Y’all. Let me start of this post with saying that this is a huge moment for me and Dakota Hersey Photography. I have invested in tons of education this past year, took time to focus on what I wanted to achieve, and made huge strides towards growing in the areas my heart is invested in –– seniors and weddings.

Last year I started my first ever senior spokesmodel team, a group of high school women that represent the face of Dakota Hersey Photography for the duration of their senior year. Spokesmodels are chosen through an application process and receive countless perks including participation in photoshoots, digital images to share on social media, complimentary hair and makeup, group activities and events, cash bonuses, swag bags, styled shoots, and more!

I take selecting my spokesmodels very seriously and this year was extremely hard narrowing down the team. It’s always a challenge to select personalities that match your brand but also will work well together since we’ll be spending a lot of time together! My goal for this year was to really build into this community and create relationships between the team that will last beyond our time together. After meeting the girls and seeing them together, I was so happy knowing I made the right selections!!!

To kick off our year, we had all of the girls come to my house in Wilmington, NC for a summer themed group photoshoot. This lets us all get to know each other AND start the year off with gorgeous photos to post!

Eliza Eagles and her sister Cate joined for make up and Peyton Memmelaar joined to style hair. I AM SO EXCITED to have them join my #DakotaHerseySeniors team!! They made the girls look gorgeous and help start the day off in the best way. Gianna Rose also arrived with a carful of clothing from her boutique for the girls to try on! We set up her store in my room and each of the girls had the option to select from the store for outfits for the session.

We spent the morning opening their welcome gifts (with the cutest cookies, JBloom gold bracelets provided by my mom, Stacy Hersey, and shirts made by EB Creations!), munching on our brunch buffet, picking out outfits, and getting glammed up. From there, we headed to the Neon Fox Studio in downtown Wilmington, NC for the photoshoot portion of the day.

I cannot thank my mom, Casey and Marien (my roommates), and Kyle enough for setting up the morning, making sure I was keeping my head on straight, and preparing the set for when the girls arrived! They are truly my dream team and this day couldn’t have happened without them.

The theme for the day was “summer social” with all things pink, yellow, and blue! My favorite prop was the bright pink flamingo piñata, of course. He was just so cute! After we got everything we possible could with the summer social set, the girls changed into their Spokesmodel Team shirts to wrap up the session!

Being a model is tough work and honestly requires a lot of…ice cream! Everyone was itching to get to Kilwin’s after the official photoshoot was over, and I loved walking the streets of my favorite place with my new team. I felt a little like I was taking my new best friends on a field trip with our matching shirts. We sat on the steps of the court house and talked all things photoshoots, One Tree Hill, and laughed at the skateboarders quite literally throwing themselves off of the steps trying to land their tricks (ask my mom, it was a little scary lol).

My 2018 is a tough one to beat because my heart will always lie with my first team, BUT my 2019 team is giving them a run for their money!!! I know this year is going to be an absolute blast. I cannot wait to get to know each of them better and for you to get to know them too!!

Make up: Eliza Eagles
Hair Styling: Peyton Memmelaar
Outfits Styling: Shop Gianna Rose
Team Shirts: EB Creations
Gold Bracelets: JBloom, Stacy Hersey
Venue: Neon Fox Studio

How cute are these cookies?!?!

Eliza is seriously THE BEST. She’s also one of my past seniors!!

The food may have been my favorite part haha.

Peyton knows how to work fast!! She got all of 12 girls done in like two hours!!! That’s a miracle!

How cute are they?

There’s the flamingo!!!

Now time for everyone’s individuals!

Loving these team shirts by Emily Burke!!

Of course I had to jump in for a few!!!

LOVE MY NEW SHIRTS!

Can’t do a photoshoot OR a trip to downtown Wilmington without Kilwin’s!