Jody Rael Photograrphy Senior Welcome Guide

THE PORTRAIT EXPERIENCE, PERFECTED

JODY RAEL PHOTOGRAPHY

Seniors

THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO EVERYTHING PORTRAIT

WARDROBE PROPS

STYLING

LOCATION

PASSIONS

MILESTONES

FAMILY

YEARBOOK

COVER: TOWER BRIDGE, LONDON

PAGE 2: EL PRADO, SAN DIEGO

4 6 8 10 12 14 18 20 22 24 28 30

DEAR PARENTS DEAR SENIOR ABOUT JRP WHAT TO EXPECT LOOK YOUR BEST LOCATION PASSIONS

HAIR AND SKIN

SENIOR SESSION

FAMILY SESSION MILESTONES DESTINATIONS THE JODY COLLECTIVE PRODUCT PREVIEW

VICTORIA TOWER GARDENS, LONDON

BOULDER CITY, NEVADA

LEE MEADOW, MT. CHARLESTON, NEVADA

Dear Parents,

Welcome to Jody Rael Photography! We’re so glad you’re here. Senior year of high school is one of the most exciting times in a young person’s life.

Shepherding your child to the brink of adulthood is a big accomplishment. Congratulations on reaching this point in the parenting path! We’re thrilled you’re considering sharing this time with us. You may remember senior pictures as being an hour with a camera, with a couple dozen proofs to choose among. That’s changed dramatically. We recognize that every person is unique, and the process of senior portraits has evolved to reveal each client’s personality and interests.

Senior year is not just for students — it’s also for parents. This is a final opportunity for parents to share many major milestones with their child before the days of college, independent travel, new relationships and, eventually, their own household and family.

The Jody Rael Photography creative portrait experience is crafted especially for high school seniors and their parents. One-of-a-kind portraits focus on far more than appearance. Thoughtfully designed portrait sessions, professional

WHY GO PRO?

In this day and age, it seems really easy for just about anyone to pick up a digital camera and create a decent photograph. The art of photography is more accessible than ever before, but there is still a distinct separation between the professional photographer and the photography hobbyist, both in the quality of the images and in the overall experience.

With hundreds of hours of training and knowledge born of collaboration and experience, a professional photographer creates timeless images that you will be proud of — not just today, but 30 years from now.

A professional photographer knows the equipment inside and out, and also knows the importance of posing, wardrobe, proper lighting, and getting the clients’

preparation, and carefully curated images capture your senior’s life and times. By the end, not only can your family can share this record with each other and with people you know and love, your senior will have had a positive and memorable experience that builds self confidence and adds to your family’s creative journey.

Because we know life is very busy even without senior portraits, college applications, and campus visits, we work with you and your school to make sure the important deadlines are met. From school portrait and yearbook deadlines in the fall to graduation photo deadlines in the spring, we’ve got your back. In addition, Jody Rael Photography is the only studio in the area to offer the senior video. We create a personalized video gift of your senior’s portrait experience and for family portraits if you choose. This keepsake video is a unique and personal gift you can give your family.

This guide offers a ton of information about the Jody Rael Photography senior portrait experience. We promise quality and distinctive service, from the initial consultation to the day we hang your wall art.

Jody

personalities to shine for the session. After the session, images are professionally color corrected using calibrated monitors and equipment and professionally retouched using professional-grade digital darkroom software.

We are telling your story, and your portraits become family heirlooms. Images are printed on archival paper using the highest quality inks by print labs hand-selected for quality and high standards, then are professionally framed or mounted with professional design and materials.

Jody Rael Photography thrives on client communication and invites you to be a part of the planning process. We will ensure that your portraits portray an accurate image and representation of your senior and your family as a whole and that your portrait investment will stand the test of time.

NELSON’S LANDING, ELDORADO CANYON, NEVADA

JODY RAEL PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO

Dear Senior,

You have finally arrived to your senior year! This milestone is probably one you have thought about for a long time. You have many decisions to make this year — where you will be next year at this time, and what career you will seek, along with all the financial and emotional decisions that go along with these life decisions. What a monumental time in your life! It is a turning point — leaving childhood behind and entering the adult world.

As your senior photographers, our job is to help you commemorate your past and celebrate your future in images captured and created throughout your senior year. This is an investment in your story so you, your parents, and your future children and family can share in knowing you now at this pivotal moment.

Senior portraits are more than just taking pictures;

“

this experience is about your legacy. You probably have not thought about your legacy (unless you are a Hamilton fan), but we believe in what we do and want to help you in recording this moment in time as part of your legacy. A portrait is a part of that record, that legacy — a printed portrait lasts longer than a memory and is usually more accurate than memory. It also helps make a connection between the you of now and the you of the future, and between the current generation of your family and future generations.

