Model shots of Kate

My sweet sister in law, Katie, asked me to take some photos of her.

She is restarting her modeling career while she's back in school to become an RN.

Of course I was thrilled to do it!

We woke up the morning of our scheduled shoot to find that it had snowed again overnight.  Roads were closed due to ice...  It couldn't have been over 18 degrees.

Katie and I had planned to do most of the pictures outside, so we had to come up with another game plan.  We sweet talked Chris into driving us (best husband ever!) and we all ended up going to the convention center.  I knew we'd be able to do something with those huge windows and beautiful light, so we crossed our fingers it would be unlocked.

It was our lucky day.

It's all about the light.

We had to walk through the convention center a bit to find the best light.  Once we did though, Katie struck her model poses.

She's a natural.

Gorgeous, right?

For these shots, I had Katie stand with a column behind her and the window about 10 inches from her face.  This way the best light would fall on her.  We also had an assistant use the reflector to bounce light on the side of her face that was farther away from the window.

Want to see the column?

Photographer's error.  Once I realized the column was there, I just scooted Kate up closer and positioned myself so the column was out of the camera's frame and got the other photos.

Maybe another note of interest:  I stood on a chair to take many of these shots.

We all look a little prettier and thinner (not that Kate needed any help with either) when we look at an upward angle.  If I hadn't, long legs Katie would have had to look down on me just a bit.  Everyone knows looking down angles aren't the best for photos.  They produces double chins, or as my husband says, double heads.

Wardrobe change:

Does anyone else have leg envy?

This would by why I like to refer to her and her brother as "Long Legs Louise."

She backed up from the window and then the light cast more shadows on her.  Created more drama.

Like the serious look?  It's hard for two girls who like to laugh as much as we do to be so serious.  You'll find fewer serious and more smiles in these pictures, but honestly that's the way I like it.

And I really like to laugh with Katie...

Remember when I told you it was 18 degrees outside?

What a rockstar is this girl??

She went out in the mini dress.  and I snapped photos of her like crazy fast.  I couldn't have my model freeze over on me.

This dress is super cute.  and Katie rocked it with her bare legs.

I asked her if it was really a shirt when she walked out.  She only laughed.

It's just like something my sister Beth would do.  They both believe the shorter the better.

Icicles started forming on her so we moved back inside.

I checked out the photo on my camera screen.  You know, just to make sure her bottom wasn't showing.  I am sure mine would have been.  This, I believe, is why Katie is a model and I am not.

When she had ten minutes of warmth, I asked her if she was ready to do it again.

to brave the elements...

She was.

We moved quickly and efficiently.  Both of us thinking of poses as fast as possible.

I like to think we made a pretty good team. 

She brought the looks and I took the shots.

One word of wisdom (that someone told me) - once you get your model set up in a good location, take a lot of your photos there.  One good location is better than a multitude of okay ones.  It takes time to set up your picture, so use your time valuably.  Oh, and pick awesome locations with killer light.

Kate had one more outfit:

For these shots, we just huffed and puffed and moved that big sofa up to the window.

The window put some pretty light on her face and even created those cute little catch lights in her eyes.

We weren't done though.

For these next shots, she turned around with the window to her back and I exposed the shots for her face (not the background).

We also used a reflector to bounce the light from the window on her pretty face.  The reflector also created these beautiful catch lights in her eyes.

After those shots, we wanted to get some yellow shirt pictures outside.

This time she leaned up against the window (which gave great reflection).

Smiling vs. Serious - Kate looks great either way.

Katie was such a fun model!  She was up for anything and rocked everything that came to my mind.

Just when we the boys thought we were done, Katie wanted a picture with the sunsphere...

Here's how she looked through my frame standing up and far away:

But when you move closer and get low {and I mean WAY low} to the ground, you can get this shot:

Kate - You are such a beautiful model and I was honored to take these photos!

Love you!