Dramatic Portraits Under Midday Sun

I had 24 hours to spend in Phoenix, and Crystal was the first to reach out to me for a shoot. We were both in the city for work and decided to extend the trip to hike around Arizona with our SOs. We also had packed schedules for the day, so we agreed to do a quick, 30-minute session in the morning.

It was my first time shooting in such harsh light, and I did not expect to love it. Golden hour is amazing, but overhead sunlight forces you to get creative with the use of angles and light. Using the severe shadows and highlights to frame a badass pose was tricky, but so rewarding.

Arizona heat is like no other, but Crystal was a pro. She went with every weird angle I suggested and gave me killer eyes the entire time. I’m so grateful she made time to work with me, and also thankful for her fiancé who patiently followed us around in the 98-degree heat!