This past weekend, I started volunteering with the Middle School ministry at my church here in Knoxville.  Yes, I am that brave.  In all honesty, one thing that helped me not freak out about it (because let's face it, groups of middle school kids are sort of insane) was remembering all the great kids I have photographed over the years.  Individually and in smaller groups, they're awesome!

I remember my tween and teen years being pretty awkward.  So I try really hard to make kids feel comfortable when I am working with them.  If they feel weird, the camera will show it. My greatest measure of success would be for them to look at these pictures in a few years and think to themselves, "I was actually pretty cool/attractive/fun after all!"  And if I could then reply to their thoughts, I would say, "Yes you were, kiddo.  You absolutely were.  I'm just thankful I got to remind you of it."  

So without further ado, here are just a few middle school and high school portraits from recent years:

This girl was so much fun to work with.  I had a hard time choosing my favorite shot of her for this blog post, so I had to go with the most Autumn-y one.  Doesn't this image practically shout FALL PORTRAIT?!  

Here's a shot from a Sweet Sixteen session.  Sometimes having a bit of a barrier between the camera and the subject (in this case, the turquoise chair) can help a shyer person feel more comfortable about sitting for a picture.  Isn't she lovely?

This guy was really sweet and helpful during his family session: as the oldest grandchild in his family he often held or "supervised" one of his younger brothers or cousins, so I think he was more than happy to sit by himself for a minute so we could get his individual portrait!

I'm not sure what it is about seeing this girl's face twice in the shot that makes her look simultaneously sweeter AND more sassy, but I think it really brings out her personality.  And to me, that makes it a great portrait!

She is beautiful inside and out, and sometimes marches to her own beat... do you see it?

Yes, this girl is posing above a drainage pipe that ran under a path.  And yes, that means I was crouched way down on that path to get the shot (which is likely how I was able to capture such a natural smile from her)... but I love the light here, and I love that she was such a trooper!

It was actually easier to elicit genuine expressions from the older siblings in this group photo because they were so entertained by how foolish we (their mom and I) were acting just to keep their little brother's attention!

This young lady was leaving for college a couple months after her family session, so I captured a few images of just her.  In the short time I got to spend with her, I perceived her to be feminine, capable, strong, and sensitive. She survived high school and is heading out to her next adventure!  Doesn't she look ready?

If you're looking for images of your kids that are natural reflections of who they are, contact Jaclyn Paige Photography this week to schedule your family's fall photographs!