shawnaparksphotography-blog

[shawnaparksphotography-blog]

This was our last shot before the balloons that I didn't tie up very well, blew away 🎈 . . . . . MUA @classygalglo #shawnaparksphoto #shawnaparksseniors #sandiegoseniorphotographer #sandiegoseniorportraits #sandiegoportraits #sdsu (at San Diego State University)

#shawnaparksphoto #sdsu #sandiegoportraits #sandiegoseniorphotographer #sandiegoseniorportraits #shawnaparksseniors

[shawnaparksphotography-blog]

Nothing says "sassy" like red lip stick. Every month I do concept photo shoots for submission to @seniorsignite This month the requirement is the color red. . . . MUA @classygalglo #seniorsignite #shawnaparksphoto #shawnaparksseniors #sandiegoseniorphotographer #sandiegoseniorportraits #sandiegoportraits (at San Diego State University)

#sandiegoseniorphotographer #shawnaparksphoto #sandiegoseniorportraits #sandiegoportraits #seniorsignite #shawnaparksseniors

[shawnaparksphotography-blog]

5 Tips for Camera Ready Nails

One of the many things that I talk about with my clients at their consultation, is what to do with their nails. Pretty nails, especially toes, can be overlooked when you're getting ready for your photos. Some people think that you won't really see their nails in the pictures. They're not a big deal. But they are. Here are some tips that will have your nails camera ready, in a flash (see what I did there? Camera? Flash?)

# 3 Wear Neutral Colors

I know. I love turquoise polish too. Your choice of nail color will date your photos. Quickly. In 5 years, you don't want to look at your senior pics hanging in your Mom's living room and think, "Oh my gosh! That nail polish!" Choose neutral colors. They are timeless and classic. 

#1 Clean or Freshly Painted Nails

Not a polish girl (or guy)? Then don't feel the need to wear it for your teen or senior photos. Be yourself. Make sure your nails are clean and trimmed nicely.

#2 No Chipped Nails

Chipped nails are distracting. Especially in your photos. I keep polish remover and cotton flats in my camera bag. If your polish is chipped, I will ask clients to remove it. 

#4 Nail Shape

Nail shape is a personal preference. Some shapes, like the coffin shape are trendy and can date your photos, though it's not a biggie.  I like mine very square. Choose the shape you like. 

#5 Toes

Remember to take care of your toes, too. Especially if you are wearing sandals or are barefoot. You will see your toe polish in your photos. They same rules apply. Clean and trimmed or freshly polished. Use a neutral color. Your piggies and your photographer will thank you!

[shawnaparksphotography-blog]

A big beautiful genuine smile from @celestee1240 at her Star Squad model shoot in my new favorite spot. The Cactus Garden in Balboa Park. . . . . MUA @classygalglo #shawnaparksphoto #shawnaparksseniors #sandiegoseniorphotographer #sandiegoseniorportraits #sandiegoportraits #shawnaparksphoto #shawnaparksteens #sandiegoseniorphotographer #sandiegoteenportraits #sweetsixteenportraits #sweet16portraits # #seniorportraits #2018seniorportraits #________highschool #sandiegoseniors #sandiegoseniors2018 #2018hssenior #sandiegoportraitphotography #sandiegoseniorphotos

#shawnaparksseniors #sandiegoseniorphotographer #sweet16portraits #shawnaparksphoto #________highschool #sandiegoseniors2018 #2018hssenior #2018seniorportraits #sandiegoseniors #sandiegoportraits #sandiegoseniorphotos #sandiegoteenportraits #sandiegoportraitphotography #seniorportraits #sweetsixteenportraits #sandiegoseniorportraits #shawnaparksteens

[shawnaparksphotography-blog]

@celestee1240 a beautiful flower among the prickly cactus 🌵 at her model shoot for the 2018 Star Squad model team. . . . . MUA @classygalglo shawnaparksphoto #shawnaparksseniors #sandiegoseniorphotographer #sandiegoseniorportraits #sandiegoportraits #seniorportraitexperience (at Cactus Garden)

#seniorportraitexperience #sandiegoseniorphotographer #sandiegoseniorportraits #shawnaparksseniors #sandiegoportraits

[shawnaparksphotography-blog]

Find out what @celestee1240 always has in her purse or her pocket over in the blog today. And it's not her phone! Link in bio @shawnaparksphoto . . . . MUA @classygalglo #shawnaparksphoto #shawnaparksseniors #sandiegoseniorphotographer #sandiegoseniorportraits #sandiegoportraits (at Cactus Garden)

#sandiegoseniorphotographer #sandiegoportraits #sandiegoseniorportraits #shawnaparksphoto #shawnaparksseniors

[shawnaparksphotography-blog]

Star Squad's Celeste Escanuela

Meet Celeste!

