Q: Why should I choose Kimberly Caldwell Legree Photography?
A: KCP creates professional and personalized images that capture everything awesome about your senior year ~ i.e.; sports, hobbies, pets, friends & family. Your custom tailored session will be a collection of memories from a very special time in your life. Every senior deserves to have a photo experience that builds their self-confidence and empowers them. It's my promise to do that by creating images that you all fall in love with.
I not only have a passion for photography, but all the things that will set your photos apart from any others. I've been in business for 16 years. I highly recommend professional hair & makeup for my seniors. I offer help with your wardrobe, and choosing the right outfits so you look and feel your best from head to toe. Don't know what to wear or which ones to choose, bring them all and I will help you the day of :) Worried about how to pose or what to do with your hands... from posing to fashion trends, getting the images right in camera to lighting, the perfect accessories to the perfect smile, we have it all covered... don't worry! Oh and did I mention it will be a darn fun day jam packed with laughing all while you look and feel like a model.
HAIR & MAKEUP
I highly recommend all of my senior clients invest in professional hair and makeup. If it is in your budget, hiring a professional for your hair and makeup will make a drastic difference in the quality of your photos and senior portrait experience. You are already making a large investment in your senior portrait experience, so why not make it the best it can be?
Q: Why is it important?
A: 1. THEY ARE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS
When you are investing in a professional photographer, you want to make sure that the images look their absolute best. Professional hair + makeup artists are TRAINED to do hair + makeup so that they photograph well. While your makeup may look AMAZING in person, it will look completely different on-camera, and these professionals are trained to know the difference. They will conceal spots you don't like, contour your face so it looks the best in every light, use colors that compliment your skin to make it look flawless, make your eyes POP with false lashes (if needed) + shadows & manicure your eyebrows to perfection and more!
2. LESS STRESS
Preparing for a senior portrait session is stressful in and of itself. Trying to do your hair + makeup by yourself can make things even harder. Professional camera equipment is designed to pick up every little detail in an image (even details that the eye can't see) so hiring a professional makeup artist is the best way to go.
3. WHO DOESN'T LIKE BEING PAMPERED?!
I don't ever want my seniors to feel like their portrait session is just simply "taking pictures", I want it to be an EXPERIENCE. So, if my seniors arrive after an hour of being pampered + beautified, the entire experience has already started on a good note. If a senior arrives frustrated or stressed, it can affect the entire experience, including the way you look in your photographs.
I live in Clarkston, but I can recommend Makeup artists & hairstylists in any area if needed.
Q: What should I wear & what should I not for my senior pictures?
A: Pick complimentary colors.
Another amazing tip is to pick colors that compliment your skin tone! I’m sure most of you know that certain colors look better on certain people, but there’s actually a whole color science behind it. For example, a warm toned person will look great in earthy tones, whereas a cool toned person looks amazing in colors like blues and greens. You can figure out what type of skin tone you have by taking a look at the veins on your wrist. If your veins are an olive/green color, you are warm toned! If they are a blue hue, you have cool-toned skin. Or, if they are a mix of both, you are neutral toned. A good rule of thumb is to figure out what colors go best with your skin tone and always stick within that palette!
Make sure you have options.
My 2nd tip for choosing what to wear for your senior photoshoot is to pick at least one dressy option and one casual outfit. Make sure that the colors in all of your outfits are a bit different from each other, otherwise you’ll look like you’re wearing the same thing during the whole shoot. It’s always fun to keep one outfit neutral and simple, and another outfit a little louder with a bold pop of color.
Be modest!
Keep it modest! Your senior photoshoot is such a momentous time. You’ll look back at these photos for the rest of your life. Your whole family will want to frame your pretty face, including grandma! With that being said, choose outfits that are cute but not too revealing. Super low cut v-neck tops or skin tight mini skirts can not only cause problems with posing, but also will show too much skin. Your senior photos should be timeless, right? Make sure that you LOVE what you choose, but ditch the skimpy pieces!
GIRLS...Flowy dresses are a must!
