Interview with Janae Bainbridge - Class of 2027 - Topeka's Best Senior Portraits

Janae is such a great example of why I love senior sessions so much. Since she’s homeschooled, we had the flexibility to do an extra long session and really bring a lot of creative ideas to life. Honestly, I was completely blown away the entire time. She is not only beautiful and incredibly photogenic, but she also brought so many great ideas of her own to the session. Janae is both a ballerina and a basketball player, and we were able to build a session that showed both sides of who she is. We finished the evening out on the Kansas River with the most beautiful sunset behind her, and it was the perfect ending to an already amazing session.

One of the biggest highlights for me was photographing her ballet photos at the Topeka Performing Arts Center. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever photographed ballet before, and watching her move so effortlessly was incredible. Her athleticism, form, and control were just amazing to watch. At one point I told her she looked like she was coming down from a jump like a feather because everything looked so graceful and effortless. What impressed me even more was how relaxed and natural she looked the entire time. Her expressions never looked forced. She made something extremely difficult look easy.

One thing that meant a lot to me was hearing that Janae told her mom how much fun she was having during the session. As a photographer, I always hope the seniors enjoy the experience as much as I enjoy creating the images, and hearing that really stayed with me. Janae is such a hardworking and talented young lady, and I think she’s a great example of what homeschooling can do when students are given the chance to really focus on their gifts and passions. She talked about wanting her assignments done perfectly and getting them done right away, and I think that says a lot about her mentality and work ethic. She has a spirit of excellence in everything she does, whether it’s academics, basketball, or ballet, and it was truly an honor to photograph this season of her life.

T.H. Peterson: What are your plans after high school?
Janae: Go into nursing school and hopefully continue dancing either at my studio or at college.

T.H. P.: What kind of student are you?
Janae: Hard working. I like my assignments to be done perfectly and I like to get them done right away.
T.H. P.: Best part of being homeschooled?
Janae: Getting to sleep in and pick my own schedule.
T.H. P.: How long have you danced?
Janae: 13 years.
T.H. P.: What do you love most about ballet?
Janae: I love how it is challenging physically but also mentally with having to learn a bunch of different combinations. I also love the feeling of performing on stage in front of the community.
T.H. P.: Something you liked about your session with us?
Janae: Getting to go to multiple locations as well as all your great ideas such as getting all of the way in the water.
T.H. P.: What is your proudest moment in athletics?
Janae: This past season of basketball. My team won our league for the second year in a row. We also won 1st place at Heartland Regionals and we won the bronze ball championship at Nationals.
T.H. P.: How would friends describe you?
Janae: Quiet at first but a little crazy once you get to know me.
T.H. P.: Favorite way to wind down?
Janae: Read my Bible, journal, and watch TV.
T.H. P.: First thing you think when you wake up in the morning?
Janae: How much longer can I stay in my bed before I’m late.




 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

John and April's beautiful day! Incredible Wedding Celebration at Liquid Art Winery - Manhattan, KS

Image
John and April’s wedding at Liquid Art Winery was something special from start to finish. Set against rolling hills and the vineyard, the whole day had this calm, beautiful feel to it. It was cloudy in the best way—soft light, perfect for photos, and just an all-around ideal day for a wedding. Then right at the end of the night, the sun came out and gave us the most gorgeous golden light to wrap everything up. What stood out most was just how loved John and April are. You could feel it in every moment—friends and family showing up big for them, celebrating them, and surrounding them with so much support. Every detail of the day was dialed in. The food was incredible—brisket, salad, veggies—all so good. They even brought in local small businesses for cookies and ice cream, which was such a fun and thoughtful touch. The venue itself is phenomenal, and the DJ brought so much energy that the whole place stayed alive all night. And April—she had two dresses! Her ceremony dress was absolu...
Read more

Interview with Ellie Sowers - Santa Fe Trail Class of 2027 - Topeka's Best Senior Portraits

