LKN Images Blog

It’s that time of the year when gowns are flowing & caps are flying! Kindergarten, fifth grade, eighth grade, high school, college… They’re all important moments that need to be photographed!

Have you ever been asked to be in a photo & for whatever reason, you declined?

People tell me this all the time and they’re correct – I do have an amazing camera (actually, I have three “amazing” cameras). And I have some beautiful photos. But does everyone need an amazing camera to take beautiful photos?

In 2018, Lake Norman High School’s head football coach, Rob McNeely, left LNHS and took over as head coach at Fort Mill High School in South Carolina. He took some of his assistants along with him. And he also took me with him!

Today was the official start of summer for me – summer swim teams have begun. I was at Winslow Bay’s pool at 8:00 AM ready to roll! Next up, Cherry Grove, Morrison Plantation, The Point and The Farms!

Celebrating the senior athletes of the class of 2021, here are some samples of just a few of the banners we have done so far for this school year. And we’re just getting started!

Senior Photos December – I continued to have some amazing senior sessions through the entire month of December. New schools. New locations. And lots of familiar faces, too, including Brady from Cox Mill who I have know since before he was born!

I know that all of the togetherness has been difficult, at times, for everyone. But as we went through November and the yearly rush for new family photos, the stories from the families we photographed were incredible.

Senior Photos November – Getting to know the class of 2021 and seeing how they are all pushing through this mania – each in their own way – is really inspiring.

Family Photos October – The holiday rush came early this year! I’m not sure if it was because people were home more than normal or if they just wanted to hurry up and get 2020 behind us!

I love this time of the year (even though it normally happens at a different point on the calendar). Coaches and athletes are excited to get their season going. The new uniforms are arriving. Practices are beginning. And that means LKN Images is ramping up our sports photo shoots.

Senior Photos October – As fall set in and the “sort of back to school” schedule settled, senior sessions became THE thing.

The theme for September families was “home”. Along with a ’58 Ford pickup truck! Here are a few of my favorite shots from the month.

As crazy as the world is, something seemed to click as the calendar turned to September. And as the weather started to cool (at least a little bit), LKN Images got into the heat of high school senior sessions.

2020 has been a year for the lake. Therefore, Lake Norman was a popular setting for family photos. We had no shortage of incredible sunsets in August!

The class of 2021 officially arrived in August – although most of them started their senior year online!

Ah… July! Family get-togethers. Vacations. Barbecues. Oh… that’s right… this is 2020! So much for all that! ? But as people started to get out more, I was able to capture some great families in July – including family reunions and a Mooresville Lakeside Living shoot at Lakeside Stables.

Caitlyn’s grandmother wanted to do a photo shoot for her birthday. And we found the perfect day for our first high school session of the new class!

House Calls. We bring the shoot to you. Your home becomes the setting; you don’t have to go anywhere. We bring all of our gear and set up in multiple locations around your yard to get a lot of variety. In between shots, people can retreat to the air conditioning or shade.

I have taken photos of hundreds of seniors. And one thing always rings true… No matter where we do the shoot, the moment we arrive, the first outfit goes on, the camera comes out and the flash goes off for the first time… the photo session is totally yours. You are the star of the show.

For me, the entire coronavirus quarantine – plus some time before and after – was defined by The Front Steps Project. It consumed our time and energy for nearly 3 months. It taught us things that we never imagined – personally and professionally.

As a photographer social distancing was always a factor in my work. I’m usually 15-20 feet (or more) back from whoever I’m photographing. I guess I was a social distancing trend-setter and didn’t even know it!

Many years ago, I picked up my first camera. It was the 1970’s and the camera was a “Mick-A-Matic” – in the shape of Mickey Mouse’s head. From that moment, the idea of being able to capture a moment – not just a picture – has been my passion.