St. Louis wedding Photographer
Paducah Wedding Photographer

We met Cynthia Jewel at the coolest coffee shop in Kentucky (maybe the whole US honestly. Shout out to Pipers!) where she baristas! As soon as we spoke, I hoped that one day we’d be able to be friends and photograph her. (She’s so funny and sweet I swear.) Zack is in a band and is a seriously talented musician. Not to mention just a cool person all around. When we collaborated with CJ and Zack on this shoot, I knew it was going to be a good one.

The session started outside of Zack’s work at a printing press in Paducah, KY. We were looking for a blank slate and some heavy direct sunlight. We’ve been moving away from typical golden hour dream work and treading into difficult lighting situations. It’s nice to give yourself a challenge after years of playing it safe and wishing you were creating work you could be proud of.

After the wall, we focused on the “well she’s seen better days” baby blue car parked permanently on the mix of gravel and grass. It gave me major high school soul mates skip class and go dream about their future hidden behind the old broken down car before ducking into a gas station to get snacks for 7th period.

On the other side of this magnificent white wall is a printing press. (And no, the air wasn’t on in case you’re wondering. And yes, it was as hot as Satan’s homeland.) The light! The LIGHT that is in that building. The way everything is perfectly preserved in a time that was once only recorded on VHS tapes. Doesn’t this session feel like a cassette tape you listen to with the windows down? (You know, the hand crank windows you have to roll down yourself?) It’s familiar though you haven’t seen it before.

After nudie suit inspired downtown walks, we ended our session on the rooftop high above The Foxbriar Cocktail Bar with a view of the buildings and river.