Jonathan | Norman, OK Senior Photographer | Westwood Golf Course & Downtown Norman | Michelle Valantine Photography

Jonathan has been playing golf since he was 8-years old. And I'm pretty sure that for him, the best part of his Senior shoot was driving the cart around the golf course and hitting a few balls. But my favorite part was asking him to race the cart up and down the sidewalk so I could pan the motion. I instructed him, "Faster! Faster! Go as fast as you can!"

Things we talked about that lit him up from the inside out:

golf

his friends

music 

working as a DJ

video games

If he could travel anywhere in the world, where would he go?  Sweden because of their beautiful landscape.  Or Canada.  And he said he wouldn't mind living in either of those countries because they offer standardized health care for their residents.  

He's in a band.  They call themselves The Goons.
In an attempt to elicit expression, I asked him to rhyme words with Goons.  He got as far as, "Bafoons," before we were useless from laughter.

The best smell in the world according to Jonathan?  Homemade chocolate chip cookies, with pecans, of course.

He's not interested in girls right now...says they are a huge distraction with time and money. So he's concentrating instead on finishing school.  He's attending OSU in the fall to pursue a career in video game design.  

Towards the end of our shoot, I asked him to make different kinds of expressions for me:  sad, excited, mad.  He replied to me that he didn't really know how to do mad for me, because he doesn't really do mad in his life.  Things just don't get to him that keep him angry.  I told him that is an amazing quality.  And as I worked with him, his nature became more and more apparent.  He is kind, respectful, helpful, and thoughtful.  He laughed at my jokes.  He offered to help carry my equipment.  For two hours, he willingly positioned his hands, arms, feet, chin, shoulders and eyes in all the directions I asked of him.  He even drove the golf cart slowly through the puddles so they wouldn't splash up on me.  

It was a true pleasure working with you, Jonathan.  You are a genuine, friendly young man with a good head on your shoulders, a kind smile, and warm presence.  Thank you for allowing me the honor of capturing this time in your life.  May your future be bright, challenging and rewarding...and may you get to enjoy homemade chocolate chip cookies with pecans soon!