Ayden | Portrait Session in Bolivar, MO
Hey there. It's Emma today, and I get to tell you guys about Ayden. I've known Ayden for a long time now. We have run together on the same cross country team for four years, and she was someone I looked up to then, and still do today. She has been like the older sister I never had. I hope that as we go through this, you can see the beauty Ayden shows on the outside, and know that it is matched on the inside.
Ayden's portrait session in Bolivar, MO was split between the natural light studio space at Jordan Brittley Studio in Bolivar MO and Dunnegan Park, with two completely different looks for two completely different moods.
Plants!
First of all, Ayden loves plants. She is a plant mom, although she may argue that sometimes she isn't the best mom and her plant babies may struggle. Either way, I decided to get a little creative and feature some plants in the studio.
The light woods with the green from the plants perfectly complemented Ayden's outfit. Her shoes were so cute, they fit in right away, and she was the one who decided to wear them for the shoot.
If you are looking for a natural way to spice up a studio photoshoot, specifically with a white background, plants are a great way to add a little color without taking away from the client. Plants soften the backdrop, add depth without competing with the subject, and keep the styling feeling layered instead of flat. They work for portrait sessions of all kinds at the Bolivar studio.
A few small things that make plants work as a studio element: mixing leaf shapes (broad pothos leaves next to a thinner snake plant or trailing ivy) gives the frame more texture than a single plant on its own. Keeping the plants slightly out of focus behind the subject lets the color stay visible without pulling attention off the face. The light wood floors at the studio bounce a warm tone back into the leaves, which is part of why the greens looked so saturated in Ayden's photos.
Ayden's personality is big, but it's soft and elegant. She is kind, sweet, and genuine, and that shows on her face!
Gloomy day at Dunnegan Park
After our studio session was done, I knew that I wanted to get some pictures at the park. The sky was cloudy and it was not a pretty day outside. That did not stop me, and after Ayden pulled out this dress from her bag, I knew it was going to be exactly what this part of the session needed. If you are thinking through outfit ideas for a Bolivar MO portrait session, bringing a backup option is the small thing that ends up changing the whole shoot.
The plaid dress filled with dark greens and blue made this session feel like it was straight out of a storybook. I'm imagining a scene where there is a cottage and Ayden is the main character in this tale. The cabin at Dunnegan Park helped make this storybook vision come true.
Dunnegan Memorial Park sits on 44 acres in Bolivar, MO and has a small lake, walking trails, and old growth trees that hold up well in overcast light. The cabin gives portrait sessions a built in storytelling element, and the tree cover means cloudy days can actually work in your favor here.
Cloudy days in the 417 are one of the easier conditions for outdoor portraits. The cloud cover acts like a giant softbox overhead, which means no harsh shadows on the face, even skin tones, and colors that read more saturated in camera than they do in direct sun. A dress with deep tones like Ayden's plaid holds its color better in flat overcast light than it would in bright midday sun, where the highlights wash out the darker greens and blues.
What to expect from a portrait session at Jordan Brittley Studio
A portrait session at the studio runs around 60 to 90 minutes depending on the package. You can bring one outfit or layer in a second look, swap accessories, and move between the natural light setup and a styled corner with props like the plants Ayden brought into hers. The light shifts through the day, so morning sessions feel cooler and afternoon sessions go warmer.
If the weather cooperates, the session can extend to a nearby spot like Dunnegan Park for a second backdrop, the way Ayden's did. The pivot from studio to park does not have to be planned down to the minute. Bringing a backup outfit and a willingness to go outside if the light is interesting will usually open up that option.
What to bring: two outfit options minimum so the gallery has range, accessories that you actually wear (shoes, jewelry, a jacket you reach for in real life), and any prop that means something to you. Ayden brought her own shoes and her own plaid dress. Those choices made her session look like her, not like a stock studio set. If hair and makeup are part of how you usually present, do them the way you usually do them. The session photographs the version of you that already exists.
Booking a portrait session at Jordan Brittley Studio in Bolivar, MO
Jordan Brittley Studio is at 112 South Springfield Ave in Bolivar, MO, with natural light from the front windows, light wood floors, and room to bring props (plants included) into a session. Portrait sessions can move between the studio and outdoor spots like Dunnegan Park, depending on the look you want. The studio serves clients across the 417, from Bolivar and Polk County out to Springfield.
The studio is in downtown Bolivar, two blocks off the square, and parking is on the street directly out front. Sessions are scheduled around the light, so if a specific time of day matters for the look you want, that gets factored in when booking. Saturday morning sessions tend to read cleaner and cooler. Friday afternoon sessions warm up as the sun moves west across the front windows.
Sessions are by appointment so the studio is yours for the time you are there. Booking details and availability are on the book a portrait session in Bolivar MO page.
Be more you. Because only you can see the world the way you do.
Jordan Brittley Studio | Bolivar, MO | Serving the 417
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