Blooming flowers, pretty weather and beautiful colors are a great backdrop for senior photos.  Photographer Chelsea Salinas of Roots and Wings Images in North Carolina said her senior wanted to embrace spring in her shoot and a botanical garden was the perfect spot!

“My senior waited until the spring for her portrait session…and for a good reason!” said Chelsea.  “The azaleas are phenomenal this time of year!”

Check out this beautiful session below and read what else Chelsea had to say about it!  Thanks for sharing your work with Seniorologie Chelsea!

Website:  www.rootsandwingsimages.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/rootsandwingsimages

What was your inspiration for this photo shoot?
Spring! My senior loved the spring blooms, which we used to really highlight her style, her natural beauty and the fun mood. The bright colors from the flowers complimented her softer colored clothing styles and gave her an amazing vibrant background.

Where did this photo shoot take place?
A small botanical garden outside of Wake Forest, NC! It’s absolutely gorgeous with beautiful blooms almost all year. To top it off, bridges and big rocks really help to add dimension and that nature charm. (my favorite type of background)

Did you collaborate with this senior to come up with the clothing and/or concept for this shoot?
Yes, I challenge all my seniors to create a Pinterest board of pins that really speak to them…but the challenge is to only have a total of 10-15. When she really honed in on soft curls, natural lip color, gorgeous green trees and flowers I knew the perfect spot for her.

What camera, lens or other equipment was used for this shoot?
I am an oddball and shoot with a Pentax K5iis and a 77mm 1.2. I absolutely love it and adore that creaminess from this portrait lens.

What time of day were these taken?
between 5-6pm. The garden has a high treeline that creates that golden hour look a little earlier.

Can you share any post-processing techniques used when editing this session?
With any of my images, I usually bump up the mid-tone blacks and pull down the mid-tone shadows, slightly. I’ll then bump up clarity, vibrance and saturation all just a bit. From there, I play with the blacks, shadows and highlights in the tone panel.

What is your favorite thing about this session?
I love how carefree and effortless she was in front of the camera. We both loved the flowers and were so happy to incorporate all the beauty of the natural setting in the background.

What do you want this session to convey about this senior and about your senior photography style?
Natural beauty. Whether it’s how I my senior preps for her session, the makeup artist technique or my editing; I strive for natural beauty. I use nature to highlight their beauty and create images that speak to their true self.

What is one tip you can share with other photographers regarding photographing seniors?
Stay in touch. I have multiple touch points with my seniors and their parents all along the way. I email them with key points or things to do when they book, 1 week before the session, immediately after the session and a final thank you! Some information I send is fun and some of it can be helpful; like top tips for prepping for your senior session.