Session 4- Gracie

I have known Gracie since the womb. Her mother is one of my close "sister-friends". I drove to North Muskegon late one afternoon to photograph Gracie on the beach. With her nearly white hair, I envisioned something with clouds or sand for the Metamorphosis shots. 

As with all of the girls, I explained what metamorphosis meant and the things we might do to illustrate the word. I also explained my idea to morph each girl into one of the four elements (earth, air, fire, water) and encouraged her to help me with some suggestions.

Grace is a chatterbox. That child can TALK. It's a good thing that we had some bright sunlight so I could use a fast shutter speed otherwise her mouth would have been a blur! I love her to death! 

As we were shooting some air and sand images, I was suggesting that she get wet for a water shot. She was all for it. We enlisted her mom to dig a hole near the water with a shovel from my trunk of treasures for Grace to pose in while I photographed a few more dry shots. She did a fantastic job digging the hole that we then filled a bit with water. Grace hopped right in and we got the shot. Unfortunately, I had forgotten a towel, so Gracie had to dry off with an organza curtain. 

We were quite the sight for the onlookers. There were a couple other photographers there- one shooting a senior photo, one shooting a family photo. Then there was our little group- two women digging a shallow grave for a child then giving her organza to dry off. HA!

The best part of Gracie's session (besides the obvious notes above)- watching her frolic in the lake during the sunset as she rinsed all of the sand off herself. I especially loved it when she whipped her wet white hair back and yelled, "Mom! Look! I have George Washington hair!"

I'll be sharing some outtakes from my last Metamorphosis session with Rylie later this weekend. 

I do have exciting news to add- the banner printing fund through Kickstarter has been met! With help from many friends, family, fans and followers the Kickstarter project met the $1000 goal and has actually gone over! I am so grateful to all that have helped with this project for ArtPrize. Pledges will still be accepted until noon on Wednesday, September 18. All funds I receive over the $1000 goal will go toward the printing costs for the two large images that will be on display inside Bang Blowdry Bar. Lindsey at Bang Blowdry Bar requested my "Slumber" Octopus print to be on display, so that will be a 40"x60" image inside the venue. Also, my 40"x30" "Bird" girls will hang inside.

I hope you can make it to ArtPrize to see it! I hear there's a party going on at the venue on Friday, September 20. More details to come.

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