I look forward to sharing the places, activities, and people who are most important to you, and capturing your unique personality and relationships as you build this piece of your personal and family legacy.

Jody

[Having my senior pictures with you] was the best part of my senior year. No wonder this is what you do!

::: Rebeka Pouridis, Class of 2022

LONELY ROAD, CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA OCEAN BEACH PIER, SAN DIEGO BALBOA PARK, SAN DIEGO PAGE 7: KYLE CANYON, MT. CHARLESTON, NEVADA

About Us

Jody Rael Photography started in 2002 with Jody’s mother-in-law’s gift of a film SLR camera and, some months later, several rolls of film shot at a wedding where she was a guest, not the photographer.

One really great photo from that group led her to enroll in evening classes for photography, then later to join the Professional Photographers of America, to attend professional photography conventions and workshops, and to shoot weddings, newborns, seniors, and families as a side gig. In 2009, she stopped teaching English, math, journalism and photography to create a full-time photography business. Eventually, she narrowed her focus to senior and family portraits, investing in her enjoyment of young people in the high school age group.

Jody and her husband, Mike, and their son, Brady, are

WHAT TO EXPECT

CONSULTATION AND PLANNING

Welcome to your senior portrait experience, perfected. Meet the team, tour the studio, and share your vision. Decide location, style, accessories, and props. Preview products to see what’s possible and to generate ideas.

all involved in the photography studio, and after years in a leased commercial space in Las Vegas, established a private studio attached to their home.

Jody’s sister Mindy Brunkhardt is a full-time studio employee and video creator, and their sister Shelly Labrier works on the studio’s social media, marketing, and video production. The graphic designer is Karen Nelson — the bride in that wedding way back in 2003. Professional stylist Jasmin Ochoa works extensively with the studio.

Jody and Mindy were instrumental in establishing OneCollective.io, a national consortium of senior photographers that gathers several times a year for collaboration with reps from each studio for multi-day, multi-location photo shoots.

More Online

SENIOR PORTRAIT SESSION

PREP

Meet the team and the stylist at the studio the day of your session for hair and makeup for girls and hair and skin touch-ups for guys. With the JRP team, take a last look at the styling of your wardrobe and props.

“SHOOT

Together with you and your parent(s), we create images in the studio and on location in a fun session that maximizes your style, passions, and interests and makes you feel fantastic.

ORDERING APPOINTMENT

You and your parent(s) come in to the studio for a personalized image reveal. Choose your favorites and place an order.

SCHOOL DEADLINES

We will design your yearbook senior ad and, once you approve it, submit it according to the school deadline. We also take care of the yearbook headshot and graduation slideshow images.

If I hadn’t experienced these photo events with Jody Rael Photography with my daughter this past year, I would have never seen her during senior year. These events not only gave her experiences and confidence, but it gave me wonderful memories as well. It is not just about the kids; it is about the parents too. The last year of high school is so busy for the seniors that your program created some fun moments and memories.

::: Andrea Gaminara-Hostalek, parent of Ariana Gaminara, Class of 2022

Jody Mindy

HOW’S THAT WORK, EXACTLY?

WHAT DOES A SESSION COST? Each level has two numbers which you add together to get the cost. The creative retainer pays the Jody Rael Photography team for creating the experience. The minimum product investment goes toward products using the images. Refer to your Sessions Information card to learn more about what each level includes so you can decide which experience you would like.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY “MINIMUM PRODUCT INVESTMENT”? The minimum product investment is the minimum budget you should set aside for purchasing the images. It is the starting point for choosing products such as books or albums, announcements, wall art for your home, the yearbook, and more. The minimum product investment is based on the session; longer sessions and more locations result in more photos. The minimum product investment is designed to make the most of the number of photos that you will have available to use based on the session you choose.

WHEN DO I PAY WHAT? To book a portrait session, pay the creative retainer. When you come for your portrait session, bring a tip for the hair and makeup artist and pay the minimum investment. At your order meeting, choose the products for your minimum investment; if you choose to spend more than the minimum, you can pay at the order meeting or set up a payment plan.

WHAT ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA? Once you order a photo on a product, you receive a digital version of it with a print release. These digital images are yours to use on social media and print up to 5x7 in size.

WHAT ABOUT THE YEARBOOK? Sessions include a headshot for the yearbook, a discount on design for a yearbook ad using your snapshots and portraits from your session, and help with submitting them.

