Photo Shoot Genre: High School Senior

Locations: El Dorado Hills Library & Brown’s Ravine, El Dorado Hills

Specific to shoot: Photos with her dogs, a bunch of flowers, and her best friend, Bella.

On the day prior to our photo shoot, Sarah was involved in a pretty bad car accident while in her vehicle.  She was shaken up pretty badly.  She still wanted to go ahead with the photo shoot as she had been really looking forward to it.  Upon arrival, it was clear that Sarah was still affected by what had happened to her the previous day.

I went ahead with the shoot but promised her that if I felt her images looked too sad, I was going to reschedule.  Can’t have sad senior photos.

Well, I am happy to report that I was able to capture some beautiful images of Sarah. We even caught some final moments with a golden sunset.

Well, you tell me. What do you think? All I see is beautiful girl!

🎉 Happy New Year, friends! 🎉

I’m Michelle, and if we haven’t met yet, let me introduce myself—photographer, finder of funky locations, and someone who believes every session should feel like an adventure. Whether we’re blasting music, chasing golden hour, or just laughing at life, my goal is to make your photos as fun as the day we capture them.

My journey officially started in October 2019 with family sessions and red truck shoots. Then 2020 hit, and, well, PIVOT! (Friends fans, you get it.) Building a photography business during a pandemic wasn’t exactly easy. I spent two years at a camera store, learning everything I could. But something was missing—being behind the camera. So, I grabbed my gear and jumped back into the thing I love most.

My style? Colorful, quirky, and a little nostalgic—kind of like the childhood adventures I had growing up in Ashburn, Ontario, exploring old houses and fields and dreaming up stories about them.

This year, I’m introducing prints and albums because photos should be more than files on your phone. They should be the kind of keepsakes you’d grab in a fire—or at least proudly display on your wall.

In 2025, I’m all about family sessions, high school seniors, headshots, and, of course, red truck shoots. Ready to make some memories? Let’s hang out, explore some cool spots, and create something amazing together. Shoot me a DM, and let’s plan the fun.

#PhotographyJourney #FamilyPhotos #SeniorPortraits #Headshots #RedTruckSessions #MichelleNicholsonPhotography

21 Photography Truths (According to Me)

1. The best poses? Oh, those come to me on the drive home when it’s too late. Every. Single. Time.

2. I have a full-blown panic attack on the way home, convinced every single shot is out of focus. Cue me checking photos at stoplights like a maniac.

3. Playing music during shoots? Total game changer. ADHD taught me that. Now it’s basically a mini dance party.

4. Can’t get the kids to cooperate? Make them move. Have them race, jump, or do superhero poses (99% of the time, it’s Spiderman). Give them sticks if you’re outside—they love sticks.

5.  John Hughes rule: Treat kids like they matter. Ask them if they want to sit or kneel, or which spot looks cool. Just don’t let them run the whole show. Balance is key.

6. Troubleshooting is 40% of photography. Whether it’s emotions, mechanical failures, unpredictable weather, or settings—stay cool and figure it out.

7. Photography is like skiing: the more you do it, the faster you improve. Daily practice = exponential growth

8. You are an artist. Don’t let this world of instant gratification water down your creativity.

9. Slow. The. Hell. Down. No one cares if you check the back of your camera. Breathe.

10. If I say, “This is the last shot,” just know I’m lying. Every time.

11. Execution is success. If you thought it, planned it, and shot it—you’re already winning. Even if it’s not perfect, you did it.

12. Marketing is the secret sauce between being a working photographer and a struggling one. Sorry, but you gotta hustle.

13. Your local camera store is a goldmine. Go touch, test, and try the gear. Trust me—weight and feel matter.

14. Rent before you buy. Seriously, RENT. It’s like test-driving a car but more fun. Treat yourself to a weekend with a dreamy lens.

15. Light matters. Learn how it shapes your image—just as much as camera settings.

16. If a two-year-old doesn’t want their picture taken, they win. Every time. Accept it.

17. Forgetting your SD card is a rite of passage. It’ll happen once… and hopefully never again

18. Just start. Kids, plants, flowers, bugs—whatever catches your eye. Your phone + YouTube = photography at any age, with no limits.

19. Don’t promise to “fix it in Photoshop.” Just don’t. Future you will thank you.

20. Get it right in camera. Seriously.

21. The client almost never picks the same favorite shot as you. It’s a mystery we’ll never solve.

Bonus:

22. Photography is equal parts chaos, art, and troubleshooting. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.