Category: Graduating Seniors

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Blog Graduating Seniors Rambling

Change and Hard Work

Daniel, Class of 2010
Daniel, Class of 2010
Daniel, Class of 2010

I was remembering and maybe reminiscing a bit to when a photograph was a product of the darkroom. Going into a completely dark room and prying open a canister of film with a bottle opener to then attempt rolling the five foot long roll of film onto a processing reel. Processing that film and then the moment of anticipation where you can finally unroll and examine all the hard work with fingers crossed that all the images were properly exposed, in focus and not damaged by processing. The best way I can describe it was that it was exciting and thrilling seeing something you started, finalized.

Long gone are those days for all but the extreme retro or “pure” photographers. We all experience change whether its in our industry or something more personal like kids growing up or simply getting older.

Change often requires work to get from one place in your life to the next. That is the path our oldest son Daniel took the past three years working toward a degree in Petroleum Technology. I can see and I think he can now see the benefit of hard work. He started a new job this month in San Antonio. Exciting to see new beginnings that have come about due to patience and hard work.

We are proud of Daniel and this new start.

 

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Blog Graduating Seniors Rambling

A Good Day

Collage of official yearbook and fun casual images of Nacogdoches Senior.
Collage of official yearbook and fun casual images of Nacogdoches Senior.
Collage of official yearbook and fun casual images of Nacogdoches Senior.
Collage of official yearbook and fun casual images of Nacogdoches Senior.

It’s that time of year that we begin seeing high school seniors for their yearbook pictures. For Nacogdoches, it’s the velvet drape for girls and for boys, a tuxedo shirt and jacket. For some of them it’s the first time they’ve had professional pictures taken.

For all of them, their senior year marks the end of  youth and the beginning of adulthood. For many of them, it’s just another day; they’ll let it “sink in” by degrees. For others, as they put on that cap and gown, you can tell they “get it.” They’re more quiet than usual and a little nervous. I want to tell them to take a deep breath and, then, hold on. And enjoy every minute of it! Because on the day they graduate and wear this cap and gown again for real, they’ll look back at this day and think what a short time ago it was.

Photographing seniors gives me a nostalgic feeling and helps me to remember the brevity of life. I wish I could get that feeling everyday, so that I might not waste as much time as I do on frivolous things. But, I must go for now and make out my grocery list. I sure don’t want to forget the milk!

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Blog Graduating Seniors

Sending Seniors off in Style!

Senior Portrait Fun

We love creating a fun and memorable experience for our seniors.  If they don’t have a blast, then we haven’t done our jobs.  Plus, when our seniors are relaxed and having a good time, it makes capturing amazing moments that much easier.  Every year, we see a new “crop” of seniors come through our studio doors, and we’d like to think they are venturing off to college with some great memories of little ol’ Nac.

It feels like we’re winding down for this year’s graduates, but there is always time for a professional portrait that represents all that your senior has accomplished.  So, if you’re one of the few who haven’t made the time, please feel free to call us and set up an appointment.  We’ll try to make you feel like the center of the universe… and I bet we’ll have a fun time too.

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Babies Blog Children Family Graduating Seniors Pets Rambling Weddings

Making the Memories Count

montage of children, families, seniors, and weddings photos
montage of children, families, seniors, and weddings photos
montage of children, families, seniors, and weddings photos
montage of children, families, seniors, and weddings photos

As we continue to reflect upon and celebrate all that has happened in the past 10 years, we take a look at the numbers of unique moments we’ve captured.

Over 1000 Just4Fun Kid’s sessions with all the goofy grins, silly smiles and unexpected moments one can imagine…
Hundreds of furry friends and their owners, those that behaved and those that made attempts to chase the neighborhood cat…
Over 800 nervous, yet excited graduating seniors, each with their own brand of style and personality…
Nearly 1500 fun-filled, action packed family sessions with crazy kiddos running around being chased by each other while the parents stand back and laugh at the mayhem…
Several dozen voice quivering “I do” moments, decorated Just Married getaway vehicles, and teary dads that are reluctant to give away their baby girls…
You, our clients, have invited us to be a part of creating tens of thousands of special moments.  It continues to be a blessing and honor.

-G. Patterson Studio

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Blog Children Family Graduating Seniors Rambling

Connecting with our Clients… Then and Now

A snapshot of our recent e-newsletter.
A snapshot of our recent e-newsletter.
A snapshot of our printed newsletter from 9 years ago.
A snapshot of our printed newsletter from 9 years ago.

 

A snapshot of our recent e-newsletter.
A snapshot of our recent e-newsletter.

