Alcuin School- Dallas Senior Pictures by Photographer Lisa McNiel

Sterling goes to Alcuin School in Dallas. It combines a Montessori and International Baccalaureate education. In full disclosure, I had to look all of that up! Dallas is a big old town and I don't know all the schools, but she's sharp as a tack, so I have to believe it's a good one! She loves to travel, loves her crazy friends, and hopes to go to Columbia in the Fall.

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To see more photos from senior photographer Lisa McNiel, click Dallas-Photographer or follow a DFW-Senior-Photographer on Facebook.

Soft and strong, all in the same girl.

The simple white shirt with super long sleeves sets off her dramatic coloring.

When her dad saw this image on the slideshow, he gasped and said, "We're in trouble!"

Such a natural, I love how she glows in these photos!

Sterling had no problem playing in the leaves, throwing them in the air and lying in them.

That gorgeous hair is not colored!

Her fun crazy friend came with her on the shoot and while we were shooting we realized her friends boots needed to make an appearance in her Senior Pictures.

Senior Pictures for Serious Sons by Dallas Photographer Lisa McNiel

He got in to Texas A&M and he's so excited! Grayson is the son of a beloved teach at the elementary school all three of my children attended. In fact, Susan Siske is "Teacher of the Year" this year! It was so fun seeing Grayson all grown up when you only remembered him as a little boy. Even though he has an easy smile and cooperates, he is a serious soul. I try to find out what a senior's favorite personality trait is, and the answer often fascinates me. Grayson answered this way: "My work ethic. I have never given up on any task I've been given, no matter how minor it may be. I have turned in every homework assignment I've been given and stuck through football until the very end despite all of my friends quitting. I see adversity as a way to gain experience and better myself in the future."

Follow me on pinterest here: lisalovespics  To see more photos from senior photographer Lisa McNiel, click Dallas-Photographer or follow a DFW-Senior-Photographer on Facebook. Grayson plays football and is in National Honor Society. In his free time he likes to watch movies and television, read, spend time with his friends, and go to the gym. Aw man, this kid has good taste in music!!! His favorite songs are Take It Easy- The Eagles, You Don't Know How It Feels- Tom Petty, Never Going Back Again- Fleetwood Mac, Sleep On The Floor- The Luminneers, Wake Up- Arcade Fire, The Other Side of Paradise- Glass Animals, and Riptide- Vance Joy.

His favorite quote is one you may have heard: "Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-re than you!" -Dr. Seuss

Grayson's favorite memory is going skiing for the first time in Colorado. Initially, I was very bad and even ran into a tree on the first slope I went down. However I set out to overcome the obstacle and was eventually able to run down black slopes with ease.

This is his mom, Susan's take on her favorite (and only) son. Gray is an old soul. Perhaps it is because he is an only child and his interaction growing up was mostly with adults. He listens to indie alternative and classic rock instead of rap and enjoys old movies, which are my 80's movies, LOL. He LOVES animals and would pick up all strays and bring them home if he could. Our family vacations are usually geared around amusement parks. Most people visit Florida in the summers for the beach. However, Gray would rather spend the ENTIRE time at Universal, Disney, or Busch Gardens. Do not tell Gray which movie you are going to see! He keeps up with Rotten Tomatoes religiously and will critique any movie that you or he has seen. However, anything Star Wars or Avengers is an automatic WIN! Growing up, Grayson loved building with Legos. Thank goodness he can put things together for me on a whim. HE is so tender hearted that he cried every time we would watch Toy Story 2 during the part where Andy sang the song, When She Loved Me. There's a special bond between mother and son and I am very fortunate.

Brunette discovers Grapevine is a Great Place for Senior Pictures - Photographer Lisa McNiel

Brittany is a beautiful brunette I remember from taking Cheer Pictures at the high school a couple of years ago. I had followed her on Instagram, and was easy to photograph! It's always fun to find out a little more about my models, so I like to have them tell me about themselves. Here's a little background on Brittany:

Her favorite songs are While my Guitar Gently Weeps, Don't Blink, Wild Horses, Every Rose has it's Thorn, and Float On.