Choose a flowy dress for the cutest poses (flowy being the key word there)! Whether it’s a mini or maxi, make sure it has plenty of fabric so you can twirl and move around with ease. Flowy dresses aren’t just comfortable and flattering for every body type, but they also allow for SO many varieties of posing. Whether you’ll be sitting, standing, skipping, or twirling, you’ll look amazing for pretty much any adventure during your photoshoot.
On the flip side, super tight dresses are limiting when it comes to movement. Girls tend to be concerned about the dress riding up when they sit, or it clinging too tightly in different positions. If you’re uncomfortable or CONSTANTLY worrying about your outfit during your shoot, that tenseness WILL show through in your photos. With a flowy dress, comfort won’t even be a question. They’re trendy, easy to move in, and perfect for most seasons!
Accessorize wisely.
Lastly, add some basic accessories to go with your photoshoot style. They don’t have to be anything extravagant, in fact, less is more! Accessories can make your outfits more trendy and fun. I like to think of them as the sprinkles on top!
For a boho look, add a felt hat to carry or wear. Flowers OR flower crowns are also an amazing accessory because they give you something to hold and they compliment your natural beauty. Lastly, throw on some shades on for a few shots – it will bring a youthful and fun vibe to your photos!
Q: How many photos will I get?
A: Your gallery will have 50-100 of your best photos from your shoot. We show you only the best of the best. You may be thinking, "but she clicked the shutter SO many times during the shoot, where are all those?" Good question! There are technical things we need to take care of during the session. We have to make rapid real-time adjustments which requires test shots, changing up composition, and solving any lighting challenges to ensure that you create the perfect image for delivery. Often times we have to rapid-fire a group of shots to ensure we get the perfect shot with no blinked eyes, the perfect sun flare and a gorgeous smile. It can take around 5 to even 10 images to prepare the camera and the model for one perfect shot! Also, your images are captured in a raw color format. After our shoot, we handpick the final images from the session and work with each selection to bring it to its full potential.
Q: When should I schedule to get my Senior Portraits taken?
A: The sooner the better if you wanted a specific date. I would say in the winter, decide if you want a summer or fall shoot. Look at your schedule and then pick a date. I have limited space and only take a certain number of seniors each year.
Q: How do I contact you?
A: You can call or text us at 248.770.8060, e-mail kimberlylegree@gmail.com, or fill out our Contact Form.
Q: Do my parents need to be with me while I get my photos taken?
A: No a parent doesn't have to be there. 1 friend is more than welcome. It's best to keep it to a small group that you feel very comfortable around.
Q: Where will I change outfits?
A: I have a fun pop up changing tent "POPPY" that has plenty of room to move around with total privacy.
Q: How do I hire you for my Senior Portraits?
A: You can call or email me, I will respond within 24/48 hours. We will pick a day that works best and get you scheduled. Once we confirm your date & time, we will collect the $50.00 deposit to hold your spot. Deposits are non-refundable but can be transferred to another date. The rest of your session fee will be collected the day of your senior session. You can pay by Cash, check, venmo or zelle.
Q: What collections are available?
A: I offer collections designed to meet a wide range of budgets.
Collections start at $499.
Q: Are there additional fees for retouching?
A: No, basic editing and retouching are built into the pricing of our products. I believe in editing as natural as I can and promise not to make your child look plastic or have crazy looking over whitened teeth. However, photos that require Extensive retouching such as heavy blemishes may require an extra per-image fee, due to the extra time in editing.
Q: How do I go about getting my yearbook picture to the school?
A: I do not do yearbook photos. Check with your high school for where they recommend. Usually it's Prestige and they charge $25.00 for the yearbook picture.
Q: How many outfit changes and locations are allowed in your sessions?
A: For the mini sessions, 2 outfits & 1 location. And for the full senior experience (4 outfits and 1-2 locations are the norm). When you hire us to create your senior portraits you are paying for our time and talent. Keep in mind, the more time you spend changing clothes and traveling between locations, the less time you allow us to create your images. We will squeeze in as much as we can within your session time!
Q: How do I preview and order my images?
