Champaign and Urbana wedding photographer | Holly Birch Photography » Seniors

Brianna | Illinois senior photography

admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:00:23 +0000

Our family visited some of my husband’s extended family in and around Portsmouth, OH this weekend (also: Lucasville, Wheelersburg, West Portsmouth, Blue Creek) and I had the opportunity to take our cousin Brianna’s senior pictures. Since I first visited Portsmouth and first met Brianna, I have been looking forward to these pictures. Portsmouth is an old river town along the Ohio River and the downtown portion isn’t as well-traveled as it used to be but it makes for some very picturesque locations – old brick buildings, painted walls, and HILLS, which is obviously something we don’t have in Illinois! Brianna is a beautiful and smart young woman, who actually started college classes last year at Shawnee State in addition to her junior and senior school work at Portsmouth West. She told me she wanted to have a different look to her senior pictures, and I hope I accomplished that. Best of luck in your future endeavors after high school, Brianna!

Isabella | Springfield, IL senior photography video

admin — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:13:31 +0000

Izzy – Class of 2012 from Holly Smith on Vimeo.

Alexa | 2010 Senior photography

admin — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:29:36 +0000

Alexa’s mom contacted me months ago about doing Alexa’s senior photos. Neither of them was very sure of where they wanted to take their photos, but I had some great ideas in mind as always! These pictures are not in chronological order though, so the first picture is from Meadowbrook Park in Urbana. The light near this bench was perfect and was the very last spot we picked! So lucky! That shot is nearly straight out of the camera with the contrast punched up a bit. I told her it was my “Forrest Gump” pose.

She was getting tired of smiling at one point, but we were still able to get a genuine one here.

One of the reasons I love shooting at Meadowbrook is the dark wood of the playground there. I also love this photo for Alexa’s look and expression, which she did without any prodding (although I may have had her re-do it a couple times!).

So serious!

This was a little more lens flare than I was going for, but I still like the way it turned out. The sun was still a tad too high in the sky!

Ahh, that’s a little better!

I love the way her hair fell in the jumping shots we took:

I had been dying to shoot at the sky blue wall for ages. Alexa was the perfect opportunity!

All dressed up and no where to go but this blue wall.

We started the session at West Side Park in Champaign where they have some neat-o trees.

Last one! And one of my favorites due to the mischievous look Alexa has!

I have a few more dates left this fall for senior sessions if anyone is interested!