Something OLD, something with DESERT, and something with SNOW were Maya's wishes for her senior photoshoot. For obvious reasons we couldn't find one place that would incorporate all the right elements so we decided on THREE. Are you crazy Madelein? No absolutely not. This was so much fun to plan and since it is my own daughter who is graduating it was very much a project of love. 

Maya has 2 more months of school before graduation and after that, she will pack up and move to Boise Idaho and attend Boise State University as a film major. I am so excited for her. This is the time for my creative girl to blossom and do something that feels right to the core. Having a creative outlet has always been part of who she is and I know this is the road she has to take.

We started out in Sweden. Maya has spent most of her summers as a kid there and has her grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins still there. She is fluent in Swedish and it was important for her to have this part of who she is, incorporated into the photos. We went out to the island Gotland which has a very old medieval town inside these impressive walls, that were the perfect backdrop for OLD. This is where her family on my side comes from and it is also the hometown of Pippi Longstocking which not only every Swedish kid knows about but millions of children around the world have enjoyed during story time.

#1, Something OLD.

GOTLAND, SWEDEN

#2. The DESERT

JOSHUA TREE, CA

We have several types of desert surrounding us in CA but Maya narrowed it down to Joshua Tree pretty fast. This shoot took place in December when it had cooled down enough to actually get a little chilly once the sun dips behind the mountain. The rain had started coming in over California but we were booked for the weekend and it had to happen come rain or shine. While the rain was pouring down at home we enjoyed this beautiful weekend out in the desert. Reflecting back, this ended up being Maya's favorite destination​​​​​.

#3. The SNOW

MOUNTAIN HIGH, CA

The final destination took place in January. After a lack of rain/snow in our local mountains for a few years we didn't know what to expect but knew we had to be ready as soon as a snow storm had passed through and the roads opened back up. You just never know how long the snow will stay so we headed out with an open destination to find the snow. It ended up being a gorgeous day. It was warm enough to take some layers off but cold enough for the snow to still decorate the trees and help make this shoot so beautiful. Maya had also saved a totally 80s authentic turquoise snow outfit for the occasion that she rocked.