There are so many different people that sit in my make-up chair. We all come from different backgrounds and upbringings and that is what makes these sessions exciting. I find it inspirational to get to know different types of youth. I love that we get to connect and know each other a little bit better. I want to take a moment to acknowledge this young very hard working responsible lady. She’s a breath of fresh air. She had this honest, openness while wearing her heart on her sleeve. I can tell that her friends and family are the same way. It’s a privilege to have an open conversation on a deeper level. When she came in we shared some of our challenges and talked about overcoming them.
You should have seen the smile she had when she looked at herself in the mirror after getting her hair and make-up done. You know, I didn’t have to do anything crazy with her make up. It was very soft and not that much different than her natural features. Went for neutral colors, soft brows, nothing over the top but she looked good.
I gave her a sneak peak of her session while I was taking her pictures and she got all excited. She said, “Oh my god I look bomb!” That made me feel good because she looked beautiful and felt confident. I like that feeling that you get when you make someone happy and she already had stunning features. Her day may not have started off too well to begin with, but it finished off good.
She ordered a 10×10 album, it was very difficult to narrow it down and remove pictures. I guess I want to share this because when we look at pictures we might think that it’s not a big deal or that maybe you can’t afford a professional photography session because it is just a luxury but it’s not just about that. It’s about treating yourself to something special and seeing yourself in a way that maybe you don’t necessarily always see yourself. Other people see your beauty on a daily basis. But it’s those moments that make my job more exciting and give meaning to it.
So, when you come in. Just be yourself. Try your best to get all those weird feelings of meeting someone new out of the way. I know, I totally get them too! This is your life. Claim yourself and be comfortable just being you!
Sherwood photographer Alicia Vazquez working on an outdoor high school senior photo-shoot in Beaverton. Photography session was two hours with hair and make-up. Had a blast!