Today I am sharing Los Angeles senior pictures of Miss Maggie from Hart High School! Maggie is one of my Class of 2017 senior models. The second I met Maggie and her mom Misty, I knew we were going to have an amazing photo shoot. Professional dancing is one of Maggie’s passions, and I have found that most dancers are very in tune with their bodies. Dancers have a way of moving with such ease and grace which makes for very natural and comfortable looking posing. Maggie is such a natural in front of the camera and I didn’t want our session to end. She is one of those girls that I could photograph over and over again and still be inspired.

Here are some helpful tips and tricks for planning your senior portrait session in Maggie’s own words. I also included a few fun facts about her to go along with her gorgeous Los Angeles senior pictures. Enjoy…

• Q. College Plans? If so, where?

  A. yes, not sure where yet 🙂
• Q. College Major

  A. Dance
• Q. What extracurricular activities are you involved in?

  A. Dance, dance, and more dance! I also love shopping and taking naps, if you consider those hobbies.
• Q. What kind of look were you going for in your senior photos?

  A. I wanted my senior photos to be a representation of me. I wanted to look like myself, dress like myself, and see my personality in each picture that was taken (which I did).
• Q. How was your experience during your senior shoot?

  A. My experience was incredible! Tara is so amazing at what she does. She made me feel so comfortable in front of the camera and truly made me feel like I was a model. I was a little nervous going into the shoot because I didn’t want to look stiff or awkward in my photos, but Tara makes everything so natural and easy. She knows how to make you feel so beautiful, and captures your personality in each picture so well.
• Q. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to anyone getting their senior photos taken?

  A. My advice to anyone getting their senior photos taken is to not be shy. If you feel embarrassed, awkward, or are holding back in front of the camera, it will show in your pictures. If you just listen to Tara and fully commit to whatever pose you are doing, you can trust that the pictures will turn out amazing. Tara makes you feel like a real model during the shoot, so it’s not hard to play the part.
• Q. How many outfits did you take?

  A. I took 8 outfits and we used 6 of them.
• Q. Would you have taken more or less, reasons why?

  A. I think I took the perfect amount. I’m glad I brought a few extra because Tara could chose an outfit that worked best for the surroundings. We weren’t limited to what I could wear at all, so I recommend to take 8 or 9 just in case.
• Q. Did you accessorize differently with each outfit? Do you have any tips on how many accessories, jewelry, shoes, headbands?

  A. I personally don’t wear much jewelry so I didn’t really have anything to bring to the shoot. Thankfully, Tara has TONS of jewelry and helps you accessorize. I wasn’t the biggest fan of wearing tons of bracelets and rings, but I trusted Tara and used tons of accessories for each look, and I’m so glad I did! The pops of color in bracelets/necklaces/rings add so much to each photo, they can really make or break each picture! As for shoes, I LOVE shoes so I brought several pairs. Tara helped me pick out the perfect shoe for each outfit and background so it was really nice to have options to chose from. Even though shoes don’t show in most of the pictures, in any full body shot the shoe can make or break the outfit.
• Q. Did you take any props or try to incorporate any activities that you’re in?

  A. Nope
• Q. Any tips on how to prepare for the session or must have things to bring?

  A. Make sure you get a good night sleep before and come with an open mind! As long as you completely trust Tara, your pictures will come out amazing. Also, I was indecisive about how important getting my nails done for my shoot was. I decided to get them done, and I was SO glad I did. Nails show in pictures a lot more than you think, so a natural french tip or something looks really classy and cute in every picture.
• Q. Any tips on hair/makeup? Where did you get your inspiration for this? Did you bring in pictures or have a plan prior to your styling?

  A. Melissa did my hair and makeup for my shoot. I didn’t bring in any pictures or have anything planned. I would just say to not be afraid to speak your mind! Any makeup artist wants you to be happy and feel confident, so if you don’t like something don’t be afraid to say it.
• Q. Did you find a store that had everything you were looking for?

  A. I got most of my clothes from Tilly’s. I’m not into super trendy or funky outfits, so I got tons of clothes that fit my style from there.
• Q. What ended up being your favorite outfit and why?

  A. I liked my last outfit, which was shorts, a knitted crop top, a flowy short sleeved cardigan, and a hat. It was so much fun to play with the cardigan in the shots, Tara had me do a lot of cool poses with it! I recommend everyone having at least one shall/cardigan for their shoot. They look great in pictures. Also, I’ll admit that I HATE myself in hats. I told myself I would never wear one for my shoot, until my mom forced me to bring one and Tara told me to wear it. Turns out, the hat was my favorite part of the outfit!!
• Q. Let’s talk about locations. What location(s) did you choose for your session? Why did you choose that location? Do you wish you would have gone some place different or would you suggest where you went?

  A. I shot in Fillmore, which was the perfect area. It had a little bit of everything. Tara is so creative, she will see a random ugly wall and turn it into a beautiful complimentary background! I think cool places in LA or Pasadena always look good if you are wearing more modern/urban/trendy outfits. Ask Tara if you are unsure where to go, she will help you find a place that fits your style perfectly.
• Q. FUN FACTS ABOUT YOU!!

  A. I have the hiccups 24/7
  I love to sneeze
  My favorite movie is Mega Mind
  I’ve memorized 198 digits of pi
  My celebrity crush is Justin Timberlake
  I was born with a scar on my vocal chords
  My favorite candy is a kit kat
  I have a really good memory
  My favorite soda is Root Beer
  I don’t like lemonade
  I love science
  My dog is my best friend
  I love chai tea lattes
  My least favorite subject is history
  I hate doughnuts and pancakes
  My favorite food is mashes potatoes
  I love ketchup
• Q. Is there anything you would have done differently for your shoot?

  A. Absolutely nothing!
• Q. What was your favorite thing about your session or the overall experience?

  A. My favorite thing was feeling so confident in myself and, of course, seeing the pictures!!
• Q. Why do you think senior portraits are important?

  A. They are a memory you will have forever! I will look back on these pictures for the rest of my life and cherish them.
• Q. Why did you choose Tara Rochelle to take your senior pictures?

  A. Tara has an amazing reputation for being the best senior photographer, and I completely agree!! It is so obvious that Tara loves her job. She is such a joy to work with and is so positive and talented. I have NEVER seen a Tara picture that I don’t like. She makes every girl look and more importantly FEEL beautiful, and it shows in each photo.