Image
I was really excited to photograph Ellie for her senior photos because I’ve had the chance to work with her many times over the years. She’s always been so natural in front of the camera, and this session was no different. We shot at a beautiful location that had a little bit of everything—pond, tall grass, wooded areas, a basketball court, and even an awesome swing with a view. Every outfit she wore fit her perfectly and photographed so well. She made the whole session easy and fun, and before we knew it, the time had flown by. It was also really great having her family there with us. You can tell they’re a close, supportive group, and that energy always shows through in photos. Ellie has such a kind, confident presence, and it was fun getting to capture that during such an important season of her life. I’m really happy with how everything turned out and excited for her as she heads into her senior year. I’m thankful I got to be part of it. T.H. P.: What are your favorite classes th...
Read more

Banks's newborn session - Interview with mom - Topeka's Best Newborn Photographers

Image
Banks was seriously such a cute little guy to photograph. I was honestly shocked at how much hair he had. His blonde hair almost looked like a tiny little wig, and it made him even more adorable. He gave me a couple little smiles during the session, but honestly, what stood out most were all the expressions he made. He was so animated the whole time, and every once in a while he would let out this loud cry that was actually kind of hilarious and adorable at the same time. Normally I’m not trying to photograph babies crying, but he was so expressive that it made for some really fun photos. We also got some really beautiful images of Banks with his mom, and those are some of my favorites from the session. You could just feel how much love was there. Overall, his session turned out so good, and I had such a fun time photographing him. I ended up with so many great images, and I’m super excited about how everything came together. Here’s a few of our favorites from his newborn session. T.H....
Read more

Interview with Brynna Perry - Santa Fe Trail Class of 2027 - Topeka's Best Senior Portraits

Image
From the very beginning of Brynna’s senior session, I knew it was going to be a good one. She has the kind of personality that just makes people smile. Brynna is funny, confident, smart, and completely herself, and once she started relaxing in front of the camera, her hilarious side really came out. She was making the funniest faces and keeping us laughing the entire session. She also has one of the best smiles, and the moment I got that first real laugh out of her, I knew we were going to create some amazing photos together. Spending the afternoon with Brynna and her mom was such a fun way to kick off our Class of 2027 senior season. We started the session at an old barn in Scranton before heading downtown to Lyndon, where Brynna wore the perfect dress for the location and vibe. Everything just came together so naturally. After that, we made our way to Melvern, stopping at an old bridge surrounded by beautiful trees and sky before ending at Melvern Lake for sunset. The evening could n...
Read more

Interview with Kaitlyn Cansino - Washburn Rural Class of 2027 - Topeka's Best Senior Portraits

Image
Kaitlyn’s senior session was such a fun one to photograph from start to finish. We shot her session at Ted Ensley Gardens, and it was the perfect backdrop for her personality. She has a really great smile and such a fun, easygoing energy that made the whole shoot feel relaxed and natural. Her family came along too, and they added to the experience in the best way — lots of laughs, encouragement, and good moments in between shots. We also spent time at Shawnee Lake, and it couldn’t have looked better. Everything was vibrant and green, and the skies were really colorful and full of life that day. Kaitlyn was completely down to try anything we suggested, which made it easy to get a wide variety of photos. Looking back through her gallery, you can really see all the happy, genuine emotions we were able to capture throughout her session.    T.H. P.: What are your plans after high school? Kaitlyn: Hopefully go to college for psychology and criminology. T.H. P.:   First thing...
Read more

Interview with Xavier Cross - Southern Coffey County High - Kansas Top Senior Portrait Photographers

Image
My first impression of Xavier was how confident he seemed and how mature he seemed for his age. Sure he joked around and had a great sense of humor but he seemed very confident and sure of himself. Mom later told me he's like an old man. I can see it. He's a good guy, I can tell. He's been through a lot and I think that's helped cultivate him into the young man he is. It was an absolute pleasure photographing him and sincerely one of the best sessions I've photographed in a long time. I am so happy with the results. Very dramatic and I think they really showcase him well! T.H. Peterson: What are your plans after high school? Xavier: Work on the road/make money.  T.H. P.: What would your dream job be? Xavier: Be a hunting guide.  T.H. P.: What would people be surprised to learn about you? Xavier: I’m actually a chef (I make my own jerky and summer sausage) and that I’m one of the youngest  old men you’ll will ever meet. T.H. P.: What goals do you have set for yourse...
Read more

