Gabriel Van Wyhe Photo Blog » Sharing life through images

Nana is one of the amazing students I’m blessed to have as my senior reps.  We had scheduled a mini-shoot to get some shots for a flier, but the weather turned and the day was looking bleak.  Nana, however, was unswayed – she wanted to go out in the rain and get some fun shots!  So Nana, her boyfriend and I ventured out into downtown Tacoma in the rain downpour and started shooting – it was a blast and we got some fun shots (and got soaked to the bone).  I’m excited to have Nana as one of my senior reps!

The weather in WA can be a bit tricky and unpredictable for photography – one minute it can be warm and sunny and the next windy and able to chill you all the way through.  Dakota is a veteran when it comes to such weather and didn’t so much as noticeably shiver when temperatures got a bit low in some of the shaded spots we shot – and it paid off!  Her pictures turned out great and I’m thrilled to have her as the senior rep at the high school I graduated from… a long time ago.  Here are a few images from her shoot.

Shelby is another one of my new senior reps this year.  She is a fun young woman and was a great sport as I trekked her all over Tacoma looking for those perfect shots.  Here are a few of my favorites from her shoot.

Each year I round up some juniors who will become my senior reps from different schools during their senior year.  They get a free mini portrait session, some free prints and touched up images – then they hand out my fliers to their friends.  The min portrait sessions are always a lot of fun as the student will typically get a full portrait session during their senior year and the mini session can be more artistic and goofing off.  Valerie is one of my senior reps this year and I thought I’d share some of the pictures we got of her.

I recently had the opportunity to shoot team and individual portraits of the Curtis HS girls lacrosse team.  Jaci and I had a great time and all the girls were so much fun to work with – from swinging on the goal posts to jumping through the air, they were up for all kinds of crazy pictures.  Obviously, the pictures we gave the girls had to be fairly traditional, however, the opportunity to play around with some of the portraits and make them a bit more edgy and intense sport feeling was too good to pass up.  I thought it would be fun to post a few of those shots on the blog – these are definitely not your normal high school sports pictures.

Nicole is a vibrant young woman – full of life and joy and always wearing a great smile!  She braved colder weather for her senior portraits and i really think they paid off.  Congratulations to you Nicole as you enjoy the rest of your senior year.

Lea is another brave soul who was willing to venture out into the cold as the seasons shifted quickly from fall to bitter winter.  She never complained and she never missed an opportunity to have fun during the shoot.  Lea’s portfolio is marked by her confidence and the shoot was marked by her kindness and joy – a huge win!  Congratulations Lea on your senior year and the many adventures that await you.

Kailah was a blast to photograph!  She is simply full of energy and was up for all the strange things I asked of her – like peaking between wood pillars and playing with some random dog… ok, that’s not true- that cute little dog is actually hers.  Students will bring “props” from time to time – like the flute they play in band, or a snowboard or other hobby – but this was the first time its been a pet and it was a lot of fun.  I wish you many good things this year Kailah (and your dog)!

I had a lot of fun shooting Bekah’s senior portraits – and it was especially fun to shoot her portraits in two different sessions in two different seasons.  We were able to capture some of the last warm days of summer and then able to shoot in the fresh chill of winter.  I love the dynamic it gives to her portfolio.  On top of that, Bekah is a wonderful young woman – with so much peace and strength in the way she carries herself and speaks.  Congratulations on your senior year Bekah!

it’s possible that Kailah laughed and smiled and poured out joy more than any other senior i’ve ever photographed (she is also the only senior I’ve ever had chase off after a deer she saw!) – which made doing her photographers a ton of fun!  I have no doubt Kailah will be a woman who embraces all life has to offer!  Congratulations on your senior year Kailah!