A snow adventure with a senior! {Tulare/Visalia High School Senior Photography}

Her mom called and said, “You’re gonna love my daughter!  She’s different and doesn’t want to be like the rest.  What can we do different than anyone else has done?”

Immediately I got excited!  OH BOY!!!!  Wants something adventurous and exciting . . . how about Yosemite?  I’ve only lived in this valley for 40 years and have never been there so I’m totally up for the adventure!  (Please people, save your comments about this.  I know!  It is at the very top of my bucket list . . . but I don’t do real well on windy roads cause I get car sick . . . read on.)

Now, this all sounded great and grand at the time . . . October.  We tentatively planned a date in hopes that snow would be abundant.  That date came and went without a rain . . . or snow.  Then our next date came and it was raining, which also meant snow in Yosemite!  Yeah snow . . . boo driving to snow for photo session.  Postponed, again.  This song and dance pretty much went on for like a couple MONTHS!  But we were both determined to find snow for at least a couple of shots.  So we waited, until January.

By now we were getting panicky and a little desperate because we were actually working up against a few deadlines.  We conceded and decided to stick a little closer to home, and areas that I know, and made our way up the mountain to the beautiful Sequoia National Forest above Three Rivers.  Actually, I knew we could find snow, just wasn’t quite sure how far we’d have to go.  Regardless, I was actually just excited to meet a high school senior that not only has an enormous amount of patience but also had the vision to want to be a bit different than anyone else.  This was definitely one of the more exciting and eventful senior portrait sessions I’ve done!

So Karlene and I met up and ventured to the snow.  We got a little side tracked along the way though.  We found fun backdrops, a few wildflowers, huge boulders, and a meadow that made you really say, “God is truly amazing.  He had such a vision for this place!”

But the end all was when we reached the gate to the Sequoia National Park and the park ranger said we wouldn’t hit snow without chains.

Now, you would think that anyone going to the snow would have thought about that, right?  Sure, I’ve got chains for my little car.  Uh  . . . no.  The feeling of defeat just about killed me.  And Karlene.

“Oh she’s just an old grumpy lady and has no idea what she’s talking about.”  And we drove off.

Now, should I mention here that I get car sick?  Even if I’m driving?  So you can only imagine how both of us were feeling.  Maybe just a little on the queasy side!  LOL!!!  Plus I think it was the first time either of us had seen sun in about a month so that was a bit of shock too.  I had to pull out the Channel sunglasses!

Once we finally found snow (as in a small little patch on the side of a very windy road), I set up.  I don’t typically use flash but I’ve been studying a lot on how to use flash in situations like this, where it’s super sunny and reflective and my good friend Michael at Mike’s Quality Cameras in Visalia is going to be so excited when he sees that I used my Ultimate Light Box!  I was pleased with the results and happy to begin embracing a new technique!    (that was for you Michael Alvarez)

After I set up, I had a bit of a disaster on my hands.  Remember those Chanel sunglasses I had to put on because it was so sunny?  Well, they had to come off before I could start taking pictures.  And when I took them off, apparently I forgot that I was on the side of a CLIFF and my sunglasses went tumbling down the mountain!  For the reals . . . I could have died trying to rescue the sunglasses!  I did it all in the name of fashion and not wanting to leave a couple hundred dollars on the side of a cliff!  Who knew that a tripod could also serve as a fishing pole for sunglasses gone awol?  I know, brains . . . right?

Regardless of the delays, disasters, and discouragement from the park ranger, we got some great snow pics!  Genuine smiles here and genuine fun because this was just one funny episode after another!!!!  

Karlene, I had such a great time getting to know you and hearing all about your life plans.  You are such a smart girl and have a great head on your shoulders.  I loved that you were up for the adventure and so patient as we tried to accomplish it.  I hope that you love your pictures as much as I do and had as much fun with me as I had with you!  Best wishes after graduation!  Whatever you decide to do in life, I’m quite certain you’re gonna be fabulous at it!  Keep in touch, k?