This past September, my brother-in-law Kirk texted me about shooting his daughter Anna’s senior portrait. I told him I’d be happy to. I had taken Anna’s sister Julia’s senior photos a couple years prior, and it seemed a fitting bookend to shoot Anna’s as well. So the Fischers and I hatched a plan to meet up in October and take some pictures along the creek in Boulder Canyon. The shoot happened to coincide not only with the continuing COVID pandemic, but with the nearby East Troublesome wildfire too, as well as an incoming storm that dumped over 8 inches of snow in the area the following day. Despite the ominous backdrop, the shoot went quite well.
My neice Anna Fischer smiles during her senior portrait session along Boulder Creek Oct. 24. Photo by Mike Sweeney/©2020
Having had to endure a few family shoots over the years, Anna knew what to expect from an Uncle Mike photo session. And despite that, and some persistently gusty winds making their way down the canyon, it was one of the most efficent and productive shoots I’ve been part of. Everything just clicked. Anna, Kirk (volunteering as a grip/lightstand), and I spent around an hour on location, including a wardrobe change, and ended up with about 20 frames that were keepers.
Anna, at Denver’s Western Stock Show, in 2015. Photo by Mike Sweeney/©2015
Now my niece is a pretty good photographer in her own right. She’d be dangerous if she was shooting every day. And I think her being “photo savvy” played a huge role in making her session a success. I was more than a little relieved when, after reviewing the final photos online, she texted “I love them all so much!” If she didn’t, I’m sure she wouldn’t have held back. Trust me on this one. Anna’s been critiquing my photography for over 10 years–almost as long as I’ve been taking pictures of her.
