Mary Catherine

February, 2023

Senior Session in Atchison, KS

In Kansas, the late winter or early spring can be rather dull. The trees are bare and the grass is brown. I was asked to do this senior photoshoot in February, and I wondered how the photos would turn out since everything was brown and there seemed to be no life or color.

I knew about this rock wall draped with a blanket of vines and resorted to this as it had proved tried and true in past experiences. While the vines were crisp and crunchy with little to no color, their dullness only provided more contrast with the vibrancy of my subject.

Moral of the story is that even seemingly boring landscapes can prove to be incredible backdrops, and vines are always an excellent choice.

You might be wondering how to distinguish fashion from a portrait, and I'm right there with you. I've been trying to come up with my own definition for fashion photography, and I think a lot of it has to do with attitude. Fashion photography is overdramatized, and that's why I love it. There's an air of haughtiness or aloofness with a twinge of "catch me if you can" that you don't often find in simple portraits. There's a cinematic feel to them that draws the viewer in.

It was a chilly day in the capital city of Kansas. The ceremony was beautiful and the newlyweds pretty much let me do my own thing. The one thing the bride told me she specifically wanted was sunset photos on the rooftop of the venue. Never before had sunset photos been more thrilling for me. It was just me and the couple (and the attendant), basking in all the sun's glory. The light provided some magical moments, and I was thrilled to be able to capture them on my camera.