
I’ve been fortunate to photograph this sweet family for the past SIX years, and during that time, I’ve watched these two girls blossom.
I look forward to the fall each year because I get to see so many wonderful families.
These photos were taken at McBurney Tree Farm in Cedar Ridge, near Grass Valley. The owner generously opens his farm up to photographers for sessions anytime before Thanksgiving.
This was my first time shooting there, and it proved to be a beautiful spot with the sun setting behind the trees.
Wow, these two girls are growing up!
I look forward to photographing them again in the future!
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Interested in fall or Christmas mini sessions this year? Follow me on Facebook for more info!
Mom & Son Pics | Tutor Totter Preschool
This little cowboy did NOT want anything to do with having his photo taken, so his mom scooped him up and stood in front of the black backdrop for a few mom and son photos. (Way to go, Mom!)
There was so much giggling and smiling and happiness.
Aren’t these precious?!
I know as a mom, I would have loved to have a series of images like this with my son when he was itty bitty. (He’s 11 now, and there’s no way I could pick him up like that anymore. Haha!)
I can’t help but grin when I look at these beautiful images! Mom had one of the images framed and hung in their home, and I hope she smiles every time she sees it.
Katelyn | Class of 2023
I had SO much fun photographing Katelyn at Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm* in the spring! She chose the location, and what a pretty one it is, regardless of the season. Katelyn is now attending college in the Northwest (I’m a bit behind on blogging sessions), but let’s take a look back at her gorgeous senior photos!
Purple is Katelyn’s color, for sure! So, so pretty on her. And it just so happened that there were flowers in the background that matched her dress. Perfectly serendipitous!
Seniors often bring their cap and gown to their session, but sometimes a senior will want photos done in the fall and they don’t have their cap and gown yet. (Yearbook photos can sometimes be due as early as November.) In that case, I’m always open to doing a complementary 15-minute cap and gown session in April or early May.
I really enjoy working with high school seniors (and of course, their parents!) to ensure that they get photos they truly LOVE!
*FYI: It costs $50 to take photos at Bywater Hollow. Payment is made directly to the farm.
Class of 2024: FALL is a great time to take senior photos! Shoot me an email (jennieharlessphotography@gmail.com) or send me a message via my contact page, so we can chat about what you desire for your session.
The M Sisters | Old Town Auburn
In February, I had the opportunity to photograph these sisters in Old Town Auburn! These two young women are lovely human beings who juggle their high school studies and varsity basketball. (Their high school basketball team went all the way to the FINALS this year! Way to go, girls!)
Photographing teens has been so much FUN for me! I hope to get more high schoolers in front of my lens soon.
Caleb | Class of 2023
I’ve photographed quite a few SENIORS lately, and I’m really enjoying getting to know each of them before the shoot (with the help of a short questionnaire) and during the photo session.
These photos were taken in Old Town Auburn, which is a good place for senior photos with an urban look.
Caleb came to his photo session with several really cool ideas for photos — including props — and I love that he incorporated so many of his interests into his senior photos!
It’s hard to believe this young man has ONLY a few more weeks of high school left!
High school JUNIORS: Let’s take your senior photos THIS SUMMER before your senior year begins! Email me to chat about your vision for your senior photos and to book a date - jennieharlessphotography@gmail.com.
The Moreau Family | Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm
In July, I photographed this lovely family of 12 out at Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm* in Lincoln. It’s so pretty out at Bywater Hollow, no matter the season.
Celebrating “Papa” Moreau’s birthday during the photo session was one of my favorite moments! I’m pretty sure it was the kids’ favorite, too - what with all that bubble blowing and skipping and laughter.
I rented a 70-200 mm lens from Action Camera, specifically for these kind of far away type shots. So glad I had it with me for the dock photos.
I’m thankful for sweet families like this one who trust me to take their extended family photos.
*FYI: It costs $50 to take photos at Bywater Hollow, and payment is made directly to the farm.
Spring Preschool Pics | Tutor Totter Preschool
These are probably my favorite preschool photos EVER! It was my first time taking photos of this group with a black backdrop, and I love how when you use a simple background like this, all eyes are on the child - and her wonderful facial expressions!
