Stylin’ and Snappin’

Rarely do photo sessions feel like work for me. They’re challenging, but in the best possible way.

When sessions flow freely, I feel like I’ve slipped into a room full of brilliant people, excellent music, and just enough dancing to qualify as cardio. Yesterday was all that!

Harmony and I photographed Allison: Seattle University professor, knot theory specialist (which sounds both intellectually heroic and slightly impossible), award-winning author, mentor, mother, and a woman who very clearly understands her own power.

There was no easing into it. No camera shyness. Allison arrived ready to strike a pose.

Within minutes, the studio locked into rhythm. Renaissance played on repeat, because Beyoncé leaves very little room for creative hesitation. There was laughter, movement, smart conversation, and the kind of energy that makes two hours disappear without anyone noticing.

To make my photo-life even sweeter, I get to work with Harmony Arnold, which happens to be one of the great privileges of my professional life. We operate in tandem, shared instinct, deep trust, and no unnecessary choreography. What we build together feels elevated without ever feeling labored. Getting to create consistent, meaningful work alongside someone I both admire and adore is not something I take lightly.

As for Allison, what struck me most wasn’t simply her résumé, though it could make the average overachiever reconsider their life choices. It was her presence. Quietly commanding, brilliantly playful, and simply GORGEOUS!

Photographing someone like that isn’t about transformation. It’s about recognition. You don’t manufacture the image. You meet it.

We produced an extraordinary body of work in under two hours…the natural result of confidence, intellect, style, and collaboration converging in one very lively room.

Also, I remain convinced that spontaneous dancing improves portraiture by at least 40 percent. This statistic is unverified, but spiritually accurate.

At its best, the camera records more than appearance. It records certainty, and Allison has that in abundance.

Photos coming soon!