Celeste is a Class of 2018 senior from Helix Charter High School. She is on the swim and the water polo teams. She is also involved in GDIF and she tap dances. Celeste describes herself as kind, helpful, driven and creative. She says that her friends would say that she is caring and generous.

SPP: What is something you always have in your purse or pocket? Celeste: Chapstick :)

SPP: What do you like to order at Starbucks? Celeste: Strawberry Acai Refresher

SPP: What do you want to be when you grow up? Celeste: I want to attend SDSU and become a teacher.

SPP: What is something you would like to be better at? Celeste: I wish I were a better dancer. SPP: I just wish I could dance!

SPP: What kind of music makes you happy? Celeste: Indie rock and alternative

SPP: What is the last good movie you saw? Celeste: OH! Beauty and the Beast!

SPP: If you had one super power, what would it be? Celeste: I would want to be able to read minds.

As a member of the Star Squad, which is the Shawna Parks Photography model team, Celeste will be entering the Seniors Ignite National Model Competition this fall. Winners will be be featured in 2 issues of SEEN magazine. They will win a weekend in Palm Springs in January 2018. For the 2 days of photo sessions, models will be professionally styled including clothing, hair and make up. They will be photographed by the lead photographers of the magazine and also by nationally featured senior photographers from across the country.

#high school senior model program #senior portraits san diego #senior photos san diego #high school senior portratis #senior photographer

[shawnaparksphotography-blog]

Love the sunlight light on Moa's hair. The hair toss is always one of my favorite shots. . . . . . MUA @classygalglo #shawnaparksphoto #shawnaparksseniors #sandiegoseniorphotographer #sandiegoseniorportraits #sandiegoportraits #seniormodel #seniormodelshoot (at Shawna Parks Photography)

#seniormodel #seniormodelshoot #shawnaparksseniors #shawnaparksphoto #sandiegoseniorphotographer #sandiegoportraits #sandiegoseniorportraits

[shawnaparksphotography-blog]

This strawberry haired beauty is Moa, HCHS senior and Star Squad member. I'm so excited to be able to photograph her this year as part of my model team. Will she join me in Palm Springs in January?! . . . . . MUA @classygalglo #shawnaparksphoto #shawnaparksseniors #sandiegoseniorphotographer #sandiegoseniorportraits #sandiegoportraits #seniormodel #seniormodelshoot (at Shawna Parks Photography)

#shawnaparksseniors #sandiegoseniorphotographer #sandiegoportraits #sandiegoseniorportraits #seniormodelshoot #seniormodel #shawnaparksphoto

[shawnaparksphotography-blog]

Star Squad's Moa Smith

Meet Moa!

Moa is a Class of 2018 senior from Helix Charter High School. She is on the swim and the water polo teams. She is also involved in the National Honor Society and the SOMA Club. Moa describes herself as punctual, opinionated and goal oriented. She says that her friends would say that she is loyal, trustworthy and funny.

A beautiful name for a beautiful girl. From her Swedish mom, Moa got a Swedish name, pronounced (MOO-ah). Famous people with the same name are also Swedes, author Moa Martinson and model Moa Kikuchi.

SPP: Where do you like to hang out with your friends? Moa: Anywhere really. So long as we are together.

SPP: Where are your favorite places to shop?  Moa: Places like Forever 21, Hollister, the usual. I also like resale stores like Platos Closet.

SPP: If you had a super power, what would it be? Moa: I would want the ability to be invisible.

SPP: What do you want to do when you grow up? Moa: Attend Stanford and go into law.

