Tomboy crosses over in to a fairytale at sunset- St. Clair High School Senior photo shoot

   Jordan has an eye for seeing beauty in the things many other people might not, like rusted out jeeps, overgrown greenhouses, tall grass, and crumbling tree forts.
   I photographed her brother 2 years ago, so I was really, really excited when her mom (who is just a little, bubbly, hysterical ball of sunshine in a petite package) called me to say she was coming back to me with her daughter!
   When we met in the studio to talk over what she was envisioning she told me her boyfriend’s family has a ton of property with a TON of stuff on it, and then proceeded to draw a little map for us. Let the treasure hunt begin. Oh, and horses, they have horses!
   This gorgeous tomboy had decided on jeans and flannel, what you can usually find her in while riding, a couple of cute tops, and then, a dress, because, why not!? This was my first clue she was hiding something under those t-shirts and yoga pants.
   My assistant and I pulled up and hopped on the deck, which towered over everything we had been told about, and more. It was a rusted out playground for us. I’ll take rust, rot, and chipping paint any day over perfection, it’s totally over rated.
   Jordan can definitely keep up with the boys, which I dig, but… this rough and tough girl gets in front of my lens and I just watch these layers of what I thought I knew about her melt away. Once hair and makeup was done we dove in, hopped on top of the Jeep, and started to shoot with the sun pouring in from behind. Her eyes told me she secretly wasn’t afraid. She knew how to move, she knew what I would be looking for before I even said it. I’m certain in that exact moment, a model was born, or had been hiding and waiting for this exact moment to bust out. Sometimes we just need an excuse to release a different side of us.
   Next we headed back towards a tiny cabin in the woods. You want to know what a true life fairytale looks like? Drive a few miles back in to the woods with a pretty girl, put her on a golden horse, and watch as the sun sets behind the trees off in the distance. There came a point where Taylor and I had to physically peel ourselves away from everything so we could pack up and go. I could have photographed Jordan for hours.
   Cant’ you see why?

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Check Out Our Full Senior Gallery!

For Some More Country Outdoor Style Check Out Delaney's Session!

For More Beauties With Their Horses Check Out Madison's Photoshoot!

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Fashion Photo-shoot with Algonac High School Senior

1 beautiful Senior girl, 8 rockin' outfits, 2 photo-shoots, and a HUGE collection of gorgeous shots that make your jaw drop. 
Meet Zoe. I met her Mom last year when I was photographing at a womne's retreat. She mentioned maybe we would be able to work together for her daughter's Senior pictures, and she kept that promise. Thank god! I can't imagine missing out on ALL this! 
We had a blast. The first day we met to plan everything we knew we were going to have to break the shoot up in to 2 different projects because she came with 8 outfits, none of which we could part with. 
Normally, most people can only pull off a certain look but Zoe could pull it all off. A baggy sweatshirt, and oversized cardigan, a sassy dress, crop tops, boots, heels... Man! 
So we started our adventures in the Summer, on a crazy day with down pouring rain, and vicious winds. But it made for the best sunset, and her hair dancing literally made me, my assistant, and her mom yell and jump up and down at how amazing everything was coming together.  
Imagine being on a cliffside, waves crashing, the deep blue water crystal clear for as far as your eye can see, your model just working her beauty, and the wind comes up on set, blows her dress, whips her hair and you get the shot. If it sounds perfect, that's because it was perfect. 
See for yourself. 

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Check Out Our Full Senior Gallery!

For more Downtown Beauty Check Out Marissa's Photoshoot!

If You Like The Studio Look Check out Logan's Fun Senior Session!

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model seeks out unique portfolio- creativity flies at night

   You see Brooke's modeling portfolio and you see this glamorous beauty. Someone with confidence, someone with way more years to her soul than her flawless face shows. Or at least that's the impression I got the day she contacted me. 
   She found me on facebook and sent a few of her portfolio images to me. She then said she was looking to expand that and sent me a few basic ideas she was interested in. Her main goal- it had to be unique, it had to be different, it had to be artistic. And I knew I HAD to do this project with her!
   The rest of the guidelines? She gave us none. She totally trusted me, and I totally trusted her that no matter what we designed, she would be able to own it. I was right. 
   Then you meet Brooke in person. She's still beautiful, but she's just the sweetest. Where this fierceness in her photos comes from, I'm not sure. It just goes to show you she's a professional at what she does and can transform herself in to these characters. Her smile is so genuine, and her positive personality is truly up-lifting. Again... I can't imagine her NOT smiling when I look at her, but... when she gets in front of that camera, she drops the smile, works it, and owns that area she's in for the time being. 
   We first shot at dusk.  We wanted something dramatic, something with a dark, ethereal feel to it so we shot in the back 20 acres of the studio, loaded up the ORV with lights, chairs, fog machine, clothes, and headed back. Dusk quickly transitioned in to night. We eventually shot outdoors with nothing but the flashlight from an iphone and the headlights. Being outside of your element pushes you to see things differently, so it was perfect for all of us!
   When we went inside Brooke dropped the edginess she had just embraced so well and transitioned in to this delicate, free flowing model, who just so happened to be covered in flour. The way she moved was soft and light. Taylor, my assistant, suggested we shoot through tule we had, which just added to the dreaminess of the whole set. 
   Projects like this make me feel so alive. You're taking your world and expanding it in to this dream like state, which I always have my head stuck in. 
   Watch the beauty unfold below.

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Check Out Our Full Beauty Gallery!

This whole session was shot indoors and outdoors at the AJBC studio in the Fall!
See how different the SAME area can look in the Summer during Daycee's Fairy tale Rapunzel shoot and
in the Winter for Aubrey's Senior Shoot!

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cozy christmas- christmas minis

Another December upon us. Another Christmas Mini Shoot! 
Every year I'm completely lucky and have the cutest families and kids come visit me for the holidays. We gather up everything sparkly and pretty and design a Christmas set for them. 
This year we drug the studio bed outside and decorated the trees with bulbs. It turned out so magical. The little ones looked like little peanuts on the bed! And the families crammed in together for a really cozy Christmas portrait. 
For it being December in Michigan, we TOTALLY lucked out that each day the weather was 45 degrees or better. 
Take a look at the little friends that came to visit, some of them even all the way from London, Ontario, Canada!