Midland, Michigan Senior Portrait Photographer | Eve Tuft Photography

Category: Dow Gardens

Freelensed Rose Garden

The rose garden at Dow Gardens is one of my favorite places to take pictures in the whole city of Midland. It’s therapeutic for me to do so. The light there is the best just as the sun is setting, and there is always such an array of roses just waiting for me to capture them. On this particular day I was feeling a bit on edge and moody, so it was especially soothing for me to go there and just breathe.

The sun wasn’t out when we were there, but I think that it was better that way. Like, my mood matched up with the day’s mood, and even the way I edited the pictures were more moody than I usually do. Since the sun wasn’t out and it was overcast, I knew that I wanted to freelens. Freelensing is when you take the lens off of the camera body and shoot through it like that with the lens in your hand. You slightly tilt the lens to place the small slice of focus at different points, all while holding it as closely to the sensor as possible. Rose gardens are the perfect subject to freelens.

It’s funny because while I was there taking pictures, I remembered that I had gone there last year at almost the exact same time and did the same thing. Maybe the end of August calls for some moodiness. Maybe it’s because summer is coming to an end, and the longer days are quickly waning. Perhaps I should make this an annual tradition. 🙂 At any rate, it was good for my soul, and I’m so glad I can count on that rose garden to brighten my day, even if it’s only figuratively.

August 29, 2018
Barns, Gardens and Hills, Oh My!

One of the things I love most about doing senior sessions at Dow Gardens is all the variety they have there for photo sessions. There are barns, grassy hills, and beautiful gardens, all of which make for some stunning portraits. I’m surprised I had never used the green barn doors in my pictures before! One of the barns is located near the conservatory where they hold their annual Butterfly Garden exhibit. They often do crafts here for little kids as well. The doors also face towards the setting sun, but they are covered as the sun sinks lower in the sky, making for some beautiful light for my subject.

Emily came to her session with her best friend, Abby, in tow. These girls are the best! I know them from church, and they come from wonderful families. It’s so fun for me when my clients bring friends along to their senior portrait session. I always love seeing which outfits my clients choose. Emily went with two dresses, and they both turned out phenomenal for her pictures. I gave us extra time since I had two subjects instead of one, and together we traipsed all around Dow Gardens. We looked for patches of beautiful light, found new spots I hadn’t used before, and had an altogether great time.

We had such a fun time that by the end of the session we were all in fits and giggles. In fact, Emily was in tears from laughing so hard! Ha! Thanks for a great time, my dear! You’re beautiful, and I completely enjoyed our time.

August 24, 2018
A Gorgeous Evening for a Senior Session

It was the most gorgeous summer evening a couple of weeks ago when I took Abby’s pictures. When it comes to summer, Michigan does it right. Sometimes I think it’s because our winters here are just so. dang. long. But once summer rolls in I begin to believe it’s more than that. The greenery, the lakes, the temperature and yes, even the humidity all contribute to Michigan summers being the best. By the way, my husband always says he likes the humidity. He says it’s like getting a nice, warm hug every time you walk outside. Ha!

On this evening I met up with Abby and her best friend, Emily, at Dow Gardens. These two besties and I had such a fun time together! We traipsed all around Dow Gardens looking for new locations I had never used before, and we got some gorgeous images to show for it. One of my favorite new places there is next to the barn near the conservatory where they hold the butterfly exhibit in the spring. The barn’s doors are green (!), and the light there is exquisite, especially as the sun is getting lower in the sky.

Near the end of the session I also took a few with these girls together. You know, I’ve never done a bestie session before, but after getting these two together I think it’s a wonderful idea. Maybe I could even add a discount or something if you book together…? Not such a bad idea, right? 🙂

You’re lovely, Abby, and I love how determined, driven and kind you are. Thanks so much for a great session!

August 17, 2018
Beauty from Brazil

Meet Anna. She and her family are from Brazil. I have a special place in my heart for the country of Brazil, not because I’ve ever been there, but because my husband served a mission for our church there for two years before we were married. He talks of his time there often, and his love for the country and the people is real. One day he hopes to go back. One day I hope he takes me with him. 😉

For his birthdays in the past (to bring some of Brazil up to the States) I’ve made Pao de Qeijo and have taken him out to Brazilian Steakhouses. I’ve also learned a word or two in Portuguese. 😉 I felt a little sorry that my husband wasn’t there on the photo shoot with me because I bet he would have loved speaking in Portuguese once again (although he claims he’s a bit rusty).

Anna brought along her parents and her younger brother to the shoot. Her dad and brother trotted off somewhere in Dow Gardens, while her mother was an excellent helper for my reflector. In fact, this was the first time I’ve ever used a reflector, and I have to say, I’m already in love with it. I was able to shoot in places that I normally would have avoided since I was able to bounce that beautiful evening light back in Anna’s face. Those pictures have become my favorite of the whole shoot.

I’m always grateful when the sun chooses to shine on the day of my photo sessions. Don’t get me wrong! I also love what an overcast and cloudy day can do for someone’s skin. But there’s something about that gorgeous back light that I adore. It gives the pictures a little extra something.

Anna, you were a dream to shoot and pose! These pictures of you turned out stunning.

July 26, 2018
Midland in Bloom

When everything around you is in bloom, you can’t but feel the anticipation of something beautiful about to happen. That’s what spring does every year for me. It’s like all winter long we’ve been waiting. And waiting. And WAITING. And then FINALLY it’s spring, and it’s like the whole earth feels the need to celebrate its long-time coming. I also LOVE the longer days that come with the beginning of spring and that golden hour is now even later. It’s like the whole world is just starting to wake up from a deep sleep.

Once the flowers around town start to bloom, I feel like my photography does as well. As though the fire to shoot has been silenced from the cold. I ache to get outside again, feel the warmth of the sun, and get my photography on. And so I do. 😀

On this afternoon at Dow Gardens, the husband, kids and I had ourselves a great time. We had to leave to get the kids in bed earlier than I wanted to, so I just BARELY missed golden hour, but I had so much fun shooting outside in beautiful light that it really didn’t matter. I loved shooting the blossoms on trees, getting daffodils in beautiful, warm light, and capturing the first blooms of tulips. They really are my favorite flower.

May 18, 2018