model-for-day-favoritesOne of our most popular photography promotions is our Model for a Day sessions. Every year we offer this wonderful photography package that’s perfect for treating yourself or someone special. Over the years, we’ve had so many wonderful shoots and we’ve featured a few of them here on the blog. Here are some of my favorites. Be sure to click through to see the beautiful photos.

First up is stunning Abby!

Abby’s Makeover and Headshots

One of my greatest joys is showing people how amazing they can look in a photograph, especially women.  In fact, I really love working with gals of all ages.  From the preteen that is just learning how to wear makeup and do their hair to helping create a fresh new look for Moms, I just really love making people feel beautiful. View the entire post, with all of the photos.

Dancing Beauty Headshots

We had so much fun at this session working with my longtime clients—the Hulley family—to perfect their daughter’s headshots.

Orange County Modeling Headshots: Teagan and Jade

I cannot believe this session is from all the way back in 2012. It seems like just yesterday, and these beauties look as fresh and gorgeous as ever. View the entire post and the headshots.

Professional Model-type Headshots

Meet my friend Lori.  As it goes with most stories, her passion for nutrition (especially for kids) was the result of a scare in her own life.  Lori is a beautiful, fit, energetic gal with a wonderful, loving energy.  She was working lots of hours and raising her four boys.  Out of nowhere, Lori had a stroke.   She is not what you would picture in your head as a person at risk for any type of health scare, but it happened.  Lori was inspired to change her life, to be there for her family. And Lori knew that the key was good nutrition and that it needed to begin in childhood.  So Lori created the website and blog called www.juicebuds.com.  There she provides great recipes, life stories that include her four amazing boys and lots of inspiration. She is also now a holistic health coach to help others achieve a healthy lifestyle.

Lori and I got together to do a fun photography session to celebrate her!  Here are just a few of my favorite images from the day. View the whole post and her healthy beautiful headshots.

Modeling Headshots Styled Session

In 2016, we decided to do a fun, collaboration styled session with Breathe Autumn Rain jewelry, with makeup by Brittany Norton (brittanynortonartistry) and myself all contributing to a photography session.

We were extremely lucky to get several beautiful girls to volunteer their time to model for us in exchange for providing professional headshots for them.  We all consulted together on wardrobe, overall style and also how to best give everyone involved an opportunity to do something a little different and creative. View the entire post and the modeling photos.

I hope you enjoyed this little flashback to some of my favorite model shoots.

The best places for senior photos in Orange County, CaliforniaI know how nerve-wracking it can be to try to figure out which clothes to wear, which accessories, and shoes, let alone what you want your senior photos to look like. When brainstorming senior photo locations, I always keep your personality, interests, and style in mind. Here are just a few of the best Orange County locations I use for high school seniors photography.

Let’s start with a photo at the Balboa Fun Zone in Newport Beach.

1. On a Boat (aka Balboa Fun Zone)

We often take for granted the beautiful waterfronts we live near. Of course there’s always the beach, but if you’re in the mood for something a little more unique, a little more nautical, the harbor at Newport Beach’s Balboa Fun Zone is a great place for modern high school senior photos.

Best Orange County Senior Photo Locations - Fun Zone

2.  The Studio (Blue Sky’s, that is)

We’ve recently added some great upgrades to our Blue Sky’s Studio “studio,” including a white leather couch/ottoman, clean white brick wall, and even a makeup and hair station where our stylists will make you picture perfect. Clean white backgrounds, props, furniture, and wardrobe options can give your photos a high-end look.

3.  Laguna College of Art & Design (LCAD)

Just a quick walk from our studio is the picturesque nature-meets-art landscape of Laguna College of Art and Design.

Senior Photo Locations - LCAD

4. Balboa Pier

The oceanfront is such an important part of life here in Orange County and if you want that beachy feel with a little more sophistication, Balboa pier and the surrounding area is a great place to take your senior photos. 

