Midland, Michigan Senior Portrait Photographer | Eve Tuft Photography

Tag: Outdoors

Butterflies in Bloom With My Family

Have you ever been to see the Butterflies in Bloom event hosted by Dow Gardens? My family and I make it a point to go every year. We love the special event as it means two things for us: 1 – Butterflies! and 2 – Spring is right around the corner. Hoorah for spring!

We usually go together as a family, though there was a year when I was the only one able to get out and see the butterflies. And then there was that year when a number of us were sick. That wasn’t a whole lot of fun. Thankfully though, we were all well for this event.

Here’s Foofie Doofers looking for some flying creatures. She loves to spot them by herself, though she gets a little jumpy when they fly right at her. 😉

I love all the varieties you can spot at Dow Gardens. I especially love the large blue ones, but as soon as they land they close up their wings. I’ve never been able to get a great shot of them.

My oldest daughter thought ahead this year when she knew we were going to see them. She made sure to wear a brightly colored shirt to attract as many butterflies as she could. It looks like it worked!

We love Dow Gardens, and we look forward to this beautiful event all winter. Does your family have any special yearly traditions in Midland? I’d love to hear about them! As always, thanks for stopping by.

May 1, 2019
Bucket List Location for 2019

I’m not really a person for having a bucket list. Maybe I’m boring. Or maybe I’m just content with what I have. It could also be that I hate being disappointed, and bucket list items tend to do that to people. If I did have a one though, holding a koala would be at the top of it. 😉

When it comes to photography, there are so things I want. But I like to think of them as goals rather than a bucket list. That seems more realistic and attainable. One of the things on my list for this year is a location. Can you guess where? I’ll tell you. The Whiting Forest. Eep!

Whiting Forest was closed for a couple years here in Midland, and we weren’t able to see it until late October of last year. I feel in love immediately. As a photographer, I’m always scouting for locations to use that are different and unique to the area. While we all adore places like Dow Gardens and the Chippewa Nature Center, it’s fun to go someplace different once in a while too. I suspect that Whiting Forest will definitely get its share of senior sessions from photographers, and I certainly intend to use it as well. It’s such a great location!

Wouldn’t it be awesome to have some pictures here? You know, without the extra people in the background. 😉

And just look at these pathways. I know they’re gorgeous in the fall, but they would be beautiful anytime of the year.

Have you booked your senior session with me this year? If so, I’d love to take your pictures at the Whiting Forest here in town. It’s on my bucket list for the year.

April 24, 2019
Benefits of a Sunny Day Senior Photo Shoot

Last week I wrote about how much I love senior sessions on cloudy days. I really do! But there are just as many benefits to shooting on days with full sun. I LOVE the sun. I love using the light to my advantage. Here are some reasons to do a little happy dance if your session is on a sunny day.

#1 Backlight

Ah, backlight. We photographers swoon over it. Backlight is when, well, your light source is in the back of your subject. I think I can honestly say that it is my favorite type of light to shoot in. Side light comes in a close second though. 😉 When the sun is nice and low in the sky, the light is diffused, and my seniors just glow. It looks quite magical and adds a little something extra to my photos.

#2 More light to bounce back in my subject’s eyes

Do you love catch lights as much as I do? On a sunny day, that sunlight will bounce off my reflector and make your eyes pop! Though you can get the same effect with a cloudy day, there isn’t as much light reflecting into your eyes. I love me some big catch lights.

#3 Silhouettes

If the sky is not completely cloudy, it can make for some amazing silhouettes at the end of your senior photo shoot. Though this is more of an indirect advantage, you couldn’t achieve this look if it were overcast outside.

#4 Not Flat

OK, this sounds a little weird, but bear with me. Overcast days are great for your skin. The cloud cover acts like a big softbox and is beautiful. Sunny days though can really make an image pop and give it life. It can make you look more 3D in a 2D image. The rim light highlights and contours, giving more shape to you and to your surroundings.

I can’t control the weather, but I can work with it to your advantage. Whether we get rain or shine for your senior session, we’re bound to come away with pictures you love.

April 10, 2019
Benefits of a Cloudy Day Senior Photo Shoot

If you’ve already booked your senior portrait session with me, chances are you’re hoping the weather cooperates! Many of my clients in the past have told me they prefer sunshine on the day of their senior shoot. I wish I could control the weather and give them just what they want! However, cloudy days can be just as beautiful. Here are some benefits of a cloudy day.

#1 Beautiful Skin Tones

Ask any photographer – overcast days make skin tones gorgeous! The clouds are like a giant soft-box and make your skin tones look truest to their real coloring. No matter how fair or dark you are, cloudy days give you a beautiful, soft glow on your skin.

#2 Even and Flattering Light

More benefits of a cloudy day include even and flattering light. Again, it’s like a giant soft-box. When there’s no sunshine in a frame, your whole face is evenly-lit. Even light is the most flattering on ANYONE. It hides wrinkles (not like you have any), and covers up acne more than side light and harsh light.

#3 Variety in Locations and Angles

Because I’m not working with the sun, I can place you just about anywhere! The light is even, and I don’t have to worry about how it is or isn’t falling on your face. You’re more likely to get better use of every location we go to when I don’t have to take sunshine into consideration.

#4 Not as Time-Dependent

Since we’re not working with the sunshine, we don’t have to be as particular about taking pictures the last hour or two of the day. Although I love that golden hour, we could shoot much earlier in the day if we needed to.

I love overcast days. As you can see, there are so many benefits of a cloudy day. I promise that you’re going to love your senior session whether you get all the sun or all the clouds. Now, let’s just hope it doesn’t rain. 😉

April 2, 2019
Senior Session Location: Bay City State Park

Continuing in the senior session series, up next is Bay City State Park. There’s a funny story about this place. I have lived in Midland for about four and a half years, and the very first time I even made it out there was last year during the summer. !!! I know, right?? My husband and kids and I went one warm summer day as soon as he got home from work, and we seriously had the best time. Then, at the end of last summer, I had the chance to photograph a senior out there. It was good to be back. The reason why I was at Bay City State Park was because I was invited to be a part of a project. It’s called ‘The Traveling Dress Collective’. You can read about it all on this blog post.

So! Let’s delve into why you might want to choose Bay City State Park for your senior photos! First off, it’s a flippin’ beach. What’s not to love about that? With this location, you get pathways, tall reeds, a sandy beach, and waves and water. You can either be in front of the water, be in the water, or not even have water in your shot at all. My favorite? All of the above. I think that’s what I love most about this place – the fact that you can get so much without having to get back in the car to go to another location.

This location is a popular choice for teens. I can’t wait to get back there in a few months. Hopefully by the end of the year I’ll have many, many more sessions there under my belt. You know. If it would ever warm up here in Michigan! 😉

February 6, 2019