Senior Model Casting Call Class of 2027 Newsletter
Naperville - Wheaton - Glen Ellyn - Elmhurst - Geneva - St. Charles - Barrington - Bartlett PhotographerHello, friends,
This week has been a little quieter in the studio—mostly headshots—and honestly, I’ve been loving the slower pace. It’s given us some breathing room and the chance to really dig into planning and ramping up our Class of 2027 Senior Model Casting Call.
This time of year always brings a mix of emotions for me. I feel excited… and nervous… and a little sad, all at the same time. It feels like we just got going with our current seniors, and I still have a million ideas I want to create with them. Letting go of one group while preparing to welcome the next is always bittersweet. Especially when the school year isn’t over yet. I still have a few ideas up my sleeve for my current girls but still planning for our future team.
At the same time, there’s so much excitement in imagining what’s ahead—new faces, new locations, fresh ideas, and all the creative possibilities that come with a brand-new class. And then there’s that familiar nervous thought that sneaks in every year… How can we possibly top what we just did?
The answer, I’ve learned, is that we don’t try to top it—we create something different. Something just as meaningful. And somehow, every year, it unfolds exactly as it’s meant to.
So here we are—in that in-between space—full of anticipation and ready for what’s next.
Soft Focus Essay: Speaking Things Into Existence
Several years ago, I started a quiet New Year’s Day ritual.
I wake up early—before the house stirs. I pour a cup of coffee, turn on classical music, and sit with a blank slate and an open heart. That’s when I build my vision board for the year ahead.
And when I say vision board, I don’t mean vague wishes or dreamy maybes. I mean specifics. Details. The kind that feel almost too bold to name out loud. I make it my computer screensaver so it’s always there—waiting for me—every time I sit down to work.
Here’s the thing: I used to think all of this—vision boards, manifesting, “putting it out into the universe”—was a bunch of self-help nonsense.
And then I tried it.
You’re probably going to think I’m a little crazy, but it changed my life.
Dreams I didn’t even realize mattered to me suddenly came into focus. Within weeks, things on my vision board began crossing themselves off. Opportunities appeared. Doors opened. Paths I hadn’t known how to find suddenly felt… obvious.
My husband always jokes that I speak things into existence. And honestly? I think he might be right.
Just a few weeks ago, I caught myself saying something I’ve always wanted—something I used to frame as someday or maybe one day. But this time, without thinking, I said it differently.
Not I wish I could have this someday.
But:
I am getting this.
Within two days—two—the exact thing I had stopped searching for (because it’s hard to find) appeared on my screen, available for purchase. It happened to be located in Lake Forest. And it needed to be seen on Saturday.
That Saturday, I already had a family session scheduled in Lake Bluff.
Four miles away.
Coincidence? I don’t think so.
I’m now the proud owner of the thing I once only dreamed about—and I love it. Not just because I have it, but because of how it came to me.
You can call it hocus-pocus if you want. I get it. But last year’s vision board held very specific intentions for my work—and within a month, those things began unfolding. Slowly, then all at once.
Now, don’t misunderstand me. This isn’t about sitting back and waiting for the universe to do the work. I still apply for residencies. I still submit my work. I still show up, vulnerable and hopeful, again and again.
But somehow… things move.
Buckets get checked. Dreams make their way off the board and into real life. And it never stops feeling a little miraculous.
The biggest shift, though, has been in how I speak.
I no longer live in the language of wishing.
I don’t linger in someday.
I say this is happening.
I say this will be mine.
And then I walk toward it.
And somehow, the world meets me halfway.
So here’s my wish for you this week: try it. Even if you don’t believe in it. Even if you think it’s silly. What’s the harm in getting specific? In choosing your words carefully? In speaking your hopes as if they matter—because they do.
You might be surprised what shows up when you finally say it out loud.
Senior Model Casting Call | Class of 2027
The Senior Model Casting Call is officially OPEN.
Are you graduating in 2027 and want a senior year that’s anything but ordinary?
This is more than photos. It’s an experience.
✔️ Your own full senior session
✔️ A FREE headshot session
✔️ A FREE styled shoot with professional hair + makeup
👉 Three shoots. One unforgettable year.
Our Senior Model Program is about confidence, creativity, and connection. You’ll feel like a model for the day, make friends from schools all over the Chicago area, and see yourself the way we see you—strong, beautiful, and completely YOU.
✨ Styled shoots
✨ Possible magazine features
✨ Once-in-a-lifetime experiences (yes… even European travel)
This is the original senior model program in Chicagoland, and spots are limited.Every year, this is one of my favorite things we do.
