The Cedar Grove Spa shoot turned out to be one of those sessions where everything came together. Great location, great people, a full group of models, and plenty of variety to work with.
Deanna and Brent, the owners of Cedar Grove Spa, welcomed us into the space, with their baby Maddy joining the day as well. Designer Danny also came along with a selection of her bathing suits for the shoot, which gave us several different looks to photograph throughout the property.
Our model lineup for the day was Angela, Elaine, K, Madison, Mikayla, Siena and Tia. Unfortunately Elizabeth was ill and couldn’t make it, but with seven models we still had a busy schedule and a lot of ground to cover.
We worked in short 15-minute blocks, moving between the hot tub, cold plunge, sauna and firepit area. Each model had time for individual portraits, and we also brought everyone together for some group shots. The different environments gave each set its own feel. The sauna offered warm wood tones and softer portraits, while the pool and hot tub area gave us brighter, more playful images. Around the firepit, the robes and evening light created a completely different mood again.
K deserves some extra credit for actually getting into the cold plunge for photos. She handled it like a champ, although the hot tub became a very popular destination immediately afterward.
Deanna and Danny were a huge help throughout the shoot, assisting with posing, keeping an eye on wardrobe details and making sure I stayed reasonably close to the schedule. With seven models and several locations to photograph, that teamwork made a real difference.
What I enjoyed most about this shoot was the balance between polished individual portraits and the spontaneous moments that happened when everyone was together. It felt relaxed, collaborative and genuinely fun, which is exactly the atmosphere I like to create on location.
A selection of images from the session is included below.
If you’re a model, designer, creative or business looking to build a fresh set of lifestyle images, I’m always interested in putting together shoots that make the most of a great location and a good idea.
