My Approach To High School Senior Lifestyle Pictures

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My Approach To High School Senior Lifestyle Pictures

My main approach to high school senior lifestyle portrait photography is keeping it as natural as possible, with location, lighting, posing and expressions as the key elements.
I describe lifestyle photography as capturing real-life moments. To accomplish this, I keep my high school senior models out of the studio and in natural environments of their choice, such as parks, the beach, historic locations, where they work, or at their home, just to name a few. To keep it as real-life as possible, I capture my models with available natural light, which is much more convincing to being real-life looking than studio lighting.

By having fun, it then becomes easy in coaching my models to keep their posing and expressions as natural and real as possible.

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Family Portraits With Their Dogs and Horse - Empire Polo Club Coachella

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Family Portraits With Their Dogs and Horse - Empire Polo Club Coachella

Anyone that knows me, knows that I’ll go anywhere for the opportunity to photograph a family with their dogs and their horse. So, when I was approached by the Beadle family to photograph them, I was happy to travel to the Empire Polo Club in Indio California. Besides photographing their family with their beautiful children and their spectacular pets (two dogs and a dappled horse), I also dedicated a large part of the photo session to capture photos for their recent wedding engagement. The Empire Polo Club offered a tropical Southern California look with palm trees and lush tropical gardens. As you can see in the images below, it was pretty awesome that the entire family took part in this special time of their lives.

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High School Senior photos - Girl, Horse and Puppies

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High School Senior photos - Girl, Horse and Puppies

Our approach to every high school senior photo session is to personalize it with props and locations that celebrate just who you are. Stephanie and I have known Sydney for over 10 years and we were so excited to do her high school senior photos. To personalize her photo session, Sydney wanted to be photographed at the stables that she visits every weekend and of course, her props were her horse and brand new puppies. As you can see in the photos below, she had quite the variety of looks to celebrate her true personality.

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Children Portrait Photography - Spring Flowers

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Children Portrait Photography - Spring Flowers

The first day of spring this year is Wednesday, March 20 and there is no better way to celebrate the magic of spring, other than to surround yourself in a sea of flowers. We have been photographing children in the flowers every spring since 1994 and each and every child seems to come alive with happiness during these very cute portrait sessions. Since there is such a short window of opportunity to capture photos of this new beginning that spring offers to us, our children portrait sessions have become quite popular. If you want this moment captured of your children, contact us while the flowers are alive and in bloom.

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100 Best High School Senior Photography Images Of Girls

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100 Best High School Senior Photography Images Of Girls

Here are the best 100 images from high school senior girls to help you decide on the look that you would like to convey for yourself. Take a close at these images to get ideas on hair, makeup, clothing, posing, and location, so that we can customize your perfect photo session.
My high school senior photography photo sessions are designed to capture images of who you are in this awesome stage of your life.
Check out the 100 examples below of senior girls and let us customize the perfect high school senior photo session for you.

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120 Best High School Senior Photography Images Of Girls and Boys

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120 Best High School Senior Photography Images Of Girls and Boys

Here are the best 120 images from 30 of my high school senior clients, girls and boys, to help you decide on the look that you would like to convey for yourself.
My high school senior photography photo sessions are designed to capture images of who you are in this awesome stage of your life.
Check out the 120 examples below of boys and girls and let us customize the perfect high school senior photo session for you.

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12 Lifestyle Headshot Examples For Men & Women Business Professionals

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12 Lifestyle Headshot Examples For Men & Women Business Professionals

Lifestyle corporate headshots are usually accomplished with the use of natural light, that visually feel like everyday life. Here are 12 Men and Women lifestyle headshot examples of two of my clients, Melissa Mercantel and Larry Broughton, to help you decide if lifestyle headshots are what you are looking for yourself.

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12 Corporate Headshot Casual & Formal Examples For Business Professionals

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12 Corporate Headshot Casual & Formal Examples For Business Professionals

Here are 12 examples of some of my corporate headshot clients to help you decide on the look that you would like to convey for yourself. As a business professional, you can connect with your clients with both formal and casual attire. Coming across friendly, approachable and professional can be accomplished with both looks.

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Photography expeditions adding epic adventure to our lives

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Photography expeditions adding epic adventure to our lives

Photography expeditions along with traveling make our job one of the best occupations we could have ever hoped for. Val and I started teaching photography in 2010. We took our students on photography expeditions after teaching them the basic elements of photography to help cement our teachings with our students. Initially we stayed close to home taking our students to local venues such as Laguna Niguel Regional park, Sunset Cliffs beach in San Diego and The Mission San Juan Capistrano. As Val and I started to realize that their was suddenly a high demand to learn photography, we took our “Show” (Basic Elements of Photography Workshop) on the road. We went to some really fun places to help our fledgling photographers test their new skills, such as the Portland Oregon Zoo, Seattle aquarium, The Museum of the Rockies in Montana and the Harry P Leu botanical gardens in Orlando Florida, just to name a few.

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Bordercollies & Irish Wolfhounds!

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Bordercollies & Irish Wolfhounds!

As we all know, life is filled with ups and downs, gains and losses and that is what keeps it interesting and exciting at the same time. Life for us is a constant adventure and I feel grateful for all of the positive and negative experiences, our life is anything but dull!