For the better part of 10 years, we’ve tried to stay connected with our clients through our studio newsletter “Coming Home.”  It’s of great importance to us to remain engaged with our friends and family who continue to support our portrait studio.  The newsletter often contains stories of recent family sessions, growing families, photography tips, upcoming specials, holiday recipes, and our thoughts on the day.  We want to share our exciting stories with our community.  We want to inspire and encourage families and children and graduating seniors.  We want to enrich the lives of our readers if only by bringing a simple smile to their faces.  Our newsletter has seen its fair share of changes, from originating as a print snail-mailer to the current instant email it is today.  So please take the time to peruse and share our newsletter the next time you see it in your inbox.  Thanks for reading… and remember to stay in touch.

-Daryl

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Blog Graduating Seniors

Custom Graduation Invitations

Custom graduation invitations from G. Patterson Studio in Nacogdoches.
Custom graduation invitations from G. Patterson Studio in Nacogdoches.
Custom graduation invitations from G. Patterson Studio in Nacogdoches.
Custom graduation invitations from G. Patterson Studio in Nacogdoches.

Right now, I am happily engaged in creating unique graduation invitations for our 2014 high school and college seniors.  Some are from senior sessions we did back in the summer or fall, and some are from sessions we just photographed.  Each invitation is made to order, from the selection of poses… to any particular verbiage… right down to the color scheme.  These are not your run of the mill type invites.  They are the right combination of bright and professional, vibrant and elegant.  No two look the same.  I enjoy designing these cards because it is as challenging as it is beautiful.  My task is to incorporate our client’s desires into an overall layout that works aesthetically and pragmatically.  It gets really interesting though when Mom and Dad do not see eye to eye with Senior.  But I have yet to hear any complaints after the final product is in their hands.

Recently I’ve run into several parents who have asked me if our studio is booked up with senior portrait sessions this spring.  I tell them that March is looking a little crazy, but it always does.  My advice to them is call as early as you can so that we will have the most availability and flexibility.  And if you are wanting those rockin’ awesome invitations that we are famous for, then call even earlier.  That graduation day clock is winding down.  The last thing I want is to turn someone away simply because we ran out of time.  So give the studio a call if you want senior portraits and products that will make sure you stand out from the crowd.

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Blog Graduating Seniors

Signature Seniors

Graduating Seniors have filled a wall with written notes about their portrait sessions at G. Patterson Studio.
Graduating Seniors have filled a wall with written notes about their portrait sessions at G. Patterson Studio.
Graduating Seniors have filled a wall with written notes about their portrait sessions at G. Patterson Studio.
Graduating Seniors have filled a wall with written notes about their portrait sessions at G. Patterson Studio.

At the studio, we have a dressing room for our clients.  In that room, there is a wall where graduating seniors have written little notes about their sessions and signed their names.  Looking at this wall the other day got me thinking about the individuality of each of these seniors.  Every word is penned with its own particular handwriting. Each note has its own voice.  Every signature is unique and stylistic.  This hodgepodge of messages is a perfect representation of just how different each person is.  As we go throughout our busy lives, we shouldn’t forget our diversity and what personal characteristics make us who we are.  We should embrace them because it is our individuality that makes us so wonderfully special.

Whether it be for a high school senior, 6 month old baby, a brand new bride, or whatever, a portrait should exemplify what makes that person special.  Their interests, attitude and personality should shine through for all to appreciate.  We want to offer that to our clients.  We do offer that to our clients.  G. Patterson Studio helps bring out your inner “awesomeness” for others to see and enjoy.  At the studio, we have an expression for our seniors, “Show the world your true self.”  Let’s work together to make that thought a reality.  Hope to see you soon!

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Blog Graduating Seniors

A senior’s final semester:

Nacogdoches Senior Class of 2014 at G. Patterson Studio portrait garden
Nacogdoches Senior Class of 2014 at G. Patterson Studio portrait garden

After Christmas, one of two things generally happens to a senior.  They either get busy or they get lazy (senior-itis).  The first group tends to be on a mad hunt for scholarships and extra-curricular activities as they submit college applications.  The other tends to sit back and coast and let the chips fall where they may.  But no matter which category they fall into, everyone will agree that these final five months go by as a blur.  So, to our graduating class of ’14 and your parents I say this, “Don’t blink. You might miss it.”

But hey, that’s what senior portraits are for… to help you remember all that you’ve accomplished and all that you represent right now in this moment in time… to remind family and friends of the whacky, zany, silly, funny, serious, studious, and hard-working sides of your personality.   In the last week and a half, we have personally seen and scheduled many 2014 seniors for their senior portrait sessions.  We’ve been talking graduation invitations, outfits, locations, and poses to make sure that this moment is perfectly catered to the individual.  It’s obvious that students and parents alike are getting excited in their anticipation of graduation… and so are we!  If you have been sitting around waiting for the right time to schedule, NOW is that time!  Call the studio to discuss your ideal senior session and what products you’re most interested in.  Hope to hear from you soon.