I think what I liked most about this shoot was how effortless it felt. There wasn’t a huge plan behind it. We found a corner with good light, started shooting, and everything slowly built itself from there.
Michaela has this ability to make even the quietest moments feel intentional on camera. Nothing felt rushed or overly posed. It honestly felt more like capturing a mood than trying to create one.
We didn’t talk much about what we were doing.
Just small directions, a lot of “wait... stay there,”
and her trusting it would make sense after.
It did.
In frame: @mariabocourt_
I think I enjoy shoots like this more than anything else. No expectations, no pressure to deliver something crazy. Just figuring things out in real time and seeing where it goes.
It was one of those grey, rainy days, but it actually worked in our favor. The light was soft, everything felt a bit muted, and it all matched the mood we were building without forcing it. Sarah understood that from the start and leaned into it the whole time.
This shoot started with a simple idea: a red ribbon.
At first it felt a little uncomfortable.
Not being able to see. Not knowing exactly what the next photo would be.
But that was kind of the point.
Somewhere in the middle of the bridge the whole thing started to change.
The ribbon came off, the mood shifted, and everything felt lighter.
Looking back at the photos now, it almost feels like a small story about vulnerability, silence, and letting go.
@marideth.t trusted me with the process the whole time.
Different women.
Different stories.
Different kinds of strength.
Over the years, many have trusted my lens
to capture a small part of who they are.
Grateful for every frame.
Happy International Women’s Day.
Sometimes the light finds the scene before the idea does.
We were just walking through the studio when the sun started drawing lines on the backdrop.
Emily stepped in for a minute.
That minute turned into the whole shoot.
Opya Studios w/ @emilypatosky