WHAT ABOUT PROM? Complimentary Milestone Sessions for every senior include homecoming, prom, and cap-and-gown sessions. Parents appreciate that these “last time” experiences are included as part of their senior’s monumental year. These images that reflect the moment complement the senior portraits, capturing memories of the here-and-now of friends, dates, families, and college dreams.

SENIOR

MILESTONES

All packages include photo sessions in the studio for homecoming, prom, and cap and gown (with family). Use these images in your senior album, and share prints with friends and family.

“PRODUCT DELIVERY

Wall portraits, albums and books, graduation announcements, and photo gifts — once these are ready, you can pick them up or we can deliver them to you. Wall groupings get special attention — we will hang them for you.

Jody is so great at communicating with her clients and is a very sweet person to be around! She is always so imaginative and creative, always producing my favorite photos.

::: Lyla Miller, Class of 2022

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS

Look Your Best

Senior portraits provide a prime opportunity to mark milestones in your personal development, not only to create a record of your senior year highlights, but also to create personal branding images for your potential professional interests and future career.

Knowing you look your very best lets your confidence and personality shine. Jody Rael Photography ensures seamless preparation for your senior session. There’s no need to book multiple separate appointments for hair, makeup and grooming; our senior sessions include the services of a professional stylist. Our stylists are fully licensed, local professionals trained in women’s hair and makeup and men’s grooming, and they use techniques and products specifically designed for photography to help you look your best in print. Their experience in their fields helps you shine in your images.

Wash your hair the day before your session, and minimize the use of hair styling products. Neither squeaky-clean hair nor previously styled hair will accept styling well.

Plan to come to your session with a clean face. Apply just your usual moisturizer after washing. Let our stylist do the rest!

IN THE DAYS BEFORE YOUR SESSION

Do not get sunburned in the weeks leading up to your session. Lobster-red skin and tan lines are not photofriendly. Peeling skin is the worst.

Waxing, threading, facials and other skin care should be done at least a week ahead of your session so any skin irritation has a chance to heal.

Stay hydrated in the week leading up to your session and on the day of your session. Proper hydration works wonders for your skin, leaving you glowing and looking healthy. Consistent, daily use of lotion and lip balm will help, too.

Take good care of your teeth. If you’re due for a cleaning at the dentist, a week before your session is a great time to book. If you aren’t due for a cleaning, consider an at-home teeth whitening treatment. It’s a quick boost for your smile.

Get a great night’s sleep before your session so you will look and feel your best.

Groom your eyebrows three to five days prior to your session.

Remember to shave!

ZEPHYR COVE, LAKE TAHOE, NEVADA

THE PORTRAIT EXPERIENCE, PERFECTED

Wardrobe

Great clothing choices allow each person to feel confident and convey that in the photos. Choose timeless styles that are the type of clothes you normally wear. Shoes should complement an outfit, not detract from it. Wear boots instead of sneakers, or ballet flats instead of flip-flops. Try everything on to make sure each piece fits comfortably. Accessories such as jewelry, flowers, scarves and jackets should be chosen to complete a look, not to be the star of the show.

Texture is wonderful. Tweed, crochet, embroidery, beading and ruffles add interest to solid-color clothing. But, be cautious with patterns. The camera’s eye interprets smaller patterns as solids, but certain types of very small patterns should be avoided. Tiny patterns trick the digital camera and cause a rippled discoloration effect called moiré that can be visible in large printed portraits. And a dramatic pattern — like a large-scale floral or paisley print, or argyle — should be limited to one article of clothing.

Most importantly, choose one head-to-toe outfit that you are perfectly, completely comfortable in.

Review your wardrobe selections several days before your session to ensure all pieces are clean, and iron any items that are wrinkled.

Need advice on what will or won’t photograph well? Take photos on your phone ahead of time, and text them to Jody at 702-596-0940.

GUYS

Choose wardrobe pieces in a variety of looks — casual, athletic, formal — to ensure you get a variety of different images during your session. Be cautious of selecting clothing with words to ensure you are conveying an image that holds up to the test of time.

Ask for help, if you need it, when choosing your wardrobe. Your mom, sister, girlfriend, aunt or any important lady in your life is better than a mirror for making sure the clothes you bring look good on you.

Make sure the bottoms of your shoes are clean and the tops are free of scuffs and dirt.

GIRLS

Choose wardrobe pieces in solid colors and with a variety of necklines, and try everything on. Bare arms and legs are often not flattering in photos, so bring a jacket or sweater to pair with sleeveless blouses.

