Spin-outs & small town connections
I’d been dreaming of incorporating a car into a photoshoot ever since I saw how other photographers use them to add personality and flair. So, when I got an inquiry for a senior session and Aidan mentioned his car on the questionnaire, I couldn’t wait to make his vision come to life. The car? A gorgeous custom purple Miata named Lucy, that he rebuilt himself. 🤯 Also, the Miata is just one year younger than me – how fun is that? 😂 But the road to our shoot wasn’t without a few bumps (quite literally).
Through the grapevine of a small town, I learned that Aidan had hit a raccoon with Lucy right before our session... 😬 Thankfully, his grandpa stepped in to fix the wrecked bumper, but that meant rescheduling for the following week – because we couldn't NOT take pics with the car! But small-town life never ceases to amaze me... It turns out Aidan’s grandpa is neighbors with my friend whose son happens to be one of my son’s best friends at school. Oh, and as if that weren't enough small-world magic, Aidan's mom turned out to be cousins with one of my close friends from high school. Only in a town like ours! 🤪
But WAIT, there's more! The grainery we used as our backdrop (which was suggested by his mom) was right around the corner from my childhood home. It’s moments like these that remind me how connected we all are. Growing up in a small town is truly a unique experience, and it adds such a rich layer to my sessions when these connections emerge!
Aidan was definitely NOT looking forward to getting his pictures taken, but I liked his personality right from the start! He came across as confident, down-to-earth, and someone who knows exactly what he wants out of life. He’s attending a technical school for auto tech, and he has big plans for his future: getting into electrical line work and eventually opening his own car shop. I absolutely loved that he already had clear goals. I had NO clue what I wanted to do when I was a senior, so I was seriously impressed!
We spent the session finding ways to make it fun and natural. I even asked him about car stuff that I totally didn't understand (which was... most of it 😅), but he humored me. The session ended with some of our favorite shots: leaning against Lucy (above), and then a final surprise... I asked him if there were any photos we didn't get that he had in mind, and he smiled and said, “Yeah, but you probably can’t do it.” Trying to match his playful energy, I responded, “Oh, is that a challenge?” Turns out, it was. 😏 His idea? A live spin-out with his car – and YES, I got the shot. And look how cool they turned out!
As we wrapped up the session, I showed Aidan a few of the shots on the back of my camera. He seemed genuinely excited about what I captured for him, and it honestly gave me the biggest ego boost! I’d already had an amazing morning photographing two families whose babies I used to care for back when I was a daycare teacher (cue the emotions 🥹), and this felt like the perfect way to round out the day. Seeing someone truly excited about the photos we create together? That’s why I love what I do. 🥰
Wishing you the best of luck in all your future endeavors, Aidan! 🛠️📸🚗
