The Goddess: Bringing an Angel-Inspired Creative Photoshoot to Life
Creative portrait photography in Norfolk, Virginia
I think one of my absolute favorite things about being a creative photographer is getting an idea in my head and figuring out how on earth I’m going to make it happen.
Sometimes, it’s a simple concept. Other times, I find myself collecting enormous feathered wings, yards of fabric, elaborate crowns, and anything else I can get my hands on to bring an idea to life.
The Goddess was definitely the latter. LOL.
I wanted to create something that felt like stepping into a Renaissance painting. Something romantic, dramatic, feminine, and a little otherworldly. An angel-inspired photoshoot that felt less like a traditional portrait session and more like a scene from another world. She wanted her images to be warm, so I took a different approach than what I had been doing before lighting and editing wise.
And this is what we created.
From an Idea to an Entirely Different World
One thing about me? I LOVE an elaborate set.
When I started planning The Goddess, I knew I wanted to play with light, texture, and movement. I imagined beautiful white fabrics, enormous wings, warm candlelight, and a dreamy atmosphere that would make everything feel almost unreal.
But having an idea and figuring out how to photograph it are two completely different things.
That’s part of the fun, though!
I love creating environments where all the little details work together. The lighting, wardrobe, backdrop, props, and even the way someone moves through the set can completely change the final photograph.
For this concept, the golden lighting and atmospheric haze brought everything together. (Even though that smoke machine was truly trying to suffocate us with smoke lol)
The way the light caught the feathers and illuminated the fabric was exactly the kind of dreamy feeling I wanted to create.
And can we talk about that crown?! She brought it with her and it was such a beautiful detail for some of the images!
Why I Love Creative Portrait Photography So Much
If you’ve explored my website, you’ve probably noticed that I’m not particularly interested in creating the same photographs over and over again.
Don’t get me wrong. I love a beautiful portrait.
But I also love the idea of someone walking into my studio and becoming a character from a painting, a movie, or even something that exists entirely inside their imagination.
That’s what makes creative portrait photography so exciting to me.
The Goddess is one example of what can happen when we start with a concept and build an entire experience around it.
And while I absolutely love this particular aesthetic, your creative session doesn’t have to look anything like this.
Maybe you want to become a character from your favorite book. Maybe you’ve been dreaming about an elaborate floral set. Maybe you have a Pinterest board full of images that don’t necessarily make sense together, but you LOVE the way they feel.
BRING ME THAT.
Seriously.
I love taking all those little pieces of inspiration and figuring out how we can turn them into something you can actually step inside.
What Goes Into a Custom Creative Portrait Experience?
This is where things get really fun.
When you book a custom creative portrait experience with me, we’re not limited to choosing an existing backdrop and taking a few photographs.
We get to create something together.
We’ll talk about the kinds of images you’re drawn to, the colors you love, wardrobe, styling, and the overall feeling you want your photographs to have.
Maybe that means incorporating one of my existing sets. Maybe it means creating something completely new.
I also know that not everyone has an elaborate vision already planned out.
That’s okay!
You can come to me with an entire Pinterest board or simply tell me that you want to look like you’ve stepped out of an old painting.
We’ll figure out the rest together.
And please don’t worry about knowing how to pose. I’ll guide you throughout your session so you can focus on enjoying the experience.
I want you to feel like you’ve been transported somewhere completely different.
Even if we’re technically still inside my Norfolk studio. HAHA.
Your Creative Session Doesn’t Have to Look Like Mine
Something I really want people to understand about my photography is that you don’t have to recreate one of my existing concepts to book with me.
I LOVE when someone sees one of my photographs and immediately starts imagining what we could create for them.
That’s actually one of my favorite parts of sharing these projects.
Maybe The Goddess inspires you to create something celestial and romantic.
Or maybe it makes you realize that you’ve always wanted an elaborate gothic portrait, something inspired by Greek mythology, or an entire set covered in flowers.
The possibilities are pretty endless.
And I genuinely love when someone comes to me with an idea I haven’t tried before.
So don’t be afraid to get a little weird with it. Those are usually the ideas that get me the most excited!
Let’s Bring Your Imagination to Life
If you’ve made it this far, I’m going to assume you love creating beautiful things just as much as I do.
And maybe you’ve started imagining what your own creative portrait session could look like.
GOOD. That’s exactly what I was hoping for.
My custom creative portrait experiences are designed for people who want something a little different. Something personal, imaginative, and completely their own.
Whether you already have a concept in mind or need a little help developing one, I’d absolutely love to create something with you.
You don’t need a special occasion, and you definitely don’t need to wait until you have everything figured out.
Sometimes, you just want to make something beautiful.
And I think that’s a pretty good reason to book a photoshoot.
Ready to create something together?
