This was not a planned shoot in the sense that we had arranged to go out and take pictures. On the other hand, there has been a half dozen or so killer sunsets, and each one that goes by without me having a person to photograph breaks my heart.

And I’ve been trying to get a grad in full regalia in front of a sunset for … wow, longer than I care mention.

But, back to the unplanned grad shoot. I was at the Tumbler Ridge grad with my portable studio taking shots of anyone who wanted photographs. The dance had started, and most of the parents had cleared out, so I grabbed my portable flash on a stick, and went down to take pictures of the teens dancing.

I had barely done two test shots when I looked out the door and saw the sky was aflame. And the door opens away from the sunset, so I knew that what was happening on the other side was going to be even more spectacular. I grabbed my flash, and grabbed the closest grad I could, and we ran out to get some shots.

Fortunately for me, the closest grad happened to be Danielle, who, in addition to being whip smart (class valedictorian, dontchaknow), is also drop dead gorgeous.

I like shooting on location, out of doors and slice of life. But every once in a while, I like playing around in the studio, too. So I went out and got a bunch of new backdrops with a bit more colour and a bit more character than my typical black and white backdrops.

Here’s Danielle, rockin’ one of the new backdrops.

WOOT!

We’re back, baby!

Mad props (do people still give out mad props these days? I’m so behind the times) to Billy. Not Billy the grad, Billy the IT guy over at my webhost who spent nearly two days to track down some obscure code error to get it fixed.

Thank you.

So, somewhere in the last few days a couple bits of core tech that run this website have stopped communicating.

I’m trying to track the issue down, but for now, there are lovely pink boxes where the pictures should be.

Sorry; I’m trying to troubleshoot as fast as I can….

So, a few weeks back I went to Dawson Creek. This is not that unusual, but while I was there, I rounded up one of my favourite soon-to-be graduates, and took some pictures of her line dancing. The last time I photographed her, we did a few pics of her line dancing, too, but they didn’t turn out, so I promised I’d take more.

These ones? They turned out. We did these in studio with a five light set-up, just for fun.

I took these pictures back in August. Indeed, I used one of these for one of my PADs for August. However, I am finally getting around to putting up some of those photos, so here you go.

Kaitlyn's Grad Album. Click cover to view

Kaitlyn was born in the Yukon, where the provincial flower is the fireweed, so it is fitting that her grad pictures include ones with her amongst the fireweed. This album is full of colour and life, just like her. Click on the cover to view a flash version of the album, or view the html version.

After getting eaten alive out in the wilderness (bad year for mosquitos), we went back into Tumbler Ridge for some just past sunset shots with some of the great local lighting, in this case, right in front of town hall.

The hot-on-the-presses GRADitude Demo Album Click cover to view

The 2009 Graduation Demonstration Album, featuring some of our favourite photos from grad sessions over the last year, as well as some of our all-time favourite photos.

The Demo album is currently being printed and will soon be available for viewing in person. Just send us an email if you want to see it, touch it, smell it…we’d rather you not taste it, though. If you can’t wait, click on the cover to view a flash version of the album, or view the html version.

More from my photoshoot with Kaitlyn in Tumbler Ridge. After spending some time in the fireweed, we went to play on the highway. Good thing we brought along a spotter, because instead of no traffic, as is typical, we might get one shot in before having to scramble off the road, leaving a bunch of curious drivers wondering why there was a girl in a bright orange dress on the side of the road….

I know it’s confusing, but stick with me here. I did a photoshoot with Kaitlyn and Leah in Dawson Creek one day, and then the very next, I took pictures of Kaitlyn in Tumbler Ridge…BUT IT WAS A DIFFERENT KAITLYN.

Obvious in the looking, but just in case you missed it, this is Kaitlyn L, who actually lives about four houses (and one park) down from where I do.