SPP: You have a fun birthdate. When is it? Moa: I was born on Halloween!

SPP: What is something you wish you were better at? Moa: Cooking.

As a member of the Star Squad, which is the Shawna Parks Photography model team, Moa will be entering the Seniors Ignite National Model Competition this fall. Winners will be be featured in 2 issues of SEEN magazine. They will win a weekend in Palm Springs in January 2018. For the 2 days of photo sessions, models will be professionally styled including clothing, hair and make up. They will be photographed by the lead photographers of the magazine and also by nationally featured senior photographers from across the country.

[shawnaparksphotography-blog]

Happy Summer!! Enjoy the longest day of the year. (at Ace Hotel & Swim Club)

[shawnaparksphotography-blog]

It was roasting in Palm Springs today, but back in January when I got to photograph @_saaavanna_ a Seniors Ignite national model winner, the weather was beyond perfect. Follow the link @shawnaparksphoto to find out how you can go to PS with me in January '18!! (at Ace Hotel & Swim Club)

[shawnaparksphotography-blog]

When I was photographing Seniors Ignite National model winner @_saaavanna_ in Palm Springs she needed some sunnies and mine just happened to match perfectly! (at Ace Hotel & Swim Club)

[shawnaparksphotography-blog]

When I was photographing Seniors Ignite National model winner @_saaavanna_ in Palm Springs she needed some sunnies and mine just happened to match perfectly! (at Ace Hotel & Swim Club)

[shawnaparksphotography-blog]

Star Squad 2018

Beginning later this week, I will be introducing the members of the 2018 Star Squad!! Over the next 5 weeks you will get to meet the awesome Class of 2018 seniors. I can't wait to show off the photos from their model sessions and give you all the details from my exclusive interview with each one of them.

How do you find seniors for the Squad? Each spring, I ask my current senior model squad for recommendations from their friends who are juniors. I also have soon-to-be-seniors contact me through Instagram to be part of the model team. This group is with me for their entire senior year, as the faces of Shawna Parks Photography on my website, social media and marketing.

Each model team member gets to do some pretty cool stuff. They can participate in monthly photo shoots that are submitted to Seniors Ignite, Twelfth Year and Senior Style Guide. If the submission is selected, they are published on those websites and social media. 

Some members of the model team can choose to participate in the Seniors Ignite National Model Competition. Submissions for the competition are due in late fall, with winners announced in February. If you are a winner, you get a trip to Palm Springs to be photographed for SEEN magazine by the magazine's lead photographers. Each of the winners gets professional hair, make up and wardrobe for 2 days of photo shoots. They are also photographed by senior photographers from around the country, who come to Palm Springs for the opportunity to photograph the winners. For the Class of 2017, my studio had 2 finalists. This year we are hoping for a winner!!

Finalists from my studio are winners, even if they aren't chosen by Seniors Ignite for the trip to Palm Springs. I take my finalists on a destination session to showcase their talent and to tell their stories.

Project Beauty 360

One more thing! The Star Squad will help me with something new to my studio, this summer. Project Beauty. Started a few years ago by fellow senior photographer Thomas Nguyen. Project Beauty features teen girls with no make up, in black & white photos. The purpose of what has become Project Beauty 360 is to bring the awareness that true beauty isn't necessarily what we see in social media, television, magazines and movies. There is more to being beautiful than how well you apply your make up. Project Beauty will be a fundraiser for To Write Love On Her Arms or TWLOHA. We are hoping to raise $500 to donate to this non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery.

If you are a teen ages 13-18 and you would like to participate in Project Beauty, please contact me to get more information.

[shawnaparksphotography-blog]

So excited to be featured on Seniors Ignite! Congrats @alexis.snodgrass . . . #seniorsignite #sandiegoseniors #sandiegoseniorsession #sandiegoteenphotographer #sandiegoteenportraits #shawnaparksseniors

#sandiegoseniorsession #seniorsignite #shawnaparksseniors #sandiegoteenportraits #sandiegoteenphotographer #sandiegoseniors

[shawnaparksphotography-blog]

Meet Alexis. She's a PHHS junior. Find out the last good movie she watched in my exclusive interview with her over on the blog. Link @shawnaparksphoto