We’re officially opening our Class of 2027 Senior Model Casting Call, and we’re looking for students who want more than just senior photos. This program is about confidence, creativity, and stepping into this season of life feeling seen.
This past year, three of our senior models traveled to Paris with us for their senior model shoot. The experience was unforgettable—creating art in iconic locations, sharing once-in-a-lifetime moments, and making memories that went far beyond photographs.
Because of how incredible that experience was, we’ll be attempting another European senior model trip. While not all senior model sessions take place abroad, a small number of models will be selected for this special opportunity.
Our senior models represent Alicia’s Photography throughout the year and are part of exclusive shoots, styled sessions, and creative projects—often before anyone else sees them. You don’t need modeling experience. You don’t need to look a certain way. You just need to be you.
If you’re graduating with the Class of 2027 and a European senior shoot has been on your bucket list, this could be your chance to cross it off.
✨ Applications are now open
✨ Limited spots available
Now is your moment.
A FREE headshot session
Once-in-a-lifetime experiences (yes… even European travel)
Possible magazine features
A FREE styled shoot with professional hair + makeup
WHAT I’M LOVING THIS WEEK
Inspiring follow:@cakeatelieramsterdam
If you love flowers and old-world beauty, this is one of those accounts you’ll want to slow down and really look at. Natasja Sadi is a flower photographer and sugar artist who creates the most incredibly lifelike sugar flowers—honestly, it’s hard to tell they aren’t real.
She pairs these handmade sugar blooms with fresh flowers to create arrangements that feel timeless and romantic, like something out of a classical painting. There’s also a beautiful story behind her work—she began making sugar flowers to honor her African and Indonesian ancestors who worked in the sugarcane fields of Suriname.
She’s the author of A Sweet Floral Life, where she shares how to sculpt sugar flowers, create floral arrangements, and photograph them, and she also hosts workshops for those who want to learn this art themselves.
Whether you’re a flower lover, a creative, or just someone who appreciates beauty, this account is such a joy to follow. Consider this your invitation to bloom a more beautiful world.
What I’m Obsessed With: Hue Heritage
I recently picked up a three-wick candle from Hue Heritage at 6th & Foster and I’m officially obsessed. The way it makes the house smell is warm, calming, and just so good.
I actually lit it during my annual vision board ritual this year—coffee, classical music, quiet morning—and it made the whole experience feel even more intentional and relaxing.
Hue Heritage candles are hand-crafted by a Naperville resident, made with clean-burning Coconut–Apricot wax, wood wicks, and beautiful concrete vessels inspired by Mexican stonework and cenotes. They’re sculptural, soulful, and meant to be seen as much as enjoyed.
If you love supporting small businesses and want a candle that instantly sets the mood, this one’s worth seeking out. Light it, breathe it in, and slow down for a moment.
Local-ish Love: Sea Love Candle Bar and Boutique
If you feel like you would rather try your hand at candle making and you’re in downtown Naperville looking for something fun to do (that doesn’t involve shopping for another sweater), this is your sign. Sea Love Candle Bar and Boutique is such a feel-good spot.
You get to make your own candle—choose your scents, pour the wax, and leave with something that smells amazing and actually means something because you made it. The space is relaxed, coastal, and instantly puts you in a good mood.
It’s perfect for a girls’ afternoon, a date night, or just popping in because you deserve a little joy. Bonus: your house will smell incredible afterward.
120 Water St. Suite 104, Naperville
Photo Tip | Spring Senior Photos (Class of 2026)
Still need your senior photos? Spring is actually the perfect time—especially in April and May. Everything feels fresh, the light is beautiful, and there’s just something about spring that makes senior photos feel relaxed and effortless.
A few spring senior photo tips we always share:
Spring light is your friend. April and May give us softer light and fresh greenery, which makes images feel bright, natural, and timeless.
Keep outfits light and classic. Soft colors, layers, and movement photograph beautifully in spring—think dresses that flow, relaxed denim, and textures that catch the light.
Plan for quick turnaround. If graduation is right around the corner, don’t stress. We can have your images edited and ready within two days, so you’ll have them in time for announcements, grad parties, and proud-parent sharing.
Cap & gown friendly. Spring sessions are perfect for squeezing in a few cap and gown images without the rush of graduation week.
It’s not too late. We photograph seniors right up until graduation—and some of our favorite sessions happen in the spring.
If you’ve been putting it off, this is your sign. Spring senior photos are beautiful, stress-free, and absolutely doable—even at the last minute.
with love and light,
Alicia Staley Johnson
of Alicia’s Photography
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