Category Archives: Senior Photos

And the winner is …

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I want to start by sharing a story.  Not too long ago I was sifting through my mail and came upon an envelope from a local publication – Madison Magazine.  I opened it and then my jaw hit the desk.  “Madison Magazine wishes to congratulate Sweeney Photography as the Gold Winner in the BEST Photographer category for 2013!”  (Okay, just typing that got me a bit choked up.)  My first thought was – wow that’s so wonderful!!!  Followed by – I wonder who the big winner is?  I quickly went to their website and realized that the big winner was indeed me.  A smile formed, a tear fell and a silent WOOHOO rang out. Why silent?  I had to keep this fabulous and truly unexpected news to myself until today.

Today I finally get to share it and say THANK YOU Madison Magazine!  THANK YOU Madison Magazine Readers and Voters!  THANK YOU Family and Friends for your support the past 11 years!  And above all – THANK YOU to the Brides and High School Seniors and Families and Babies and Professionals that have allowed me to share their special moments, days and events!

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http://www.madisonmagazine.com/Madison-Magazine/July-2013/Best-of-Madison-2013/Best-of-Madison-2013-Arts-Entertainment/

Making senior portraits more than …

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… average.

Shouldn’t graduation portraits be more than just a nice smile or a new outfit?  I think so.  Typically the senior portrait sessions here in the studio start out with what I call “The Grandma Wall” poses.  You know the ones – the ladies are gently resting a cheek on their ever so delicately folded hands and the gentlemen are looking very serious as they rest their chins on a rugged fist.  Thank goodness today’s Grandmas are way cooler and want to see something more exciting!

I encourage  all the young adults that come to me for their senior portraits to bring in items that really help to tell their story.  I want their proof booklets and finished portraits to unquestionably show who they are at this time in their lives.  It is my hope that they will someday look back at these photographs and remember that they were the bees knees.  (Translation: awesome, cool, hip, swagger, Gucci, fizzy)

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What’s so special about senior portraits in Madison WI?

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Thursdays are for sharing senior portraits.

One of the things that I really enjoy when taking senior portraits is when they bring along a younger sibling for a few photos.  Coming from a family with six kids I know how special the bond is between siblings.  A couple of years ago I had a big sister ask for a few photos with her younger brother.  Now this was pretty sweet all by itself but her younger brother was probably one of the most adorable little brothers ever.  He happily jumped in and did every thing we asked him to do.  And when I say jumped in – he really did.  No worries about the cell phone still in his pocket ….

This past summer I was asked to share the senior portrait experience with him.  Still sweet.  Still adorable.

Thank you Katie and Danny!!

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Coffee with Sean

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Thursday:  Share Senior Portraits

Over the years I’ve been lucky to be able share many special days with more than a few families.  This spring will mark one of those days for one of my favorite families.  Sean will graduate from high school.

This senior portrait session was a bit different than most.  As I clicked the shutter I saw two faces – the one that was sitting in front of me that day and the other was the face in my head that I’ve seen grow up over the last 11 years.   We spent a good portion of a day in the studio and at various locations in Madison.  My favorite moment was when we took a short break and Sean bought us coffee.  As we chatted about a million different things – I realized that he had gone from being this amazing, sweet and goofy kid into a smart, witty and goofy young man.

Well done Sean.

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