14!
I turned 14 in 1991… that’s definitely a while ago
At 14, I still felt like a little kid most of the time.
Not this 14 yr old! No Way! This young lady was graceful and poised and fun and so full of smiles! She was a dream to photograph even though I kept teasing her about wanting one serious face (I did get one in the end).
Walking Around Oakland
We spent our hour walking around Oakland. Mom suggested Craig Street for the location and I loved it! I lived in an apartment just off of Craig Street back in college and spent so much time walking around, making regular stops at the video store for Thursday Night Movies. Craig Street has changed but it’s still such a colorful spot, perfect for a stylish city girl.
She chose her dress and I love the bold pattern! It really made her stand-out from the busy-ness around her.
I swear she thought I was a crazy person standing on walls to shoot from different angles but it worked! Sometimes you have to look at things from a different perspective to get the shot that you want.
Outfit Change!
Then we stopped for a quick outfit change (and to check in with mom and dad). It was time for a more casual look and she ROCKED it!
I feel like with my Tween Sessions, it’s so important to have 2 looks- one more dressy or fancy and another more relaxed and casual. The different looks help to tell us more about who these special kids are and how they are at this point in time.
I teased her and said this was her practice for Senior pictures in a few years. She’ll go into that session with so much experience! I have to admit, I may look for her down the road to see how she’s grown and changed.
I did manage my one serious shot. It was literally just a second before she noticed my camera and burst into giggles and smiles again. But I love the thoughtful expression she has.
The smiles just kept going throughout our entire time together and she was so relaxed. Oakland on a Saturday in the summer is quite the busy spot but she was perfectly at ease as I told her “one more” and “one more” and “just one more.”
But we did need one more with her sunglasses. I couldn’t resist the cool reflection and the challenge of keeping myself out of it 🙂
We even had a lady stop and offer to take a picture of the two of us together! I have to admit that was a first for me and now I’m thinking, we should have done it.
Seriously though, I really enjoyed this session and I know I hope to shoot again around Craig Street!
Do you have a Pittsburgh tween that would love a special session like this? Would they love having the spotlight on them downtown or maybe just a quiet spot outside of town?
I’m looking to schedule more Tween sessions for August and the fall. Contact me to start planning!