Welcome to the Melanie Foster Blog

celebrating OU seniors and Bartlesville and Tulsa families through photography.

Hey, y’all! 

I’m Melanie, the girl behind the lens at Melanie Foster Photography. Whether you’re getting ready for your upcoming OU senior or your Bartlesville or Tulsa family photography experience, I hope you’ll stay a while, pick up a few tips, and be inspired for your own MFP photo session! 

2019 OU Senior | Blake | OU Graduation Photos

Seniors

It’s not very often that I get to photograph a guy senior! The men I do get the opportunity to work with (typically for proposals) are easy-going, easy to be around, go with the flow, and surprisingly open, and Blake was no exception! He is graduating with his bachelor’s and master’s degree from Price College of Business and has big plans to head to Houston for a consulting job after walking across the stage in just two weeks! His mom reached out several months ago to book and they snagged one of my last open spots this spring! I was so glad to have the chance to meet and celebrate him!

Posing for guys is obviously very different than posing for girls. We went with a lot of arms crossed, hands in pockets, and my personal favorites are the sitting options. He was a total champ with the “look offs”, serious faces, and direction I gave too. Being in front of the camera is almost always a bit awkward right off the bat (even for people who are in front of the camera a lot!), and he jumped right in and was up for whatever I threw his way! I can’t tell you how grateful I am when that happens!

As we were walking around campus, he said, “you know everyone!” It was really surprising to me how many people we did run into that I knew – other photographer friends, coworkers, past clients, and a tour guide or two that I know from Admissions & Recruitment! We couldn’t seem to walk between locations without catching a familiar face!

On a personal note, the few hours after Blake’s shoot was also somewhat chaotic for me. As soon as we wrapped up, my phone was blowing up – I had contractors at my house, a dear friend calling, and a couple other things going on in my personal life and I was so thankful that it all seemed to hit post-shoot. This week was just about the craziest week I’ve had in a really long time – I don’t remember the last time I felt like I had this much on my plate. I hate to even say anything about it, because in the moments where I feel a bit like I’m drowning, I think, “honestly – I am so glad I am not going through this with children.” I know I have it good, and most of the pressure I experience is self-imposed. I also know that there are people out there who do just as much as I do or MORE, who are walking through really difficult life circumstances on top of everything – terminally sick family members, a difficult marriage, single parenting, financial hardship, the loss of a child. This week, for as difficult and trying as it has been, has also allowed me to appreciate the support I have from my family and and friends – especially the encouragement I receive from them that seemingly comes out of nowhere when I need it most. It does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. Praise God for the peace he provides through knowing him & being in his presence, but also through the kind words and actions of our loved ones!

Phew! Thank you SO much for checking in each day this week as I published a BLOG A DAY! That was a first! It was a beast of a project, but it sure was fun and I’m thrilled to keep trucking along through the end of this senior marathon season! We’ve got a few more shoots the next two weeks, and then two weeks off at the end of May that I am SO excited for! Have a great weekend, friends!

brunette college boy stands in front of greenery on ou campus for ou graduation photos brunette college boy stands in front of greenery on ou campus for ou graduation photos

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