Hoover Dam Engagement Session in Columbus, Ohio
Hoover Dam Engagement Session in Columbus, Ohio

The two most important technical aspects that Sam and Kyle wanted for their session was a sunset and to use smoke. At the reservoir we found a beautiful pine grove, and because it was after 7pm, the sun was low enough to create harsh directional, horizontal light and shadows. After taking a few shots, we decided that this was the perfect spot to use the smoke. I positioned Kyle and Sam in a light streak between two shadows, and then Josh lit a green smoke stick and ran around them. As the smoke moved through the air, Kyle and Sam embraced and connected; and I photographed my back lit subjects, taking one shot after another. It wasn't until I looked through my playback that I saw what we just created together. I showed Kyle and Sam, and we were all ecstatic. You'll see those images at the bottom of this post. In summary, the smoke illumined the sunbeams that were already shining in between Kyle and Sam's embrace. The true beauty, to me, is their beautiful connection--the sunbeams and smoke just actuated it.

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engagement sessionseastlyn brightForest, Summer, Sunset, Golden Hour, Atmosphere Aerosol Comment
Canyonlands National Park Winter Engagement Session
Canyonlands National Park Winter Engagement Session

Stewart and Mindy traveled three hours from Salt Lake City to meet Joshua and me at the Island in the Sky in Canyonlands National Park. When we first arrived, the entire park was covered in a dense fog and we couldn't even see ten feet in front of us. Typically I prefer fog, but in this case, it was making it impossible to see into the canyon. I directed Stewart and Mindy where to stand and then, right before our eyes, the fog began to fall, giving real meaning to its name, Island in the Sky.

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engagement sessions, destination sessionseastlyn brightNational Park, Sunset, Winter, DesertComment
Michaela & Ronan Arrow | Dayton, Ohio Portrait Photographer
Michaela & Ronan Arrow | Dayton, Ohio Portrait Photographer

During this in-home session, I asked Michaela how being pregnant made her feel. She told me that pregnancy has been the scariest, most annoying and frustrating experience of her life, but at the same time, without a doubt, it has also been the most wonderfully beautiful thing that she has ever undergone. Despite everything growing rounder and weirder, and as she has admittedly lost almost all control over her own body, she still basks in wonder: "Who is the wee one going to be?" she said out loud, "…and how will he turn out? Will I be a good mother and raise a warrior? Or will I fall short and not be who he needs me to be?"

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personal, portraitseastlyn brightComment