I'M SO GLAD THAT I'M FINALLY WRITING ABOUT THIS DAY!!
One thing I’ve always tried to stay true to is doing photoshoots simply as a way to flex my creative muscle, try new things, explore different wardrobe choices, and map out unfamiliar locations. This becomes even easier when you have clients who are fully along for the ride and let you bring to life the artistic visions that randomly pop into your head. Bella and Morgan first asked me to do their senior portraits back in 2020, and from then on, we just clicked. Even in those original sessions, I felt free to branch out and lean into funky, fun poses with them, and that feeling stuck with me. Since then, every year around December, we’ve come together to bring to life whatever quirky, artsy concept I’ve been dreaming up, as winter is typically my "off-season." This particular year, I’m writing about our 2022 winter shoot in Lake Tahoe, California—a photoshoot I truly think I’ll never forget. From planning and finding the right outfits to traveling to the location and posing these two for a Vogue-inspired vibe, the entire experience was a blast. Although I love a candid photoshoot, I find myself occasionally drawn back to the heavily-posed, magazine-style approach that marked the beginning of my photography journey nearly a decade ago. It’s always nostalgic and refreshing to revisit those creative processes, allowing the past and present to merge into something new!
As I mentioned earlier, the inspiration for this photoshoot came from popular magazines like Vogue and ELLE, as well as brands like Free People and UGG. We chose a layered wardrobe with a touch of New York City energy and charm. I wanted Bella and Morgan to truly stand out against the wintery backdrop, so I leaned into contrasting outfits—one in caramel hues and the other in rich chocolatey tones. A fun bonus was their complementary hair colors, which added to the contrast between them. With 2022-23 being a historically cold and snowy season in the Sierra, we braved the chilly, overcast conditions on the frozen surface of South Lake, which was iced over for about 50 feet from its usual shoreline. The vastness of the environment made the shoot feel dramatic in a quiet, still way, with that inexplicable winter magic in the air. To see some of my favorite shots from this day, scroll below, and stay tuned for Bella, Morgan, and I’s upcoming cabin-flash editorial this December, inspired by the vintage, cutesy style of pop star Sabrina Carpenter!
