Makeup On location

We set up our little beauty station right there in the wild, tucked into a pocket of shade like we were pitching camp for something sacred and slightly rebellious. While the trees filtered the light into soft gold ribbons, Danielle worked her quiet magic on Laura’s face, turning fresh air into a makeup studio. Curious bystanders wandered past, stealing glances as if they’d stumbled upon a secret forest ritual. The green around Laura’s eyes was bold but intentional, echoing the grass beneath our feet and making her red hair burn even brighter against it.

Makeup: Danielle Maree MUA

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No more golden hour

For this shoot, I wanted to step away from the usual golden hour glow and do something that felt a little bolder, a little more intentional. Instead of chasing soft sunset light, we embraced the middle of the day, when the sun is stronger and the contrast feels sharper. It gave everything a slightly more editorial edge. Cleaner lines. Deeper shadows. Brighter highlights. We moved between open shade and direct sunlight, letting the light shape the mood instead of fighting it. In the shade, things felt intimate and grounded. In the sun, it turned punchier, almost fashion-forward. We played with flash, letting shadows fall where they wanted, creating depth and texture rather than smoothing everything out. It felt experimental in the best way. Honest, a little daring, and very alive.

The whole session had this playful energy to it. We weren’t just capturing moments, we were building them with light. And stepping away from the “same old” golden hour look made it feel fresh, like we were carving out our own version of romance instead of repeating someone else’s.