"Do you mind if I use a leaf blower during your session?"
That was one of the many unusual questions I asked Eden and her mom, Mary, during our first conversation planning Eden's senior photos. Eden wanted a mix of classy portraits with a little weird peppered in, and I assured her I could do weird. A talented violin player, Eden wanted to highlight her years of commitment to her instrument--and what better way to do that than by using a leaf blower to blow your hair around while you play dramatically? While it might not have been the movie-magic moment we had hoped for--none of us could stop laughing at how ridiculous we looked--we had a LOT of fun trying all sorts of crazy stuff out.
One thing in particular her mom Mary pushed for was ending the session at one of her favorite restaurants, Pho Real, for a big ol' bowl of pho. And while normally I don't allow parents to dictate sessions, I could see Eden liked the idea but wasn't sure how we could make, well, not just photos of her eating noodles. (Also, they have some of my favorite crab ragoons in town, so who am I to turn down some deep-fried deliciousness?) With a little outfit change, some nigh-time lighting, and a lot of chili oil, we captured some of my favorite photos from her session in just a few minutes--because nothing should stand in the way of a woman and her bowl of pho.
