I recently had the immense pleasure of capturing these branding photos for a friend I’ve had since college, where we met in the art program while we were both studying art education.

Collaborating with another artist is always a dream, and it feels so fulfilling to work together to bring an artistic vision to life. This was made even more fulfilling for me when I opened my email to find her reaction to her gallery delivery, gushing about how these photos captured her vision flawlessly!

Picture this: an afternoon in my cozy natural light studio, a dark grey backdrop casting a moody vibe, and a playlist curated for the art of capturing moments.

Meet Peyton: a watercolor artist with a vibe that's thoughtful and feminine.

She’s a supermom and an artistic powerhouse, and she exudes confidence and strength – traits that shine when you have the privilege of being in her presence. I opened the front door of our charming historic building, and Peyton hauled her artistic arsenal up the steps into the studio and unloaded an easel, canvas, watercolor paints, palettes, brushes, and finished pieces of art. I was so stoked that she brought me so many things to work with and set the scene for her!

The studio transformed into her haven, a place where she could be her authentic self.

We delved into her vision, fueled by a Pinterest board that set the visual tone for us. As artists, sometimes it can be hard to articulate exactly what we’re seeing in our minds, so getting on the same page visually is crucial! After spending a few minutes reviewing her inspo together, the decision for a moody backdrop was unanimous – we needed a canvas where her all-white ensemble and colorful artwork could stand out like a masterpiece.

I unrolled our dark grey backdrop and started setting the scene using plants from around the studio, her art supplies, and some different jars and things and I loveeee the way it turned into the perfect moody artmaking space. The outfit she chose for this? A white corset top, white shorts, and a button-up for that casual, at-home painting vibe. She made it clear that she didn’t want traditional headshots for these, and she wasn’t too concerned with appearing the most professional. Not a blazer in sight for this session! She topped off her outfit with the feminine touch of a thin white ribbon tying her hair up like a real life Disney princess. She makes art, and she IS the art!

What happened next was a dance of creativity where we captured her in her element. Hanging out with her is so much fun, I think we laughed the entire time we were working together! The results were beyond what I had dreamed of, and I think the photos speak for themselves!

But for me, this session wasn't just about the photos.

It was a collaboration, a meeting of creative minds that extended beyond the scheduled 30 minutes to a whole hour because we were so in the zone! It felt so nice to work with another artist who had a vision and really trusted me with it. As a photographer proudly specializing in boudoir for the last five incredible years – and shooting boudoir exclusively for the majority of that time – this session marked a shift for me.

In the past few months, I’ve found myself searching for more of these moments – more creative portrait sessions where art and personality blend seamlessly. Because there's nothing quite like that all-caps reaction from a client expressing sheer happiness at their vision being perfectly captured, whether that's from their boudoir session or a portrait session like this one! Here's to more moody vibes, creative collaborations, and capturing photographic dreams! 📸✨

Connect with Peyton online and commission some art from her! ↓

Email: peytonahrens@gmail.com
Facebook: Art by Peyton Ahrens
Instagram: @artbypeytonahrens

If you’re looking at these photos wishing that you were in them and want to collaborate on a session like this for yourself, I would absolutely love to capture you in your element too! This session inspired me to start offering Self-Love Portrait Sessions: where we capture photos of you that make you feel like you’re looking into a magic mirror and seeing your favorite version of yourself.

Like what you read here?

I would love to have you in the studio so you can have an experience like this for yourself! Whether you’re all in and ready to go, need some more info before we get started, or are on the fence and want to talk things through before you commit – I’m here for ya! Click the button below to get in touch!

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