This week’s guest judge for our Seniorologie Spotlight Image of the Week contest is Melissa White of Melissa White Photography in San Luis Obispo, California.

Melissa has been photographing seniors for five years and has been in business for seven.  You can see how much she loves light and captures it as well as her subjects perfectly.

Check out Melissa’s interview below and learn a little more about her.  She will be picking our top three images this week so be sure to show off those fabulous senior portraits by posting on our Facebook page as well as Instagram, tagging @seniorologie and using the hashtag #seniorologiespotlight.  We can’t wait to see your images!  Thanks to Melissa for judging this week!!

Website:  www.melissawhitephotography.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/melissawhitephotography

Instagram:  www.instagram.com/melissawhitephoto

Tell us a little about yourself….I AM A WIFE to a wonderful man whom I have been married to for 16 years! I AM A MAMA to four beautiful children who are my everything. To them I’m also the house cleaner, chauffeur, personal shopper, boo boo kisser, story teller, lullaby singer, and their biggest fan. I AM A PHOTOGRAPHER and a light seeker, golden hour lover, beauty capturer, art maker. I love helping others see themselves the way that I see them, the way that their creator sees them. Beauty is truly in us all. I am honored to provide a luxury boutique senior portrait experience to my clients in the San Luis Obispo, California area. 

How long have you been in business?  7 years total (2 years shooting anything and everything), 5 as a senior portrait photographer

What do you love most about photographing seniors?  After starting my business shooting families, seniors are refreshing in the fact that they WANT to be there, they don’t run away, and generally do what you want them to, when you want them to do it (which is a nice reprieve from my daily life with 4 small children of my own- haha)! Secondly, they keep me young! And last, but most importantly- I truly believe that EVERYONE is beautiful in their own way…. I have the honor and privilege of showing my seniors just how amazing and gorgeous they really are. The teenage years can be TOUGH. Giving my girls an added boost of confidence when they see themselves the way I see them, is absolutely my most favorite thing ever! 

What’s in your camera bag?  Nikon D700
Nikkor 50 mm 1.8
Nikon 85 mm 1.8
Lots of CF cards
Extra camera batteries
My emergency “Macgyver” kit- safety pins, bobby pins, nail file, q-tips, advil, tape, wet wipes… always be prepared for ANYTHING that might come up!
Business cards

Favorite type of location to shoot in?  Central California coastline with clear, calm skies and gorgeous evening light.

What is one tip you can share regarding senior photography?  I love to keep an album on my phone of my favorite (classy and age appropriate 😉 ) pose ideas to help me when I hit a mental block on location. I don’t always need it, but when I do, it is a huge help in maintaining the flow of the session.