Where do I start with this one?
From the moment her mother, Debbie, had told me that her daughter might want something done with a Harry Potter wand, I knew I was in for a fun session.
So in walks Shellie with all her stuff... and what I learned was that she was like a onion with many layers... This girl was SO excited... I razzed her later about the fact that I thought she was gonna hyperventilate as she was showing me all of her stuff that she had in store for me (and talking so fast that she could hardly catch her breath). I know she's performed on stage in front of an auditorium FULL of onlookers... so I was giggling inside at her nervousness in front of an audience of one.
Perhaps that's how it is when one gets out of their comfort zone... but given some time... this one got right in her wheelhouse.
Aside from the HUGE Harry Potter collection, complete with the wand, the broom and hooded git-up... we also had to work in a TOTALLY Shellie black petticoat and adorable hat.... AND we had to pay homage to her love of the stage)... AND her love of the arts didn't end there either as we incorporated a sketchbook and an AMAZING sketch. If that weren't enough... I may have had a senior portrait first, as well... at least at MY studio... and that was a tribute to the Girl Scouts! (hats off to Mama Deb who, could clearly feel my disappointment when it was revealed that our scout had failed to bring in what SHOULD have been obvious... GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!.... a mad dash back to Marshalltown and returning with some Caramel deLites did the trick... AND the fact that I inherited that box didn't suck either). :)
To say that Shellie marches to her own drum beat is obvious... and you know what?... I really think that's awesome. While others may want to poke fun at this or that, I think my biggest compliment I got... maybe all year... was when Shellie's mom told me the reason she and her daughter came to my studio for pictures...
She told me that she knew that I would take the time to bring out her daughter's personality... and she wasn't so sure that they'd get that elsewhere.
Translation: Stewart Photography treats everyone with the Golden Rule.
<3
It may be a little known fact by now... but my love for athletics stringing all the way back to a child didn't keep me from participating in the arts, either. So I relished Shellie and I's discussion about all things drama... (the stage kind... and otherwise, right girlfriend?). In fact our blabbing got so out of control... that the next thing you know... the moon was rising... and we got one of my very favorite images for the entire year as our honorary member of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry nailed the first shot in this blog just a mile north of town as I laid in the weeds to get the moon just at the right height behind her.
I've often said that we try our best not to "cookie-cutter" people's sessions around here... and while that isn't always easy to do... sometimes I can't HELP but to fall into something really cool and different just because the subject is so amazingly extraordinary... and I guess I just wanted to send out mad props to Michelle Robinson for her uniqueness and willingness to take her personality and run with it bring out her wonderful spirit...
Don't ever change, Shell...
1 comment:
These are beautiful!
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