A: 2-3 weeks after your shoot, I email you your password protected gallery. We don’t want you to look through a confusing online gallery and try to make important decisions. We can set up a date for a zoom, where we will watch a slide show of your photo gallery. We can show you all of the products that we offer. We want you to know and fall in love with exactly what you are purchasing before you do!
Immediately after your virtual ordering session we will process your payment and your order will be on its way for you to enjoy!
Q: Why can photography be so expensive?
A: Quality, custom photography by an experienced artist is not for everyone and takes an enormous amount of time and creative commitment. Our pricing reflects the premiere customer service and fine art we provide for our clients. We are full-service from start to finish.
Locations & fees
"When life gets blurry adjust your lens!"
Enter a HeadingHere's a step-by-step guidance:
- What to wear:
- Choose outfits that reflect your personal style and make you feel comfortable & confident.
- Opt for timeless and classic pieces that won't look dated in the future.
- Consider the location and theme of the photoshoot for outfit inspiration.
- Experiment with pops of bright colors to add visual interest.
- Don't forget to coordinate accessories and shoes with your outfits.
-When choosing outfits, choose different colors. If all the outfits are the same color, close ups will only show the one color and look like you were wearing the same outfit in all pictures.
Girls:
- What color outfits, how many and what style:
- Solid colors in natural tones like white, blue, green, gray, and cream work well with most backgrounds and are especially good for close-ups. Jewel tones like emerald green, deep red, and royal blue are also flattering. Avoid bright neon colors, which can be distracting.
- Patterns
- Simple patterns like stripes or small florals are better than bold, busy prints.
- Clothing
- Flowing maxi dresses and skirts are flattering on all body types and look great on camera. They also add movement and dimension to your photos. Dresses with long fabrics or trains photograph well.
- Jeans with a cute top that's in style and or jean shorts.
- Accessories
- Classic jewelry and accessories like a simple necklace and earrings are usually all you need. Avoid anything too attention grabbing.
- Hair:
- Keep your hairstyle simple and natural, so it doesn't distract from your face.
- I always recommend getting your hair & makeup professionally done, it's one less thing you have to worry about the day of that can cause you a lot of stress. Let the professionals pamper you and make you look and feel your best.
- If you cannot get your hair and makeup done, practice your makeup look beforehand and make sure it enhances your features.
- Use long-lasting products to ensure your hair and makeup stay in place during the photoshoot.
- Makeup:
-Aim for a natural, slightly enhanced look by using a matte foundation, subtle eyeshadow shades, a light blush, well-defined brows, and a lip color close to your natural lip tone; avoid heavy makeup, excessive shimmer, or anything too dramatic, as it can appear unnatural in photos.
Key points to remember:
- Natural skin: Opt for a light, matte foundation that evens out skin tone without looking cakey.
- Neutral eyes: Choose soft, neutral eyeshadow shades that enhance your eyes without being too bold.
- Defined brows: Groom your eyebrows to look neat and well-shaped. Wax or pluck a few days before shoot to ensure redness & swelling is gone.
- Subtle blush: Apply a light touch of blush to add a natural flush to your cheeks.
- Minimal shine: Avoid shimmery products, as they can create unwanted reflections in photos.
- Natural lip color: Choose a lipstick or lip gloss that closely matches your natural lip color.
- Lips: The week of your shoot (boys & girls) put vaseline on your lips at night & chapstick on during the day to prevent chapped lips for your pictures. Also, drink lots of water.
Do's:
- Mascara: A coat or two of mascara to define and lengthen your lashes. If using fake eyelashes, make sure they look natural.
- Concealer: Use concealer to cover any blemishes or dark circles under your eyes.
- Powder: Set your makeup with a translucent powder to control shine.
- Eyeliner: A thin line of eyeliner can subtly enhance your eyes.
Don'ts:
- Heavy foundation: Avoid applying too much foundation, as it can look unnatural in photos. Also, make sure your foundation on your face matches your neck color.
- Bright eyeshadows: Stay away from bright, bold eyeshadow colors.
- Glitter: Avoid using glitter as it can be too distracting in pictures.