A year ago we lost our beloved Monty to an unfortunate accident on our last photography “Ranch” project in Northern California. Both Monty and Val had severe heat-stroke and Val pulled through and Monty did not. Monty’s tragic death was one of the most devastating and traumatic happenings in Val and I’s life together. Even though Monty was not human... his friendly and loving personality captured our hearts and won the admiration and love of many....he was a “superstar” used in our photo sessions, and going everywhere with us. Monty was my life and that kind of spirit can never be replaced.

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How To Rise Above Your Competition With Professional Looking Headshot Photography

/ Val Westover Photography/
How To Rise Above Your Competition With Professional Looking Headshot Photography

Rising above your competition is always a goal in business. You want your business to be better, provided better quality products/services, have better employees, and make more money – but how do you do this? There are many ways you could try to outdo your competition, but you should first try updating your headshot by using a…

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Business Marketing Photography for Small Business

/ Val Westover Photography/
Business Marketing Photography for Small Business

Photography for small businesses is completely different to any other photography. Acting as a much more important tool for small businesses for their high turnover siblings, photography is an excellent way to promote an enterprise with minimal input. At Val Westover Photography we take the needs of the individual very seriously and are…

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Amazing corporate headshots for women!

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Amazing corporate headshots for women!

Martina Reyes is a great client of ours! She lives in Puerto Rico but always makes sure to come out on a regular basis to Orange County, California, to have her corporate headshots done by Val Westover. She is so much fun and such a joy to photograph. Professional corporate headshots for women are such a big part of our business and…

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Stunning family portrait at the beach with cute dog!

/ Val Westover Photography/
Stunning family portrait at the beach with cute dog!

This stunning family at the beach with their cute dog is what people can expect anytime they're photographed by Val Westover at Laguna Beach, California.

We've been photographing the McFarland family since the girls were very tiny. It's so great to watch them grow up and it was extra special to see their cute little dog.

The McFarland's annual family portrait has become a very important family event in capturing cherished memories that their girls will come to appreciate later in life.

Check out some of the McFarland's photos below from their family portrait at the beach with their cute dog...

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LOOK YOUR BEST IN YOUR TEAM HEADSHOT PHOTOGRAPHY

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LOOK YOUR BEST IN YOUR TEAM HEADSHOT PHOTOGRAPHY

Lets face it, we are all a little bit camera shy, and we find the prospect of a programmed photo a little bit intimidating. For this reason, it is always a good idea to research a photographer so that you can acquaint yourself with his or her work. You should check out their site and read all of the comments and reviews so that you find the perfect fit.

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Outdoor high school senior pictures ideas

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Outdoor high school senior pictures ideas

Your high school senior year is memorable; it is the last step before adulthood and before leaving home to go to college. What better way to immortalize your senior year than through photography? If you want to take a senior year photo you definitely need to capture the excitement and the fun of your senior year. There are many things that you should keep in mind when planning a senior year photo session. To begin with, there is no need to limit your background to a studio or inside a home. Taking pictures outside can be a great way to take advantage of the natural lighting and the beautiful surroundings.

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Studio Family Portrait Photography Ideas

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Studio Family Portrait Photography Ideas

When you book a photo session in a studio you have many options to create a memory that you will enjoy forever, because a family photograph captures the spirit of your family. It is a keepsake that will remind you of the thought that you put into creating that moment. Finding the right setting, the appropriate outfits and the best photographer.
There are so many portrait ideas to choose from and to showcase that your family is one of a kind. It can be an outdoor session celebrating a season, a place or an occasion. Or it can be a choreographed indoor shoot designed for you. Either way, the ones who make it unique and memorable are the people in the photo, your family.

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Looking More Approachable With A Casual Corporate Headshot

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Looking More Approachable With A Casual Corporate Headshot

Casual headshots are an informal way of introducing yourself within all of your marketing efforts. They are more lifestyle oriented that your average corporate headshot and portray a much hipper and trendy vibe. It is a way to give a personal touch of your branding so that it better reflects your personality and the tone you want to set.

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Capturing True Emotion - Equestrian Portrait Photography

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Capturing True Emotion - Equestrian Portrait Photography

Equestrian photography is the best way to capture not only a memory of your equine companion, but to also show the bond that you share. It partners you with an important part of your life and who you are. Becoming a constant reminder of the love and friendship that has become an essential part of the relationship. A fondness of shared experiences and a rapport created in each others company.

It is a unique gift that embodies the essence of mutual respect in photos that are only slightly posed but very natural. Always trying to maintain a balance and creating an atmosphere that is relaxing for both the rider and the horse. The end result is a piece of stylish art that fills you with emotion.

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Our own "Black Beauty" Story just in time for the Holidays

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Our own "Black Beauty" Story just in time for the Holidays

This incredible tale is one of those stories that is so impossible that is is hard to believe, but in the season of miracles I thought our own "Black Beauty" Story would be appropriate. A little back story is necessary... Val and I spent a little under 2 years before we were married in Montana photographing Horses for sale for our dear friends The Mantles of MontanaHorses.com. At that time, we traveled back and forth from Montana to California monthly to Photograph our wonderful Orange County Clients. While in Montana, we were so blessed by the graciousness of a friend to stay in the most incredible Montana Home on a 10 acre gentleman's ranch. Gorgeous views of the valley, daily sounding of the train following the infamous Missouri river, all of our beloved animals and horses in the backyard, I was in complete heaven! The 2 day 24 plus hour commute to California once a month seemed like a small price to pay to live in our dream home.

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