She told me right away that she had looked at a dozen portfolios before choosing mine. I didn’t ask her which photographers she had seen, but I could tell from the way she described it that she had done her homework. She said my work felt “alive,” that the women I photographed didn’t look like they were posing—they looked like they were in the middle of a story. That’s the best compliment I can get, because it’s exactly what I aim for.
Why She Came to Me
She’s a mom, a blogger, and the kind of person who sees details other people skip over. Her site, The Cat Lady Sings, is a Miami Mom Blog and is playful but thoughtful, and I knew right away she wasn’t going to settle for photos that looked staged. When we met, she laughed and said, “I picked you because you’re the only one who didn’t make every photo look like a stock image.”
That’s how I knew this shoot needed a location that wasn’t just pretty, but personal. We decided on a quiet Miami beach I’ve used before. It’s never crowded at sunrise, and I prefer shooting with the tide low so the sand leaves long reflective streaks. She liked that idea instantly—she wanted movement in her photos, not just stillness.
- Choosing the right location isn’t just about scenery; it sets the mood.
- Early morning light softens the skin naturally, no heavy retouching needed.
- Beaches offer unpredictability—wind, waves, and clouds—and sometimes those become the best frames of the day.
The Shoot by the Shore
She arrived in a green bra and panty set, the kind of shade that pops against the pale sand but still feels earthy. I’ve been doing this for twenty years, and I’ll tell you, certain colors just work better outside. Jewel tones hold their own against strong natural light, and that was the case here.
At one point, she laughed as the tide caught her ankles, said, “I wasn’t expecting the water to be this cold.” I kept shooting. Those genuine expressions, the surprise in the moment—that’s what makes an image look like her, not like anyone else. I don’t stop when a client laughs, sneezes, or brushes hair out of her eyes. I use those seconds because they’re alive.
A Frame That Stayed With Me
Later in the session, I had her sit where the foam from the waves thinned into lace across the sand. The green fabric caught the morning light, and her hair blew across her face just enough to soften her smile. I didn’t direct much in that moment—sometimes the environment does more than I can. Looking at the final set, that single frame stands out. She agreed. She said it looked exactly like how she felt—light, present, unforced.
What She Took Home
When I sent her the gallery, she emailed me back almost immediately. No fuss, no edits, just: “These feel like me.” That’s the reaction I aim for every single time. Not polished beyond recognition, not made into someone else’s idea of beauty, but simply her, the way the morning light caught her in Miami, laughing as the tide chased her.