Happy Fall!
I guess now that we've officially crossed into "fall" territory (checks weather app for Texas weather) we can finally dive into some more fun fashion and activities! While it may not feel like fall here in Dallas, I can guarantee by the number of pumpkin spice flavored things out at every coffee shop and dessert place you walk into that everyone has moved on from the summer. Even me! *aggressively dusts of my Ugg slippers*
Today's post is something I shot that was SUPER fun and I think a little different than anything I've shot this year. Now I don't totally make it a habit of pulling out my gear in the middle of a crowded fast-food place, I definitely didn't back down from that challenge this time because I've always secretly wanted to do it. The perk this time is that it was exactly what my client wanted for her birthday portraits! So there we were, on a Friday afternoon, where kids noticeably had the day off from school (I wish I knew why?), and we placed an order for a burger and some animal fries. Before the session I did some recon of the few In-n-Out spots around the Dallas area. This one in particular was the Addison location which I chose because the outdoor was more appealing than the other ones, which were just boring slabs of concrete slapped together for shelter and outdoor seating. THIS particular location gave us the cute red umbrella tables outside with the glorious sign in the back at the top of the restaurant that only a blind person could miss (I know part of this is just color theory and marketing but what the hell do I know about that, my favorite font is Times New Roman, for god's sake).
Once my client changed into her outfit, which was a cute pink t-shirt, a sparkling skirt, and the cutest heels I could never wear, we got to work! We set up at the countertop space near the soda machine for a few reasons. One, there wasn't much open seating left (thanks Dallas ISD for closing the schools!). Two, the light coming in from the windows near the counter top seats was too good to pass up. Three, we got to have the neon sign glowing in the background. Lastly, it was the only spot that gave us enough space to work. We used the food ordered as props, stuck some candles in them for that added effect, and shot away.
After we did as much damage as we could indoors (and after more than a few staring patrons gave us dirty looks), we trudged outside where we had a little more freedom to not only talk and laugh but shoot. I almost regret not having a lighter on hand for those candles, I think it was the only thing missing. My client whipped out a cute tiara and placed it on her head, and we continued playing around with the poses and continuing to use the food items and cup as props. We alternated between sitting on top of one of the picnic tables to block out anyone sitting in the countertop seats in the window behind her, and then we switched to doing some where she was actually seated on the seat and eating her meal like everyone else.
All in all, it was probably one of the most fun things I've shot in a while and I feel like this has been the year of exploring and shooting fun things for me. If anything, let this be a reminder that your birthday portraits (or portraits in general) are for you, and as long as you're having fun and being who you are, you don't have to keep staring at me with a stiff smile on your face. Get a coffee, eat a slice of pie, or dance across the crosswalk of an intersection. Portraits should be fun and free and above all, a representation of your personality which should always shine whether your portraits are for your birthday, business, or dating profile.
