In the Box Portraits

The Class of 2023 Model Team might have literally been in the box for these portraits, but the shoot was all about the girls thinking outside of the box with their posing and creative ideas! Earlier this month, we got to have as much fun as could fit into a 4×4 box, and the results were AH-mazing! On their own, each girl’s portraits stood out but edited all together into a 3×3 grid, the photos just popped! It was so cool seeing this idea come together! 

Unpacking the Rainbow

To prepare for our March shoot, the girls were asked to pick a color from the rainbow to do an “in the box” shoot. Each girl picked a color to wear, but of course, we couldn’t stop there! They got inspired and put on some of the fun outfits from the AHP Style Closet!! And I got to learn all about the latest high school trends. Apparently, mismatched socks are very in right now, and having your dogs out (a term for feet/toes) is not – LOL! While the photos might look edited to just appear box-like, it is an actual 4×4 box that they climb into! We had so much fun trying to do poses where we keep all of our limbs inside the box! Each girl took the prompt and ran with it, and I love what they did!

Don’t Be Afraid to Take Up Space

For this shoot, I wanted the girls to take up as much space as possible. As young women, they can often be asked to do the opposite. To be small, both physically and in their actions. To be nice, go with the flow, be “chilled” or not share their opinions as much. They are put inside a box of what society expects of them and consequently, how much they can achieve. I want to shatter that notion. While this shoot was just a fun day in the studio, it was SO much more than that. As each of the girls was finding new and creative ways to fill up their given 4-foot space, they were also stretching their minds to what they could be beyond those walls. Every time we do something new, take a risk, or try a different style, we are telling our brains it is okay to push those boundaries. We will be safe! We are strong enough to handle anything that life throws at us. And that is what these girls just did, and continue to do with every one of our shoots! I couldn’t be more proud of them!

Finding a New Perspective

I love doing shoots that ask the girls to push a little bit further or to explore a new way of viewing something simple. Like a box or a word. One of my favorite shoots is from the Project Beauty Campaign we do every year. During this shoot, I ask the girls to define what “true beauty” means to them. It’s a day that allows us all to be open and vulnerable with each other and with ourselves. By the end of the session, my goal is that the girls will feel more comfortable in their own skin and able to express what they see as truly beautiful in the world. Pushing back against the standards set by social media. Just like with the box shoot, the girls are given structure, but it is up to them to explore to the fullest and come out with a new perspective of their own! 

Let’s Connect!

If you and your besties want to do an in-the-box shoot- send me a DM!! We can take whatever theme you want and (you guessed it) put it in a box! No matter what the occasion, photoshoots are a great way to bond with your besties and come away with the highest quality, Insta-worthy images. I can’t wait to see what we create!