07/14/2026
People on the beach actually stopped to watch Ella. I am pretty sure half of them went home and told somebody they saw a model being photographed on the lake.
She’s actually a senior at New Prairie High School. Crazy right?!
Here is what her session really was, because it is not a one hour shoot and a gallery link. It’s so much MORE.
It started with a phone call. An actual phone call, with me, a human being. Then a design consultation where we figured the whole thing out together, the vibe, the outfits, the location. Ella has a beach heart, so we built her evening around the water.
Session day, Ashley did her makeup and it was so soft and so natural that Ella kept sneaking little looks at herself in the mirror. We drove to New Buffalo and started at Oink’s, because it is a special place to her and she grew up on that lake. Then out to the beach at golden hour for some magic. And we grabbed McDonald’s on the way home because we were starving and why not?!
But here is the part almost nobody ever shows you.
A week later they came back to the studio. We had snacks, and I walked them through Ella’s whole gallery together, because deciding what to do with your images is not something you should have to figure out alone at midnight on your laptop.
Ella chose my Bespoke album collection. Andrea chose a wall art piece from Ella’s session and another from her brother’s session two years ago, and I am coming out to hang both of them myself.
That is the whole thing. Four appointments, start to finish, and I am with you for every single one.
And a huge thank you to Andrea, who held my reflector, shot the BTS, and never once complained about the wind. Best assistant I have ever had.
👉 Class of 2027, I only take 3 to 4 custom sessions a month and fall is filling up. Send me a message and let’s plan your night.
👉 And send this to the mom who keeps saying she needs to book senior pictures. You know exactly who she is.