Interview with Athena Gilbert - Cair Paravel Latin School Class of 2027 - Topeka's Best Senior Portraits

Image
Athena’s senior session was seriously amazing from start to finish. She goes to Cair Paravel Latin High School, and she is one of those people who is just naturally photogenic. Every smile, every expression, every angle — she looked incredible in every single photo. She’s such a sweet young lady and was so easy to photograph because she felt completely relaxed in front of the camera. We started at the capitol and then headed downtown where we found an alley that gave us some really fun and edgy shots. After that, we made our way to Shawnee Lake and the gardens where the evening light was absolutely perfect. One of my favorite moments was getting photos of Athena standing in a fountain in her dress. Those images turned out so unique and beautiful. We wrapped up the session in a field with tall prairie grass during golden hour, and it honestly could not have been a more perfect evening. The sun setting on the horizon gave us the dreamiest light, and Athena looked like a model the entire ...
Read more

Interview with Dominic Nimz - Washburn Rural Class of 2027 - Topeka's Best Senior Portraits

Image
Dominic’s senior session was such a fun one from start to finish. We started out with some basketball and baseball photos for his Washburn Rural High School senior portraits, and those turned out awesome. Dominic is a great athlete, but what really stood out was how easygoing and fun he was the entire session. He smiled naturally, had a great attitude, and made every location work perfectly. After the sports photos, we headed over to NOTO for some shots by the famous Dr. Pepper mural since Dominic is a huge Dr. Pepper fan. That part of the session may have been one of the funniest things I’ve ever photographed because we even recreated a Stone Cold Steve Austin-style Dr. Pepper smash in front of the mural. It was hilarious and made for some unforgettable photos. After that, we finished the session at a really cool old pot shop with some awesome graffiti walls that gave us a totally different look for the last part of the shoot. The colors and textures there fit Dominic’s style perfec...
Read more

Tobias's newborn session - Interview with Mom - Topeka's Best Newborn Photographers

Image
Tobias was seriously one of the sweetest little babies we’ve ever photographed. He had the cutest little face and the calmest personality, which made the whole session feel really special. Mom and dad were there soaking in every moment, and Grandma came along too—completely in love with her new grandson. You could just feel how much this little guy is already adored. Tobias was a perfect little model the entire time, giving us the sweetest smirks and tiny expressions that made it hard to put the camera down. They also brought along his older cousin, who’s still just a toddler, and getting photos of the two of them together was such a fun part of the session. Those moments were full of personality and so much cuteness. One of the highlights was incorporating a saddle that dad brought—it added such a unique and personal touch, and those images turned out to be some of our favorites. This session was full of love, meaningful details, and so many moments this family will treasure for year...
Read more

Interview with Autumn Artzer - Seaman High Class of 2027 - Topeka's Best Senior Portraits

Image
I had such a great time photographing Autumn’s senior session. She is a super photogenic girl with an awesome smile and a really fun personality. We started the session in NOTO, and the colorful backgrounds were perfect for her style and energy. She was so easy to photograph because she was willing to jump right into the session and have fun with it. After that, we headed to the Capitol for some classic senior photos before finishing out in the country during golden hour. Every location fit her perfectly, and the whole session just flowed so naturally. We ended the night on top of the hill overlooking the Wanamaker lights, and it made for such a cool ending to the session. We even captured some cheer photos there, which turned out amazing with the city lights glowing behind her. Autumn brought such a great vibe and energy all evening, and it honestly made the session a blast from start to finish. I loved everything about this session, and I would photograph her again anytime. T.H. P.:...
Read more