Lensed: Maddie
The first time Maddie stepped in front of my camera for her senior portraits, I knew I was photographing someone who loved the camera. Maddie has a playful, bubbly personality and infectious laugh, making every shoot feel less like work. It’s no wonder we've collaborated a dozen times over the past several years!
One of my favorite things about Maddie is her genuine love for being photographed. Her enthusiasm lights up every session, especially when the setting involves sun, sand, and waves. The beach is her favorite backdrop, where her natural energy comes alive. I can still hear her laughing hilariously when she decided to go for a swim ↑ (in her prom dress) at the end of our session.
After one session, we were loading equipment on lower Wacker Drive in Chicago. Unfortunately, after wrapping up a 3-hour shoot in the city and at the beach, my Canon 5DS camera and 85mm f/1.2 lens was stolen right next to my SUV, along with every shot we'd captured that day! Despite that setback, Maddie’s positivity never wavered; she was more than happy to reschedule and do it all over again.
Over the years, I've watched Maddie blossom from a spirited high school senior into a beautiful young woman who has completed her communications degree at DePaul and is now married. It's been amazing to watch her grow through my lens, capturing snapshots of her maturing personality along the way.
Maddie has a beautiful smile ↑ but can also throw the camera a look. ↓
This image was lit with a 2,000 watt Arri tungsten fresnel at sundown. Squeezing enough power out of the lamp was challenging, even at close distance (just out of frame at camera right). Although it required an on-site generator and the rig was not very portable, the setting sun coupled with the tungsten fresnel remains on of my favorite lighting scenarios.
If I had to sum Maddie up, it would be easy: energetic, bubbly, genuinely happy, and someone with a truly beautiful laugh and smile. She's a photographer’s dream, and I'm grateful for the 12 shoots we've shared behind the lens.