5. James Dilley Preserve

This gorgeous wilderness area is not just a great escape from busy city life, but is also frequented by hikers and painters. The afternoon light is just wonderful for senior photos.Best Orange County Senior Photography location - wilderness area

 

6. Mission San Juan Capistrano

For a change of pace and old world feel the mission at San Juan Capistrano is a great place for seniors who want more texture and a rustic feel to their senior portraits.Best senior photo locations -Mission San Juan Capistrano

 

7. San Juan Open Space

Believe it or not this high school senior photo was taken in the San Juan Open Spaces near an old metal sidewall. There are so many hidden gems at this location, like the field of mustard flowers in the photo after this one.

best senior photos-san-juan-open space

 

8.  Your Own Home

Sometimes the place you feel most at home, is well, in your own surroundings. And sometimes the best way to show your unique personality is to have your senior photos taken on your own family’s property, like these two were.High School Senior photos locaitons

9. The LAB

This “anti-mall” in Costa Mesa is a fun place to shoot senior photos because it has a great variety of modern/vintage art everywhere you look, like this fountain.

Best locations senior photography

 

10. Table Rock Beach

This Laguna Beach location is stunning place for a variety of natural light photography options. The cliffs and surrounding area have a wealth of places to find just the right pose for your senior photos.Best senior portrait locations - orange county table rock beachhigh school senior photography at orange county beach

I hope you’ve enjoyed this list of just a few of my favorite places to shoot senior photos. If you’d like to learn more about our senior photography packages check out the Blue Sky’s Studio senior photography website or sign up for my email list to get the latest news on promotions and giveaways.

Enter to win a senior photo session giveawayRight now, it’s your moment to shine!

It’s senior photo season here in Orange County and it’s the perfect time to get your senior photos taken. We want to help!

Enter to win our High School Seniors Deluxe Photo Shoot Giveaway and you and your bestie could win a session with us, including:

•  wardrobe styling

•  hair styling

•  makeup

•  full styled photo session

•  lunch

•  transportation to the session

•  50 graduation announcements

•  1- 11×14 print

•  1- 8 x10 print

•  (4) 5×7 prints

•  a personalized slideshow and review session

That’s a $1299 value!

Use the form below to enter now. And share this page with your friends.

Have you ever worried about having the right clothes, makeup, or hair for your photo session?

Or maybe you’ve worried about how you’d look with those few extra pounds you gained recently?

I can relate! But I want you to know a few behind-the-scenes things that just might change everything for you (really)
If you’ve had portraits done with us before you likely know just how far we go to make sure you are thrilled with the results. But if you haven’t, or maybe if it’s been a while, I want to share a little story with you.
Last week you may have seen that I posted a new senior shot on my Instagram. This beautiful high school senior was nervous about her session.
professional styling for your photos
She’d never had a photo shoot like this before and wasn’t sure what to expect. Just after she arrived at our studio, one of our makeup artists went to work, while her mother and I popped in from time to time to weigh in on lip color or hair style. We had fun talking and joking and by the time she was done we could see a visible difference in her demeanor and confidence. When it was time to start the shoot she posed like a pro.
 high school senior photography instagram
This experience reminded me why I do what I do. I am so grateful to be able to help people look their best and feel their best in front of the camera. It also made me realize that maybe because I’m so in the moment I don’t always tell people ahead of time just how much care we pour into our photography sessions.
Every time we do a session we employ not only high-end lighting, cameras and backgrounds/settings but we invest in professional styling (for what you wear), makeup artists and even hairstyling.

Why do we do this?

Because we don’t want you to just be happy with your photos. We want you to be thrilled. Blue Sky’s Studio is not your typical photography studio and we don’t base our values on dollar signs. We base our success on how we affect the lives of our clients.
Before your shoot, if you want help with deciding on what to wear–even for your whole family, one of our stylists will work with you a few days before to help you select items not only from your own wardrobe, but from our freshly cleaned items from style library as well. Whether it’s accessories or even a dress, chances are we have what it takes to make you look and feel your best on photo day.
When you arrive at our studio we have fresh, cold beverages ready. A makeup artist and hairstylist will be there ready to give you the look you want.
And once they’re done, we’ll head to your first shooting location.
During your session, I’ll help you pose in ways that highlight your best features (and hide any you’re not so fond of). My assistant will make sure the lighting is perfect and your hair and clothing is in place.
After your session, my team and I go to the next level and retouch, adjust lighting, remove blemishes, smooth clothing wrinkles, etc.–we can even shave off a few of those pesky extra pounds ;)–so when your picture review day comes, you will be blown away by how great you and your family look. I don’t want to reveal too much, but we also have a few wonderful surprises when during your review session at our studio.
I hope this little behind-the-scenes look at what we do gives you the peace of mind and confidence to get those family photos done so that you capture all of the precious milestones of your life.
 Orange County photographer Kristin Karkoska