Knee Deep Water + Model = Fun!

I like to think of myself as a concept driven photographer and I have had this concept in mind for a while now.

I finally got the chance to shoot it! The concept was to do a model shoot in one of streams that run through this area. The streams, at certain times of day, can be beautifully reflective and still. They reflect all the beautiful colors of the trees and would also reflect my model as well. I scouted a location I loved and even found this great rock I could pose my model on. Now I just needed a model to complete this concept. Evan Chen needed to update her portfolio so it just clicked and here is what we came up with.

Of course we couldn't shoot with out a couple of of out-of-control laughing sessions. Seriously, no one ever tells you that goofing off is such an integral part of making good images! :D

I decided to do a retro look as well, because I knew diversity would be important for Evan's portfolio. So where else to go than the Classic Beaux-Art Nelson Art gallery? (Which also happens to be a favorite for just about every wedding photog out there! more on that later)

So here is a composite of what we did. I had a blast doing this even though it was probably one of the most challenging shoots I have done in a while. The sun had already gone down by the time we arrived to I had rely entirely on my off camera flashes. Luckily I have had a lot of experience with them lighting up dark reception halls. So I was really happy with how it came together.

I really love challenges like this. It forces me to innovate and work outside of comfort range, which sometime allow my creativity to really come to the surface.