You might be wondering if I took these photos inside or outside - and if you guessed outside, you’d be right! I set up my backdrop right underneath an overhang, and because the sun was behind the building, it was completely shaded.
Here’s another set of images from that same morning.
I can’t wait to take more of these types of photos using the black backdrop!
Wyatt | Class of 2022
In late May, I photographed Wyatt, then a senior at Del Oro High School.
We met up at Griffith Quarry in Penryn, which is a great spot for senior photos - especially for those seniors who love nature and being in the outdoors.
Wyatt wore his cap and gown over a button down shirt, vest, and slacks, and later on in the session, he changed into his Boy Scout uniform.
Being a former scout myself, I know how hard Wyatt worked to earn ALL.THOSE.BADGES, which is why I made sure to get a close-up shot of them.
Photographing seniors has quickly become one of my favorite types of sessions to do! I like that I’m nearly always one-on-one with the senior (or the senior and his mom). I get to chat with the client about school and extracurricular activities and their future plans - and as an introvert, I’m more at ease interacting with just one or two people as opposed to a group of 12 or 14. Plus, I love that there is a ton of variety during senior sessions - a handful of outfits (usually 3-4) and different spots to shoot within one location.
I hope to have the opportunity to take more pictures of high school seniors in the future.
Fall Preschool Photos | Tutor Totter Preschool
For the past five years, I’ve taken photos of the adorable preschoolers at Tutor Totter Preschool. I’ll be back there in late September for more photo fun, but in the meantime, here are some pictures I took in October 2021.
This “golden” field near the preschool works well for headshots. I take at least five photos of each child, and then deliver three or more images in each photo gallery.
Parents can view the images online and purchase prints and high-resolution digital images directly from their gallery. And there is absolutely NO COST or FEES for the preschool or homeschool group.
I’m looking forward to photographing this sweet girl and her classmates next month!
Looking for a photographer to take photos of your Auburn/Colfax/Roseville/Rocklin preschool or homeschool group? I have some weekday availability in mid-September or early October. Email me at jennieharlessphotography@gmail.com for pricing information or to schedule a date.
Another Spring Mini Session | Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm
I’ve loved photographing this family over the past few years. This was their first time at Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm, and the kids enjoyed collecting chicken feathers and dipping their toes in the pond.
Bywater Hollow is such a gem of a property, complete with two ponds, a dock, a canoe, and two big lavender fields.
It’s always a hit with clients!
This year, I photographed three families (I blogged about the E Family here) and one recent college graduate.
The weather was quite stormy on Saturday, but the forecast said it would stop raining prior to the first session time, so I crossed my fingers, and lucky for me, it was dry for both sessions. Phew!
I’ll share photos from my other two lavender sessions soon.
Red Truck Baby
I know it’s July and beyond HOT here in Northern California, but how cute is this baby girl?! Right!
Red Truck minis are always a favorite with families, and last year, I had the privilege of photographing several littles under the age of one.
I’m not sure yet if I’m going to offer Red Truck Minis again this December. Stay tuned to my Facebook page for my mini session announcements.
Spring Minis | Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm
I was delighted to take photographs of this wonderful family of five again!
This time, we met up at Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm in Lincoln. These photos were taken the first weekend in June when the lavender fields were in full bloom!
Bywater Hollow is a beautiful place year-round with a variety of backdrops and settings - the dock, canoe, wood fencing, two ponds, etc.
In the fall, the deciduous trees put on a colorful leaf show, and for a short time in the spring, the trees lining the driveway are filled with pretty pink and white blossoms.
Bywater Hollow is only open for photography on certain days of the week, and there’s a fee to shoot there (the cost starts at $50), but my clients feel like it’s worth it!
I’ve taken photos at Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm many times, and I love it! If you’d like to schedule your next photo session there, click on the “Contact” tab or email me at jennieharlessphotography@gmail.com, so we can chat about what you have in mind.
Happy 50th!
This lucky couple celebrated 50 years of marriage in November!
Their daughter hired me to capture images of the two of them and their closest family and friends who had assembled to celebrate their golden anniversary.
