Picture scheduling a photo session on one of the windiest days of the year in downtown Akron. The wind gusts tried to take us out, but we powered through and shockingly came out unscathed with some stellar photos. Matter of fact, the wind was an unpaid assistant that supplied movement to our photos without us even trying. Bonus!
Ally’s senior city photo session kicked off with a pink ruffle top and white pants against a mint colored wall. The complementary colors provided the perfect pop for her spring photo session. The behind the scenes to capture this shot was…interesting. The wind kicked up dust particles that felt like we were getting sandblasted, and every once in awhile the wind died down enough for us to catch our breath and grab a shot.
Right across the alley and parking lot was this dark colored wall that would pair perfectly with Ally’s red floral set. Trying to set up the popup changing pod in this wild weather was out of the question, so we hopped in the car to change outfits for the next look. Thank goodness for tinted windows and the fact that nobody else was crazy enough to be out and about.
Next up, we hopped in the car and rounded the corner to the front of the library for some photos in front of the reflective glass while Ally did another quick change into her white dress and heels. The wind here was off the charts, so we quickly found partial shelter by the rotating doors to grab another photo before running back to the car for another respite and outfit change.
Look number 4 had us running up and down the street taking advantage of all of the different textures and backdrops that section of town had to offer. The beauty of city sessions is that there is so much variety within a relatively short walking distance. It is key to plan out your location and outfits in advance to maximize the impact that each combination provides. This is why a wardrobe consultation is included in my senior sessions to ensure that we are making the most out of the time we have together and achieving the strongest images possible at each location.
As if we hadn’t endured enough punishment from the wind, we saved the windiest location for last. Parking garage rooftops are one of my absolute favorite locations to photograph. The pavement acts as a natural reflector, and you can achieve so much variety from a sky backdrop to the cityscape and everything in between. In a matter of minutes–because that’s all we could handle–we had several shots that were keepers, and we wrapped it up in one of my favorite stairwells.
Leading lines and winding staircases will forever have my heart. The overcast skies lent to the perfect filtered light in the stairwell that day, and the editorial vibe was exactly what I had envisioned for this space. So there you have it. March Madness: Photography Edition. We braved the wild winds and miraculously managed to capture some fantastic photos in the process. If you’re ready for an adventure of your own, head to this link for your modern senior experience session or to this link for a modern minimalist session.
XO, Katie