Royal Blue Inspired Session | Maddie

This year I decided to do something different with my 2016 senior reps. I wanted to step out of the box and get really creative. After a lot of brain storming, I came up with color inspired sessions. Each rep will choose a different color and we’ll have a photo shoot based on their color. Maddie, one of my senior reps from Fluvanna County High School in Virginia, chose royal blue.  With her long, light blond hair and beautiful blue eyes, I immediately thought of a mermaid! Plus Maddie has been on swim teams for years so it was perfection!

Just like the other sessions, I turned to Pinterest to gather ideas for her hair and makeup. However, unlike the others, I didn’t need to make an outfit. I found this gorgeous sequined dress at a thrift store (for $4.00 I might add!) and I knew it would be perfect!!!

We started out in my studio for the first part of the session. Working with one of my makeup artists (and fantastic former senior client) Tyler, we came up with the concept that in the studio, Maddie’s makeup would be elegant, but not overly Mermaid-ish…not that that’s a word. 🙂 I began with a pretty basic lighting set up but quickly moved on to more dramatic lighting.

For something totally different, we used my hair dryer as a make shift studio hair fan! It sounded so ridiculous, we were all laughing. This photo of Maddie cracking up is a direct result of that! I absolutely love it….Maddie, you are so adorable!!

Maddie looked so unbelievably gorgeous, I could have photographed her in my studio all day but we only had an hour until the sun set. While I was loading up my van, Tyler altered Maddie’s make up to look over the top dramatic! I had the idea then when she stepped into the water, (which was my neighbor’s pool) her full mermaid-ness…again, not a real word 🙂 …would come out!

I used my background stand and actually hung backdrop in the water! It worked so perfectly!! I put one light by the edge of the pool, with a sandbag on it and another light over the backdrop pointing towards the water. As Maddie got farther into the water, her hair obviously got pretty wet so Tyler gave her a super cute side braid.

At the very end I took a few shots of Maddie floating on her back in the water. It really showcased her amazing eyes. Tyler you did such a fantastic job!!! I’ve loved all of the color sessions I’ve done with my senior reps, but this one was so totally different…I was in creative heaven! I even got in the water (in my clothes because I foolishly didn’t bring my bathing suit) for a few of the shots. I don’t think I’ve ever been more nervous during a session. Having your camera about three inches from the surface of the pool is very scary! 🙂

If you missed it, check out Morgan’s green, Sarah’s gold, and Emily’s light blue inspired sessions…they all did such an amazing job!

Thanks Maddie, Tyler & Erin who got in the pool to hold my reflector. Of course, she was smart and wore her baiting suit! I had so much fun working with you guys again! Be on the lookout for the rest of my color sessions. I’ have red, turquoise, black & purple coming up!

CLASS of 2016 – It’s never too early to get on my fall calendar, contact me today! | 434.906.0418 | photos@alijohnson.com

Ali Johnson is a portrait photographer specializing in senior portrait photography in Charlottesville, Crozet, Keswick, Albemarle and Fluvanna County VA