Class of 2016 – Mara Blom Schantz https://mbsgallery.com Fine Art Photography Fri, 13 May 2016 21:35:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 https://mbsgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/cropped-M-32x32.png Class of 2016 – Mara Blom Schantz https://mbsgallery.com 32 32 Congratulations Class of 2016! https://mbsgallery.com/2016/05/13/congratulations-class-of-2016/ https://mbsgallery.com/2016/05/13/congratulations-class-of-2016/#respond Fri, 13 May 2016 21:35:00 +0000 https://artisticimpressionsbymara.com/dev/2016/05/13/congratulations-class-of-2016/ Continue reading Congratulations Class of 2016!]]> Class of 2016!  
I am so proud to have documented the most from your class of any in my professional photography career (29 in total).  From those I have photographed since you were babies to some new people who I just had the pleasure of meeting this past year, all of you are really very special individuals.  
You are from many high schools across Arizona and even one of you from California.  You will be going to schools from the East Coast to the Midwest to California to right here in Arizona.  Some of you are athletes, some have started non-profits, some want to be business people, artists, scientists, engineer, doctors, lawyers, actors and one of you aspires to the presidency.  I am very attached to this Class of 2016.  Maybe because my son was among these very special young adults.  I am excited for all of you and can’t wait to see the great things you do in your lives.
Best wishes Class of 2016! 
xoxo
Mara
Olivia Rue
Poly High School
Riverside, CA

Mackenzie Cantor
Xavier College Preparatory
Phoenix, AZ

Julia Williams
Chaparral High School
Scottsdale, AZ

Carter Van Winkle
Brophy College Preparatory
Phoenix, AZ

Alissa Stanley
Notre Dame Preparatory
Scottsdale, AZ

Molly Murphy
Xavier College Preparatory
Phoenix, AZ

Mackenzie Kaup
Scottsdale Christian Academy
Scottsdale, AZ

Tara Dugel
Phoenix Country Day School
Paradise Valley, AZ

Royal Shoen
Xavier College Preparatory
Phoenix, AZ

Colin Thompson
Brophy College Preparatory
Phoenix, AZ

Elizabeth Schroer
Arcadia High School
Phoenix, AZ

Ellie Neff
Arcadia High School
Phoenix, AZ

Hannah Pai
Xavier College Preparatory
Phoenix, AZ

Samantha Wentworth
Sunnyslope High School
Phoenix, AZ

Libby Fleury
Sunnyslope High School
Phoenix, AZ

Anna Barry
Arcadia High School
Phoenix, AZ

Reilly Gerlach
Sunnyslope High School
Phoenix, AZ

Nicholas Schantz
Brophy College Preparatory
Phoenix, AZ

Michael Darby
Brophy College Preparatory
Phoenix, AZ

Makenzie Elick
Arcadia High School
Phoenix, AZ

Grant Schucter
Brophy College Preparatory
Phoenix, AZ

Michael Christensen
Home School
Phoenix, AZ

Jake, Alex and Drew Elbogen
Pinnacle High School
Phoenix, AZ

Tasha Nutley
Xavier College Preparatory
Phoenix, AZ

Annalise Cavender
Chaparral High School
Scottsdale, AZ

Katrina Snedden
Arcadia High School
Phoenix, AZ

Aiden Armstrong
Chaparral High School
Scottsdale, AZ

]]> https://mbsgallery.com/2016/05/13/congratulations-class-of-2016/feed/ 0 My Little Boy Grew Up! https://mbsgallery.com/2016/03/18/my-little-boy-grew-up/ https://mbsgallery.com/2016/03/18/my-little-boy-grew-up/#respond Fri, 18 Mar 2016 14:41:00 +0000 https://artisticimpressionsbymara.com/dev/2016/03/18/my-little-boy-grew-up/ Continue reading My Little Boy Grew Up!]]> My little boy is 18 today.  We are about to experience another transition.  He will soon graduate and go off to college to start his independent life away from me.  This is what I worked to prepare him to do and I am excited for him.  But, I am not sure I am ready to have him not at home with me.  I really don’t know where all the years have gone.  They have flown by, really.  I remember when he was just a couple of months old and a mother with older kids told me to appreciate every minute because the time would pass very quickly.  Of course, I thought she was crazy because at that time every day seemed like it was 72 hours.  I was exhausted and couldn’t wait until nap times and bed times.  But, how right she was.   I am so glad that I have these images to actually remember exactly what it was like to have him with me and be his mother.  
He was the most cuddly baby.  He used to just nestle into me.  That snuggly front carrier was his favorite way to travel around – and mine too because I could do anything while I was wearing him – including cook dinner (probably not the safest thing).  He still gives the best hugs and doesn’t ever get embarrassed to do so, no matter who is watching.
He was and still is curious and thoughtful about everything around him – as long as it was/is to do with nature.

He loved to be outside, preferably without any clothes.
He was a little moody when things didn’t go his way.  That is because he feels deeply.  I remember how sad he was when his gram (my mother) died.  And he is still sensitive about it, and hugs me if I get emotional talking about her.  When his uncle died a year and a half ago, he wept openly at the service and was so kind and sweet to everyone who was also grieving.  

But he was/is quick to smile and laugh and was/is a fabulous big brother.  He was so proud when he his little brother was born and told everyone that it was his baby.  He has a great sense of humor.

Everything was a new adventure to him and he still has the most fun just experiencing life.

He loved the ocean – still his greatest passion.
That happy, happy smile melted my heart and still does.
Happiest at the beach and in the water.
Sensitive and kind to people.  He gives of himself to others without any reason other than because it is a good thing to do.  He has coached a third and fourth grade boys basketball team for the last three years (the first was for service hours and the last two were just because they needed more coaches).
He has the best smile in the world, even with braces.
Never cares about being cool, just does what he likes and treats others with kindness.
He loves quiet places, fishing and anything to do with water.  He was always obsessed with animals – as a small child he would watch (horribly boring) documentaries all the time.  He would always choose those over any type of cartoon or Disney movie.

He definitely has his own style, not caring what others think is hip or cool – he prefers old cars, bow ties, Hawaiian shirts, and old time rock and roll.
Happy Birthday Nick!  You are a great person and I can’t wait to see what you will do in your life.  You are kind and sweet and smart and funny.  It has been a pleasure watching you grow.  

]]> https://mbsgallery.com/2016/03/18/my-little-boy-grew-up/feed/ 0 Absolute Beauty! https://mbsgallery.com/2015/08/24/absolute-beauty/ https://mbsgallery.com/2015/08/24/absolute-beauty/#respond Mon, 24 Aug 2015 03:30:00 +0000 https://artisticimpressionsbymara.com/dev/2015/08/24/absolute-beauty/ Continue reading Absolute Beauty!]]>

I normally don’t share images right after a session because that is not really my thing.  However, since it is senior portrait season, I think it is fun to see how much a skilled photographer can highlight individual personalities.  Molly is a beautiful and intelligent girl, complex (at the same time serious and funny, shy and straightforward), very natural (wearing very little makeup), and seemingly comfortable with who she is.

The images that you see here are made with film, both color and black and white, and have had NO RETOUCHING!  What you are seeing is how they came out of my camera.  I love using film because I can do all the work in my camera to make the most flattering images and also because I HATE spending time at my computer!

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