BEHIND-THE-SCENES: COLLEGE GRADUATION PHOTOSHOOT WITH TIARRA HARPER
"Shine bright like a diamond" - Rihanna
MEET TIARRA HARPER: COLLEGE GRAD x PLANT MAMA!
OMG! Tiarra "Tea" Harper is seriously one of those people you're like, "I'm so glad we crossed paths!" She's such a cool gal with the most infectious spirit. I met "Tea" about a year ago (or maybe even longer, I honestly can't remember) at an OKC Ballet event. Whenever we'd run into each other at OKC Ballet and OKC Museum of Art events, we'd always exchange "hi's" here and there, but we never really had a proper conversation until a couple of months back at another OKC Ballet event, Hamlet. Turns out, we instantly bonded over our crazy love for freshly popped popcorn and our wickedly sarcastic sense of humor.
As we chatted, a little more than we probably should've during the ballet, we talked about photography and her upcoming graduation from the East Central University (ECU). And what do you know, she was in need of a photographer for her college graduation photos! Of course, I jumped at the opportunity to photograph such an important milestone in her life.
UNVEILING THE PHOTOSHOOT THEME
THE CREATIVE CONCEPT: EDUCATED PLANT MAMA
Tiarra wanted her college graduation photoshoot to be different from the traditional cap and gown photos. Of course she wanted those traditional shots as well, but she also wanted to incorporate something that represented her personality and passions. As we chatted about different ideas, Tiarra mentioned her love for plants and how she has become quite the "plant mama". Not only having plant babies of her own, Tiarra even rescues plants and nurses them back to health. And that's when it hit me, the perfect theme for her photoshoot should be something along the lines - "Educated Plant Mama!"
THE LOCATION: MYRIAD BOTANICAL GARDENS - OKC, OK
There really wasn't much location scouting that was needed! I immediately knew - the perfect spot that would truly capture Tiarra's love for all things green and nature. We ended up choosing the Myriad Botanical Gardens in Oklahoma City. I've shot here before and it's a total gem! The Myriad Botanical Gardens Crystal Bridge has such lush tropical greenery, beautiful light, and stunning architecture. And the best part, it was all indoors! It was like stepping into a whole different world far from the cold winter of OKC. Can you imagine? The perfect backdrop for our shoot, without a doubt.
THE VIBE: CHILL
Tiarra is a super chill person and in my experience, "Plant Mamas" aren't overly keyed up. One with nature and the universe. So we wanted to make sure that energy was reflected in her photoshoot. We didn't want anything too posed or forced, but rather a relaxed and effortless vibe.
THE INSPIRATIONAL ADJECTIVES
Empowered
Accomplished
Shining
Beautiful
Effortless
To truly set the vibe for the photoshoot, these adjectives were carefully selected to describe Tiarra and her journey as a college graduate stepping into the world. These power words not only guided our poses but also helped us capture the essence of Tiarra's true self. My goal was to showcase her inner strength and beauty, while revealing her vibrant spirit and captivating charm.
THE WARDROBE: RED + MISS HAWAII (SAVANNAH GANKIEWICZ)
Who knew an Instagram post and a photo I took this summer of Miss Hawaii (Miss USA 1st Runner-Up too), Savannah Gankiewicz, in Maui, HI would serve as the wardrobe color inspiration for our photoshoot. We are going red.
Lemme explain...
IT WAS THIS INSTAGRAM POST
When planning a photoshoot, I always ask why I was chosen as their photographer? and what photo of mine you really liked? This gives me a better understanding of what you like. When Tiarra pointed out this photo from Miss Hawaii as her fav, I noticed that the color red was very prominent. In fact, it dominated the photo without taking away from Savannah and the scenery around her. And that's when we decided to use red as one of the main colors for Tiarra's wardrobe.
BEHIND THE LENS: THE PHOTOGRAPHY PROCESS
THE PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT: CAMERA, LENSES, AND LIGHTING
Camera Body: Canon RP Mirrorless camera
Camera Lens: For this shoot, I used my Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 lens.
Lighting: Perfect and very controlled natural light was provided by the beautifully designed glass structure of the Myriad Botanical Gardens Crystal Bridge. And let's not forget to give the pockets of dappled light all of the credit they deserve too! Because let’s be honest, they were the real MVP quite often.
THE CAMERA SETTINGS: SHUTTER SPEED, APERTURE AND ISO
I shoot in Manual mode, so my camera settings are constantly changing depending on the lighting and composition. Let me give you a quick breakdown of the settings I used for this shoot:
Camera Settings:
Shutter Speed: 1/250-1/320
Aperture: f/4
ISO: 160-200
THE MAGIC REVEALED: OUR TOP SHOTS
Tiarra was an absolute rockstar, up for anything I threw her way. Once we started shooting, my shot list went out the window in no time. Tiarra and I got into this creative zone and just went with the flow. And let me tell you, I'm so freaking glad we did!
I wanted to make sure the photoshoot was an absolute blast and effortless, so it could totally shine through in our images. And let me tell you, these top shots really capture that vibe perfectly!
AND THAT'S A WRAP!
I hope you enjoyed this behind-the-scenes look at Tiarra's college graduation photoshoot - "Educated Plant Mama"! It was truly a pleasure working with Tiarra and capturing this special milestone in her life. And as always, I'm grateful for the opportunity to share my love for photography and storytelling through these images.
Stay tuned for more exciting photoshoots and projects! Until next time, keep smiling and keep chasing your passions.
Happy College Graduation Tiarra! Congratulations on your achievements, I can't wait to see what the future holds for you. The world is your oyster, girl! And remember, no matter where life may take you, always stay true to yourself and never stop growing. Never stop learning. And, NEVER diminish your shine for anyone! You got this! Go get'um!
XOXO Melissa "Mel" Drake
#LetsMakeMagicTogether #MelDrakePhotography
QUICK REFERENCES:
Photography:
Melissa “Mel” Drake (Mel Drake Photography)
Clients:
Locations:
Myriad Botanical Gardens | 301 W Reno Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73102 | Instagram
Equipment:
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