Consider dressing in layers. If you are self conscious about certain areas of your body, a layered look can help hide those areas and boost your confidence.

If you are wearing a dress, consider bringing a pair of sheer, nude pantyhose. Non-shimmery hose that fit you properly won’t show in the photos. Your legs will look great, and you will look more put together.

EL PRADO, SAN DIEGO

TAHOE, NEVADA

Location

Your senior portraits capture your story and your memories in a tangible form. Part of the planning for your session includes choosing a great location — or multiple locations, depending on your package.

To choose a location, think about places that are important to you. Do you spend your days at the lake and evenings at the ball field? Do you like the mountains, the dunes or lush green spaces? Do you prefer concrete angles, the city skyline and graffiti?

Are you comfortable around people and prefer to go downtown, or would you rather not have others’ eyes on

you and would choose a more isolated or private location? Taking your session to locations you know, enjoy and are comfortable with adds layers of interest and authenticity, and portrays your personality in the images we capture.

Location will set the mood for each part of your session. As we plan the session together, we can discuss the pros and cons of the locations and how each will affect the mood of your portraits. There are so many possibilities when it comes to choosing a great location — we just need to narrow it down to the perfect place or places for your unique style and personality.

LITTLE RED ROCKS, CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA

LAS VEGAS SPEEDWAY

NORTH LAS VEGAS AIRPORT

Highlight Your Passion

Your senior portrait session is a great time to highlight your interests and passions. Sports, music, horses, and more — all of these could inspire great additions to the plans for your session.

If your passion is centered around place, maybe going on location where you spend your time is worth consideration. Is your history intertwined with church, horses or car shows? Are you part of a family business, or do you have an interest in flying, music, theater, racing or art?

Props are another way to show off your interests. If you play French horn, shine up your instrument and bring it along. Fencing? Choose your favorite foil for your session.

A stack of books, a collection of ribbons and trophies, the best pages from your graphic novel in progress, track spikes, your volleyball uniform, your dog, your car, your letterman’s jacket — use your imagination.

We will work with you to integrate your interest and build an image set that honors your passion.

JODY RAEL PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO

JODY RAEL PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO

NELSON’S LANDING, CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA

CLIENT’S BACKYARD, LAS VEGAS

Skin and Hair

We want your portrait experience to make you look good, but more importantly, we want you to feel terrific. A session includes the services of a professional stylist for hair and makeup or guys’ grooming to elevate the experience. If you look good, you feel good. And if you feel good you’re more comfortable in front of the camera, and it makes for fun and memorable photos.

Why do we work with a professional stylist? Equipment, products and application methods for photography makeup are not the same as everyday makeup. The professional’s cosmetics and shading techniques emphasize the natural contours and beauty of three dimensions that the camera takes away in the translation to two dimensions. Think of it as a little bit of insurance for the best, most productive day.

A clean canvas is the best kind of canvas. Wash your skin

and apply a non-SPF moisturizer prior to your session so that anything added to it lays better and smoother. Clean, dry hair is the best for styling, so make sure you wash it the night before and that it’s fully dry for your appointment. If bringing in your own extensions, make sure they’re washed, dry, and brushed out prior to your appointment as well. And, if there’s any specific products you’d like to use on your skin or hair, don’t hesitate to bring them!

Guys should plan to arrive clean shaven or with any facial hair neatly trimmed. The stylist will work with you for hair styling and skin touch-ups.

Last but not least, make sure your nails are clean and filed. Clear or colored polish is fine, but steer clear of anything too bright or too trendy. Remember, the focus is on you overall, not your nails.

EL PRADO, SAN DIEGO

SOUTH BEACH, MIAMI, FLORIDA

AREA 15, LAS VEGAS

SOUTH BEACH, MIAMI, FLORIDA

Senior Session

At this point, you kind of know what to expect from the Jody Rael Photography team.

By the time your senior session rolls around, you’ve already seen the personal touch that makes this experience a top memory-maker for many seniors.

This session is when you see all the preparation come together to produce the images that you’ve planned for in a session that’s intense in a great way — like just a few other times in your life will be.

The consultation prepares you for the shoot. You’ll know what to wear, where your photos will be taken, and have ideas for props showcasing your interests, skills and passions, and you’ll know what to expect with the stylist.

Plan to bring a parent with you to share this experience. The team at Jody Rael Photography will make all the plans for styling, secure all the location permissions, and manage timing and travel.

Your role? Enjoy the day.

