Till Death Do Us Part.
This session was one I put together simply because I wanted to have some fun and create something different. I put out a model call looking for a couple who wanted to play along with a dark, spooky, romantic concept—and these two absolutely nailed it. Their face paint turned out exactly like the inspiration I had in mind. And let me tell you… don't get me started on Pinterest. The second I see an idea that sparks something in my creative brain, I immediately think, “Okay, I REALLY want to recreate this—but make it my own style.”
So that's exactly what we did.
We met up at spooky Lacamas Lake, dressed completely in black and giving the whole session a dark funeral-inspired feel. There was something about the location, the outfits, and the moody atmosphere that made everything come together perfectly. Then we brought out the smoke bombs. These were SO much fun to work with, but there is definitely a learning curve. You have to move quickly because they don't last very long, which means you have a very small window to get the shot. It's basically: light it, RUN, pose, shoot.
But when everything comes together, it's so worth it.
I also had some fun experimenting with the images afterward in Lightroom. I played around with tilt-shift and blur effects to create a more dramatic, dreamlike feeling and really emphasize the passion between the couple. I love being able to take an idea from the camera and then continue creating during the editing process until the final image feels like something completely my own.
This shoot was never about being perfectly posed or following a formula. It was about taking an idea, finding the right people, exploring a creepy location, playing with smoke, experimenting with editing, and seeing what we could create together.
And honestly?
I still love this session.
There is something about dark romance, dramatic makeup, black clothing, foggy smoke, and a little bit of mystery that I don't think I'll ever get tired of capturing.
Pinterest may give me the spark… but turning that inspiration into my own creative style is where the real fun begins.
