Mackenzie’s Senior Portraits ~ Falmouth lifestyle photographer

I don’t know why I’ve shied away from Senior Portraits all of these many years, because my time with Mackenzie last week was SOOOO FUN!!

Maybe it’s because teenagers intimidate me a little. I mean teens today are just so cool, they speak in ways and words i don’t always understand and have a confidence that I wish I had when I was their age. Truth be told, I didn’t always have the best experience when I was a teen myself. But, that was a lifetime ago and as an adult, I’ve always had a great relationship with kiddos…I love them and generally they love me. So, I don’t think that’s it exactly. Maybe it’s the same reason I’ve never pursued doing business headshots. Photographing one person on their own tends to require more interesting and varied posing than say a wedding, engagement or family session and quite frankly, posing is not really my thing. I prefer a more journalistic approach to photography, documenting people more naturally…so that they look like themselves in photos. Of course, I can do this with high school seniors too, but I guess I thought it would be harder, with them just standing there totally on their own, looking to me to make it more comfortable for them. But, I’m a little introverted and awkward myself, so I just tended to avoid them.

However, last week’s senior portrait session has me completely rethinking how I feel about senior portraits. Sweet Mackenzie and I had a BLAST and the one-on-one time was really special! Getting to reunite with this lovely human, who I first met when she was just a little baby, was such a treat! Her parents, Michelle and Dan, first found their way in front of my and Andy’s cameras about 19 years ago, when they got engaged and we photographed their engagement session down here on the Cape. I think we shot their e-session at Woodneck Beach in Falmouth, but their wedding was the following year in Boston….also a BLAST! And through the years, we got to photograph them again with their parents, extended families and eventually their four kiddos. But, it had been a good chunk of time since we last saw this wonderful family and at that last session, Mackenzie was still a wee little peanut, with thick glasses and a tiny frame.

Today, she is all grown up and a delightful human being in her own right….bright, sweet, warm and kind, silly, smart and her inner beauty definitely matches the outer!! I’m talking, drop-dead gorgeous! It was so wonderful to get to know here a little and spend some time with her and her mom, Michelle…back on the Cape, where our relationship first began with this wonderful family.

I’ve droned on enough, so without further ado….here’s a little peak at my time with the lovely Mackenzie, Class of 2026.

This sweet young woman is such a delight to be around. We giggled a lot and she is just such a lovely, smiley, joyful person.

This next one makes me smile, partly because when I showed her another version of this shot, but one with both hands under her chin, she burst out laughing. That one was a strike out…this one….we shall see. But, I think she looks lovely and like her lovely self.

The photo on the right is my favorite from the session, because it was kind of an in between moment and she was just cracking up over feeling awkward with some of the posing and she just looks so beautiful, full of love and light to me…just so very Mackie.

Our serene little sweetheart….be still my heart!

This is such an exciting time in a young person’s life…big decision on the horizon and big life changes. Goodbyes and lots of new hellos. It’s a time to spread their wings and venture out to figure out what makes their heart sing. My hope for Mackenzie is that she spends this last year of high school really digging into what makes her heart sing, and then making some choices and decisions that line up with that so that the four years that follow can be filled with making dreams come true.

The beauty of this girl…both inside and out. I can’t stand it!

Easy, breezy, beautiful….Mackenzie.

The photo on the left was another one that when I showed her…because I loooooove it….she burst out laughing. I don’t think she could take herself seriously looking “so serious,’ but I don’t see serious…I see someone serene and open to stepping outside of her comfort zone, which is something I’ve been trying to do and be more often. And on the right….well, all I see is her sunny, stunning self.

These last few photos we made after running across the Knob to get to the ocean side before the sun was completely down. We had so much fun, time just went way too fast for my liking. But, the sorbet skies were as delightful as this young woman…so all was well. And, mom Michelle got some amazing sunset photos! She was adorably snapping pics of the scenery the whole time we were together. I love her!

Sweet Michelle….thank you sooooooooo much for entrusting me with documenting this bittersweet moment in your baby girl’s life. I know you had to drive a couple of hours to get to me and that there are likely plenty of other photographers closer to home that you could have chosen to do this. So it means the world to me to be a part of what feels like an (almost) full circle moment (if it had been Mackie’s e-session then it would have been completely full circle…but we are DEFINITELY NOT rushing that moment!!! In fact, I’d like that to take it’s sweeeet time!! Like, 10+ years!! Just for the record, I’ll happily photography the e-session, but can Andy and me be guests at the wedding? We might be way too old for weddings at that point. Lol! Seriously though, I had so much fun with both of you! Mackenzie, you were such a good spot for some of my awkward poses and just such a delight to be around. You clearly have a big heart like your momma and I can’t wait to see where the future takes you! Sending love and big hugs to you both! Christine xoxo