I photograph many high school seniors every year and my assistant, Lisa, and I agree--we love every moment of it. Contrary to what many adults think, teenagers are not scary, intimidating, or really all that different than we were when that age. They are fun, creative, smart, and a whole lot more in tune with what is going on in the world around them than they are given credit for. Certainly more than we were when we were in high school...only five years ago or so. Ok, so it's been a few more than that, but it doesn't feel much more than that a lot of the time.
Of course, we are not their parents so generally we don't get the attitude from them--unless we ask for it. And call us crazy, we always do. That teenage attitude, you know, the look that says, "You've got to be kidding me" or "You just don't get it" or "What the...", well, it just makes for some amazing images. It also captures a look that parents readily recognize, one that captures just one facet of the many each teen has.
These images are of Megan, a 2009 senior from Yorkville High School. She was fun, laid back, game for anything we asked of her, and, did I mention, beautiful? Her natural beauty, complete with amazingly perfect skin, had us saying again and again, as her images kept popping up onto the screen as they were downloaded, "She is so..." pretty, beautiful, amazing. They seem to be making the girls much more beautiful now, with a natural poise, than I remember all of us being at that age. Mostly my friends and I felt more awkward than the girls do now. Of course it might have been the '80's big hair days that did it. Or maybe it was the parachute pants that were so popular.
So before I post the last couple of images, let me ask you, if you had the chance, would you agree to be 17 and a high school senior again? I would, especially if I could take back with me the self-confidence, attitude, and knowledge that I have today--but only as long as I don't have to wear penny loafers or painter's pants again. I am so over that!
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