- Overly contoured cheeks: Keep contouring subtle to avoid harsh lines
- Dark lip colors: Opt for lighter lip shades instead of very dark lipstick.
Consider a professional: If you want a flawless look for your senior pictures, consider getting your makeup done by a professional makeup artist who can tailor the look to your features and suit the style of your photos.
- Bring touch-up essentials like blotting paper, lip balm, and hairspray for quick fixes.
- What not to do before a photoshoot:
- Stay away from excessive sun exposure that could lead to sunburn or tan lines.
- Avoid trying new skincare products or treatments that could cause skin reactions.
- Don't experiment with drastic haircuts or hair colors right before the shoot.
- The week of your shoot, avoid eating heavy, greasy, or unbalanced meals that could make you feel bloated & or cause break outs.
-Don't wax or pluck your eyebrows the day of or before your shoot.
When choosing what to wear for senior photos, you can consider the following:
- Colors
- Solid colors in natural tones like white, blue, green, gray, and cream work well with most backgrounds and are especially good for close-ups. Jewel tones like emerald green, deep red, and royal blue are also flattering. Avoid bright neon colors, which can be distracting.
- Patterns
- Simple patterns like stripes or small florals are better than bold, busy prints.
- Clothing
- Flowing maxi dresses and skirts are flattering on all body types and look great on camera. They also add movement and dimension to your photos. Dresses with long fabrics or trains photograph well.
- Accessories
- Classic jewelry and accessories like a simple necklace and earrings are usually all you need. Avoid anything too attention grabbing.
- Location
- Consider the location of your shoot when choosing what to wear. For example, if you're shooting in a sunflower field, you might want to avoid wearing yellow and dark green.
- Makeup
- Apply makeup normally, but you can add a little extra blush or eyeshadow to avoid looking washed out.
GLASSES:
- If you wear glasses, you can ask your optician to remove the lenses from the frame for your photo session. This will prevent shadows on your lens that is sometimes hard to prevent and hard to remove.
BRACES:
If you wear braces, know that photoshop can remove braces if you would like that option, this would be outsourced and an extra fee.
ACNE:
- If you suffer from bad acne, photoshop can remove acne, but it is also very time consuming and this does require an extra fee for editing.
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU’VE BOOKED YOUR SENIOR PORTRAIT SESSION, AND IT’S GETTING CLOSE TO YOUR BIG DAY. AS A SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER, ONE OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS I GET IS: “WHAT SHOULD I BRING TO MY SESSION?”
OTHER THAN YOUR PERFECT SMILE, YOUR UNIQUE STYLE, AND HYPED ENERGY, I’VE CREATED A LIST OF 15 MUST HAVES, GOOD IDEAS, AND OPTIONAL ITEMS YOU MAY WANT TO BRING WITH YOU TO YOUR PHOTO SHOOT THAT WILL ONLY ENHANCE YOUR SENIOR PORTRAIT EXPERIENCE FURTHER.
Must-Haves
NUMBER 1:
Outfits. You’ve spent weeks curating your looks down to 3-5 jaw dropping styles and you’ve been tossing them into a corner, or piled on that catch-all chair. Now, more than likely they’ll have tons of wrinkles that need ironing. Please do not show up with your clothes stuffed into a duffle bag and pull them out when you are already on site. I will not waste hours in Photoshop editing out what could have been prevented beforehand. The difference is shocking. Hang your outfits together by outfit in your car to keep them from creasing in transit. Your images will thank you for taking that extra time getting them photo ready.
NUMBER 2:
Accessories. The most overlooked item is the icing on the cake. You’ve spent weeks finding that perfect outfit and are so excited to finally wear it that you completely forget those items that make it shine. Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, sun glasses, hats, scarves, belts, all add interest and sparkle to any image. Don’t forget to pack them too! Pro Tip: hang your outfits together on one hanger and include all your accessories so that you won’t miss a thing, including undergarments and shoes specific to that outfit.