A good-looking group, am I right?! (Thanks to Dan - on the far right - for delivering the punchline to the joke at this exact moment!)
I also took photos of each individual couple/family.
Seriously, everyone in this family was so welcoming and kind. Kind people are definitely my kind of people.
Most of my clients opt to take photos at a local park or near a body of water, but if you have property, consider taking photos on your land! I’ve found that families tend to be more relaxed, more comfortable, and just generally happier in and around their home. And happy, fun-loving clients make for beautiful images!
Lavender Mini Session | Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm
This adorable couple joined me for a maternity mini session at Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm last June.
It’s the prettiest place for maternity photos, baby photos (6+ months), family photos, or even spring school photos. I even photographed a cake smash there one year.
And I know you might be wondering if I plan to offer lavender minis again this year. The answer: YES! Follow me on Facebook or sign up for my quarterly newsletter to be the first to learn the date and times!
Class of 2021 | Placer High School Senior
I was SO fortunate to photograph some really awesome high school seniors last year, including this Placer High School grad.
If you read my last blog post, you might recognize the location. Yep, it’s Veteran’s Memorial Park in Roseville again.
Love the leading lines of this bridge, and she wore such a pretty floral dress. It worked great with her green cap and gown, too.
A more casual look is nice, too.
I love that she brought along her camera since she enjoys taking photos!
And we can’t forget the college t-shirt, which she cleverly wore underneath her sweater, so she didn’t have to run back to the car to change.
I’m looking forward to photographing more high school seniors this year!
Class of 2022 | Placer High School Senior
This Placer High School senior saw these senior portraits I took last year and requested that we do her portrait session in the same location. Of course, I was happy to oblige.
Location is one of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to senior portraits.
What tops location? Outfits! As in, what should I wear - and how many different outfits can I don during my session?
My answer: 3-4 different outfits!
This range seems to work well for most seniors. It gives the senior and her family lots of variety in their photo gallery, and yet the session doesn’t run too long.
Here’s what I recommend: A casual outfit, a dressy outfit, your cap and gown OR your sports uniform and your college t-shirt, if applicable.
This young woman wore a cream-colored blouse and denim jeans for her casual outfit.
She donned her Placer High School softball jersey and brought along some sports gear: a ball, glove and bat. I LOVE when seniors incorporate their interests and hobbies into their session.
I always come to a session with a list of go-to poses in my head, but when I saw her softball glove, this one popped into my mind.
Of course, I had to see it in black and white, too.
Which do you prefer: Color or black and white?
She also wore this pretty red floral dress, which paired nicely with the orange-red hues in the sunset.
Such a fun night with this beautiful young woman and her mom!
I’d LOVE to photograph more 2022 seniors! Email me at jennieharlessphotography@gmail.com to book your senior portrait session.
Turning Two
This little boy was the CUTEST!
His mom reached out to me a few months before he turned two requesting a photo session on their property in Auburn. Photographing a 2-year-old boy - and his horse- outside in the foothills? Sign me up!
He didn’t want to wear this TWO hat more than a few seconds at a time, but I managed to grab a few shots of him with it on.
The apples in his hands are really for the horse, but he loved carrying them around. And when you are photographing a 2-year-old boy, you just roll with it.
Mom and Dad were SO patient with him and the horse - and me running around them trying to capture pictures of their active son.
The light was REALLY pretty coming through the trees as the sun was setting.
An hour after delivering their photo gallery, Mom sent me this email:
Hi Jennie!
I’m lost for words! These pictures are absolutely stunning & better than I could have ever imagined!! I’ll cherish them forever.
A million thank you’s!
M
So grateful for clients who take the time to thank me for my work.
With a happy heart,
Jennie
Lavender Mini Session 2021 | Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm
I love photographing families at Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm in Lincoln, especially during the lavender season (mid-May to mid-June).
The lavender is, of course, beautiful and smells amazing, but the ponds and dock make for pretty pictures, too.
These photos were taken in June 2021, and I plan to offer lavender mini-sessions again this year, most likely the first weekend of June. Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to learn the date and times.