She's involved in Student Council and Spanish National Honor Society, and when not studying and participating in those activities, she likes to work out, read, hang out with friends and apply make up. In fact, further on, you'll see that she brought a lab coat and protective glasses and dry ice to the Senior Model Prom-Activity Session as she wants to major in Chemistry in college and start her own make up line!

Her favorite quote is by Walt Whitman - "Keep your face always to the sunshine and shadows will fall behind you."

Follow me on pinterest here: lisalovespics 

To see more photos from senior photographer Lisa McNiel, click Dallas-Photographer or follow a DFW-Senior-Photographer on Facebook.

What Clothes Should I Bring for Senior Pictures? - a guide to quickly changing up your look - Senior Pictures by Lisa McNiel

I had done Madison Hubert's older sister and brother's senior pictures, so when her mom called me to do Madison's, I knew we were going to have fun. Youngest children are often more playful and willing to try things, and I relate to them since I'm the baby of my family as well. Madison was a fast change artist with a great sense of style so if you like fashion, you'll like her blog. It's a lesson in how to have a variety of looks by bringing interchangeable clothes that are quick and easy to change into.

I love to learn more about my Seniors and Madison did not disappoint! These answers show her depth and thoughtfulness.

Favorite songs:

Ain’t no Mountain High Enough-By: The Complete Duets Clair De Lune- By: Debussy Landslide- By: Fleetwood Mac Favorite physical feature: My 4 freckles on either side of my lips If you have least fave physical feature: I used to be insecure about my 4 freckles , but I have learned to love them, because God made me in his perfect image and it makes me unique. Favorite personality trait: I always try my best to stay positive and bring happiness to everyone around me. Life is too short to live a negative day. Activities and/or sports I'm involved in: Student Council and Choir. What I like to do in my free time: I like to spend quality time with my family and friends. Favorite quote: The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched- they must be felt with the heart. - Helen Keller Favorite memory: When my family and I used to live in Paris, France, we would walk to our neighborhood market. I was always sure to get a fresh baguettet and a bag full of candy.

Follow me on pinterest here: lisalovespics 

To see more photos from senior photographer Lisa McNiel, click Dallas-Photographer or follow a DFW-Senior-Photographer on Facebook.

Nothing like a great pair of ripped white jeans with a plaid cream and gray-green scarf, paired with fringed boots, a denim shirt and and army jacket.

Madison completely changed up her outfit by switching out Army green for a reddish-brown swingy jacket and a floppy boho hat.

We had to pin up this darling Navy dress for her tiny waist. The bright Kendra Scott earrings drew attention back to her eyes and smile.

I wish I could always cue the wind the way it picked up perfectly on her hair the day of these photos.

She quickly changed in the car to emerge in this cute wrap dress with tiny red flowers and cap sleeves. The leather wedgies work perfectly with it, but the cream beret is the absolute best part!

Her family used to live in France and Karen has a photo of her as a little girl in a white beret, so we had to get some to mirror childhood with this time we are celebrating the fact that she is leaving childhood behind in pictures.

If you have dark hair like Madison does, it's a good idea to get lighter colored earring. Dark earrings will disappear in your hair. I'm a child of the 80s, so I love me some big bright earrings.

This is the same shirt, jeans and boots as you'll see in other photos by the lake, but she completely changed up the look by pairing it with different jackets.

I'm usually not crazy about graduation cap pictures because I don't like what it normally does to the hairline, but this has to be my favorite one. The light, the books, the trees and depth of field, her expressions. It shows off the path it took to get here.

Madison wanted to include her faith in Christ in her Senior Pictures, so we took a few images with her Bible.

I have a photo of Madision's mom laughing with her older sister that shows the joy and beauty of them both. I can't believe how much these two look alike!

This red print sundress with the sweetheart neckline has pockets! I secretly believe that every article of clothing should have pockets. Even socks. FYI, pockets make posing easier.

Fall colors are hard to come by in the Dallas area, but we just happened to get some pretty reds and yellows for this photo session!

Here she is again, pairing a different bright red jacket with enormous buttons and switching the black floppy hat for the cream beret, and it's a totally different look!

And finally, this swingy, red, boho maxi with big blue flowers at sunset by the lake. She has so many different looks, keeping within the same color palliate and using clothes that she can switch around quickly.