NUMBER 3:
Water. Your session could take up to 3 hours, and I may make you climb, hike and work your way through the session. Especially if your session date is in the summer, temperatures can spike in the late afternoon and reach well over 100 inland and hydration is key in keeping it fun and cool during your shoot. Let that $$$ Stanley cup shine and fill her up, she’s about to showcase!
NUMBER 4:
Snacks. If you’re anything like a normal teenager then you know exactly what it means to be hangry. You likely haven’t had much to eat the day of your session as you run around getting things buttoned up. Probably skipped breakfast and even lunch, and now you’re sitting with your stylist for hair and makeup on an empty stomach. Trust me, you’ll be wishing you could stop off at the nearest Mickey D’s as we head to our first location, and we won’t have time. So, pack a few items that are easy to munch on, as we travel from location to location that won’t drip or spill on any of your outfits. Something that will keep your blood sugar from dipping mid sesh.
Good Idea
NUMBER 5:
Chapstick, Lip Gloss, Lip Stick. With all that smiling we’re about to do more than likely your lips will need some retouching, or simply some moisture. Cracked lips, or dry lipstick just isn’t going to be annoying, but they’ll be front and center in every photo. If you have a tendency for dry lips best to bring some backup so we can keep your kisser looking plump.
NUMBER 6:
Hair Brush. Not sure if you’ve noticed or not, but it can get pretty windy around here, and even though your stylist sprayed a ton of hairspray, if we’re headed to the beach, we’re going to need to do some touching up. And by touching up, I mean some serious mane control. Pro Tip: A bristly brush can calm down those flyaways without pulling all the way through to the scalp, leaving the top smooth, but also keeping those curls tight.
NUMBER 7:
Hair Control. Things like hair spray, bobby pins, and those clear mini hair rubber bands can help in situations where the wind just won’t let up. We live on the coast and weather can be unpredictable, so it’s best to be prepared when a situation out of our control arises.
NUMBER 8:
Lotion. If you have dry skin, lotion will be your best friend. You should be moisturizing daily a few weeks before your session, but in case you forgot to moisturize before you headed out, that lotion bottle will come in handy.
NUMBER 9:
Toothbrush. Ok, hear me out…if you are snacking in the car then you most likely have something in your teeth. A dry toothbrush can quickly scrub those front-and-center pearly whites and clear any debris left behind by your hangry snacking binge.
Optional Items
NUMBER 10:
Music. Bring a portable speaker and your curated senior photo shoot playlist and let’s get this party started! We’ll dance all the way through your session, and keep the energy high til sunset.
NUMBER 11:
Mosquito Repellant. No explanation required on this one, however any mosquito, tick, or bug repellant is always a good idea. We’ll be walking through and sitting in tall grass, rocks and nature, and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to spray yourself down to prevent an itchy situation later.
NUMBER 12:
A towel. If you plan on getting any part of your body in the water, ocean, or sand you’ll want a towel. You may need it to sit on in the car, wrap up in after, or use to brush off those sandy toes, either way, a towel is a great idea.
NUMBER 13:
Flip Flops or Sandals. These are great while walking to and from the car at a beach session. They are easy to slip on and off as we shoot and walk to locations around the beach. That way you aren’t getting a wood sliver or stepping on glass or something sharp as we go from one place to another.
NUMBER 14:
Cap and Gown. If you have access to a cap and gown from your school this would be a great opportunity to sneak in a few images of what you’ll look like come graduation day. Most grad gowns come folded in a package and you’ll want to use a bit of steam to get them smoothed out beforehand, then hang them up with the rest of your outfits to keep it looking crisp.
NUMBER 15:
Lint Roller. If your outfits are dark in color you may notice small bits of lint or pet fur have velcroed to your outfit without you noticing. A quick swipe with a lint roller will quickly pick up any leftover bits that won’t make it to your final images.
Don’t forget to bring your squad too. Anyone who pumps you up, supports you and can help you with outfit changes, stray hairs, taking behind the scene photos or straightening your dress is someone you want in your corner. I love it when a client brings their parents, friends, and even their furry friends (as long as they have someone who can look after them when we’re not shooting with them).
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