When my phone rang and Claire’s Mom was on the other end and asked if I could photograph another daughter (I had photographed her older sister, Lauren, four years earlier) I was elated. As soon as we penciled in the date we started sharing ideas for the perfect location. Location, like clothing, is another opportunity to emphasize who you are. It’s another element that can add to your pictures. Be original, be open minded, be willing to try something different because it’s here where the magic happens.
Lauren’s pictures (Claire’s older sister) were taken in Fishers at a stable where she boards her horses, so naturally we did an equestrian themed session complete with her horses, an open field and flowy dresses. Claire on the the other hand (as her Mom described) was more of a free spirit, nature lover with an organic vibe. Taking her Mom’s description of Claire, I suggested a Coachella inspired location.
Indianapolis, Indiana isn’t exactly known for it’s open desert plains like sunny Southern California, however we made the best out of it and found an open ‘mud-flat’ area that looked very close to those American Eagle inspired ads. You know the ads- where beautiful girls are running through cactus and sand barefoot!? YEP! We ended up rescheduling Claire’s session twice to be honest. The original day it rained and then the next day it was dark and overcast. We knew we needed the SUN (remember, California) so we opted to wait for a better day. The end results were worth the wait.
It was refreshing to use something so simple and uncommon but in plain sight. Remember, what I see as a photographer and what you see are two very different things. Claire and her Mom gave me the creative freedom from start to finish and we are all thrilled with the end results.
