Joey DeMarco Senior Photos, Jack Hill Park
Joey’s senior session was one of those that meant a little more to me. I’ve known the DeMarco family for years, and I had the privilege of photographing both of his sisters, Lexi and Cadence, for their senior sessions. Being able to do Joey’s as well was really special and something I don’t take for granted.
We met at Jack Hill Park in Elk Grove, and earlier in the day it had actually rained, so we weren’t totally sure what we were going to get. But by the time we started, everything cleared up and we ended up with that really nice golden hour light with a bit of soft cloud cover, which made for great conditions.
Christina (mom) was there the whole time and kept Joey laughing by being her usual fun self, and we even had some country music going in the background. Since we’ve known each other for so long, the whole session just felt easy. A lot of talking, a lot of laughing, and nothing ever felt rushed.
Classic and Handsome
We started with a more polished look, and it fit Joey really well. He wore black dress pants with a long sleeve burgundy button-up shirt and black dress shoes, which gave everything a clean, classic feel.
Most of these were taken out in the grassy areas and near the bridge. The tall grass, trees, and that soft evening light worked really well together and kept everything simple and natural.
Right from the start, Joey was easy to photograph. He didn’t need much direction, and everything just felt relaxed. The smiles were natural, the more serious shots still felt comfortable, and nothing looked stiff or overdone.
Casual, Easygoing and Natural
For the second part of the session, Joey switched into blue jeans with a long sleeve plaid button-up and black shoes. This look felt a little more casual and fit perfectly with the area by the creek.
We stayed near the water and used the greenery and soft light reflecting through that area. It gave everything a completely different feel compared to the first set without needing to change locations much.
By this point, everything just felt really natural. Joey was fully settled in, and you can see it in the way he carried himself in these shots. Whether he was sitting near the water or just standing along the edge, everything came together in a really easy, genuine way.
Sports and the Next Chapter
For the last part of the session, this is where we brought in more of Joey’s story. He changed into blue jeans and a black t-shirt with the College of the Redwoods logo, which was a great way to highlight what’s coming next for him.
We started in the park using all three sports balls to represent football, soccer, and baseball—since he’s been involved in all of them throughout high school. It was a simple way to tie in everything he’s been a part of.
From there, we headed over to the baseball field to finish things out since that’s his main sport. He brought his bat and glove, and those shots just felt right in that setting.
We also made sure to include his College of the Redwoods pennant, which tied everything together with where he’s headed next to study kinesiology and pursue sports medicine.
A Special Session Wrap UP
Joey’s session had a little bit of everything—great light, a variety of looks, and just an overall relaxed feel the entire time.
Getting to photograph another DeMarco senior after all these years is something I’m always grateful for. It’s not something I take lightly.
Joey, I’m excited to see what’s ahead for you. College of the Redwoods is a great next step, and I know you’re going to do well in kinesiology and sports medicine.
To see other senior portrait sessions check out these blogs below:
