Year in Review | AHP Model Team 2020 Highlights
As the year wraps up, I love taking the opportunity to look back at all the AHP shoots, senior sessions, and other fun events with a Year in Review blog post. This was a hard year for both the class of 2020 and the class of 2021 with everything going on in the world. But the AHP Model Team girls are so upbeat, confident, and fun, we still had an ah-mazing year together.
The AHP Model Team
The AHP Model Team was an awesome way to make sure these girls had a sense of normalcy for their last year of high school. With online classes, canceled social events, and limited extracurriculars, these girls faced multiple obstacles in what should be an exciting time in their lives. But I am so proud of them for banding together and making the most of it!
Monthly Shoots
Looking back at AHP’s year in review, one of the ways we made the most of 2020 was with monthly themed shoots for the girls. I am one of the only senior photographers who offer this option for senior reps. These sessions are an ah-mazing way for the girls to get to know each other, bond over shared experiences, and have an incredible collection of portraits from their entire senior year.
I simply love picking a theme for each shoot and working with the girls to coordinate outfits, accessories, and props. My studio in the heart of downtown Tacoma is the best spot for indoor senior portraits, and there are a ton of different backgrounds we use to make our indoor shoots unique. And we’re close to all the best outdoor locations for portraits when the weather is nice.
Scroll through to read more about AHP’s year in review with the monthly shoots the AHP Model took part in. And let me know in the comments what the best part of the year was for you!
Class of 2020
January Holiday Light Photoshoot
We started off the year with a holiday light photoshoot. String lights are so much fun to play with for portraits. I hosted the AHP Model Team at the studio for this session. Studio 253 has a wall of windows for gorgeous natural light, even when it’s a cold January day. The soft lights looked whimsical on their own, but we added fluffy clouds and a soft blush background to make these portraits really stand out.
February Hearts Shoot
February is all about Valentine’s Day, and the girls met at the studio for a fun pink and red hearts themed session. I decorated the studio with rose gold streamers, balloons, and a solid pink backdrop. The girls chose outfits with shades of red, pink, and maroon. They looked stunning, and it was such an awesome way to celebrate the holiday.
March Project Beauty Photoshoot
If you’ve been following along for a while, you probably know how important Project Beauty is to me. This campaign is a chance for the AHP senior girls to have a photoshoot without any makeup or retouching. It shows off their natural beauty and instills a sense of confidence. I am so grateful to the AHP Model Team for trusting me and participating in this campaign. You can read more about Project Beauty and its impact on the blog here.
April and May Lockdown
The Washington COVID regulations to help flatten the curve kept us home for the months of April and May. We usually do a mother and daughter photoshoot for Mother’s Day, but we pushed it to later in the summer. Thankfully, we were able to safely resume portrait sessions by June, following careful protocols and keeping the girls in smaller groups to limit possible exposure.
June Prom and Cap & Gown Portraits
The end of senior year is usually filled to the brim with exciting events. Though the class of 2020 did not get to have a traditional prom, we still had a ton of fun taking prom portraits in Tacoma. It gave the Model Team girls and their friends a chance to still get dressed up, get their hair and makeup done, and experience some of the magic of prom.
We also celebrated graduation differently. To commemorate the end of their high school experience, the Model Team girls brought their graduation outfits to an outdoor portrait session. Cap and gown portraits are a great way to celebrate your accomplishments.
Class of 2021
June Kickoff Shoot
With the Class of 2020 graduating, it was officially time for them to pass the torch to the AHP Model Team Class of 2021. We kicked things off with a colorful summer shoot and team introductions. The Tacoma Love Mural was the perfect spot for this! We had a beautiful sunny day, and the girls wore the cutest summer outfits.
July BFF Sessions and Independence Day
The second session for the Class of 2021 gave them more time to get to know each other. We had a patriotic 4th of July photoshoot in Tacoma, complete with a classic red Jeep! The girls wore fun red, white, and blue outfits, complete with cowboy boots. They waved flags, smiled, and laughed throughout the session.
Another favorite shoot of mine is the summer BFF session. These friendship portraits include the AHP Model Team girls and their best friends. It’s so much fun to capture their meaningful relationships, and I know the girls will treasure these portraits for years to come.
August End of Summer Shoot
Summer always goes by too fast, and it was time for an end of summer shoot before we knew it. One of the girls has family property in Chehalis, and we packed a picnic for this riverside portrait session. It was warm and sunny. The girls brought along their moms for quality time, and I simply loved seeing everyone spend time together.
Wild Hearts Farm September Portraits
As much as I love summer, fall is a great season for portraits. One of my favorite venues is Wild Heart Farms, a private location for professional photographers. The farm has rustic vibes, cute barns, a glasshouse, and a vintage white truck. The girls wore their favorite flannels, ripped jeans, and cute sneakers for this cozy session.
October at the Pumpkin Patch
October is my favorite month! Not only is it my wedding anniversary month, but it is also the time of year when the colors really start to change. And, of course, pumpkin patches are open for business. We celebrated my favorite time of year with a trip to Double R Farms in Puyallup.
November Football Session
If you live in Seattle, you know how dedicated Seahawks fans are. We kicked off football season with a Seahawks themed portrait session at Wright Park. The girls dusted off their Seahawks jerseys, high school team spirit wear, and future college gear for this athletic portrait session. It was a sunny and beautiful day in the park.
December End of Year Celebration
We had quite the year, and I wanted to give the AHP Model Team girls a chance to celebrate. I hosted the Class of 2021 team at my studio with a New Year’s Eve themed session. They wore their best little black dresses (and gold, silver, and sequined ones) and strappy heels. I had gold and black balloons, streamers, and garlands. We wrapped up an ah-mazing year and had so much fun in the process.
Let’s Connect!
If you missed your chance to book a senior portrait session in 2020, let’s get something on the books for 2021. I think it’s going to be the best year yet. It’s easy to reach out on my website with questions or to get the conversation started. You can also email me at [email protected], or call/text me at 530-412-0730.