DESERT WILDLIFE REFUGE, CORN CREEK, CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA COLD CREEK RANCH, CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA

JODY RAEL PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO

CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA

Family Session

Many families only see a professional photographer a handful of times in their lives, and often, it’s for a senior portrait or wedding portraits. These photos record wonderful formal moments in a family’s history.

Making the most of the mini family session included with the Jody Rael Photography senior portrait experience is a unique opportunity. Family portraits preserve an image of your family at this moment in time. Embedded with memories, portraits age gracefully from beloved décor to an essential part of the family chronicle passed down from generation to generation.

The most-asked question about family portrait preparation is what to wear. Here’s a quick guide:

The One-Pattern Option. Choose a single person to wear a larger pattern on a sweater, blouse or dress. Then, others can choose solids in tones of the colors in the pattern. This is the most common option because photos look more natural and candid. In very large family groups, two people can wear a large pattern, as long as the patterns are of similar scale and colors.

The Solids Option. Pick one or two colors in common, and wear solids in tones of these colors.

The Neutrals-and-Brights Option. Choose a single neutral, such as taupe, gray, white, or black, for all individuals to wear. Then, choose two or three bright colors — turquoise, pink, yellow, red, and so on — for solid-color tops and accessories.

Milestone Sessions

Milestone sessions celebrate the major schoolseason events in a senior’s year: homecoming, prom and graduation. Meet the team in the Jody Rael Photography studio or on location for a brief session to mark the occasion.

These portraits can be used on products and in albums

and books, and as with other photos, each image used on a product is provided as a digital image with print release so you can use them on social media or make physical prints up to 5x7 in size.

Seniors often choose to use a cap and gown portrait on their thank-you notes for graduation gifts.

JODY RAEL PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO

MOUNTAIN CREST PARK, CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA

TAHOE, CALIFORNIA

Destination Sessions

What’s your favorite place? Why not go there for a portrait session? A dreamadventure destination session at the beaches of San Diego, the waters of Lake Tahoe, the lush greens of the Everglades, even the wheat fields of Kansas?

Visit with the Jody Rael Photography team about your interests and ideas, and they’ll make it happen in a way that’s more than you could imagine.

MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA

LEFT, BALBOA PARK, SAN DIEGO. ABOVE, BELMONT PARK, SAN DIEGO

CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA

NEON MUSEUM, LAS VEGAS

The JRP Creative Team

If you love the process of a portrait session, or if you have a goal for modeling, film or photography, or if you just want the experience of a lifetime, Jody Rael Photography offers a select few individuals the opportunity to be part of The Jody Collective Creative Team, or Jody Rael SEEN.

Whether your interest is in front of or behind the camera, this senior rep program offers the chance to create

imagery in a fun and hands-on way. Each shoot focuses on a theme and a specific photography skill. Many of these images are used in marketing materials for the studio, and some shoots are destination-style across the U.S. with OneCollective.io photographers and their reps.

If this sounds like it’s for you, visit with friends who’ve participated to find out what it’s like, and then discuss the opportunity with Jody.

Photo Products

Senior session minimum product investments are a great way to get the images you worked for into a tangible form. The senior portrait experience is a fun, memorable part of senior year, and the products offered by Jody Rael Photography are carefully selected and designed to complement the process. They also act as a time capsule of sorts, storing memories in a visual form. On display in your home, in the school yearbook, and as gifts to family and friends, these photos will catalyze conversation and recollection for years to come.

All photo products offered are top quality from the top production labs in the U.S. You may opt for metal portraits or multi-image gallery wraps. You may prefer traditionally framed images protected by glass. Perhaps you have a vision that is uniquely yours. There is practically no limit to the creativity for utilizing the images and displaying your memories.

Albums and books are individually designed and are printed on the best quality paper with durable bindings.

Graduation announcements are an opportunity to share

good-quality prints with family and friends near and far at a reasonable cost. Announcements are designed with the student in mind and are a wonderful way to tell people how much you appreciate their influence on your life, both from the parents’ perspective and that of the senior.

Our products aren’t just for your home. Every senior gets personal attention to school photo deadlines for the yearbook, graduation slideshow, and everything in between.

Each image you use on a product is provided to you as a digital image that can be shared on social media, and the included print release allows you to use the images on any personal product up to 5x7 in size.

Ask for our complete product guide. Keep in mind that the minimum product investment can cover your entire photo product plans, but it can also simply be a baseline for any decorating or special project you may have in mind for these memorable images.

Enjoy the photo products from Jody Rael Photography as part of the fruit of your hard work!

BOOKS AND ALBUMS

TALLAC HISTORIC SITE, LAKE TAHOE, CALIFORNIA