Session Spotlight: Gracie’s Hollywood Glam Moment
- Lizzie Knapp
- Mar 5
- 3 min read
This week’s Session Spotlight is all about a session that turned the traditional playbook upside down—and the results were nothing short of magical. Meet Gracie, a radiant young lady who came to me with a clear mission: a professional pageant headshot for the Panther Princess Pageant at her school. While we nailed that goal (more on her pageant success in a bit!), today I want to shine the spotlight on a stunning portrait from the shoot that captured her essence in a way I’ll never forget.
Flipping the Script
For Gracie’s session, I decided to shake things up. Typically, my portrait sessions start with the classic, traditional setups—soft lighting, neutral tones, the works—and then build toward the bold, dramatic shots with colored lights and creative flair. But this time, I flipped the script. Why? Because I’ve noticed something over the years: my best work often comes at the end of a session. That’s when my subjects—like Gracie—shed their initial nerves, relax into their own skin, and let their personalities shine through with natural poses and genuine smiles.
So, knowing how critical that pageant headshot was, I wanted Gracie to hit that sweet spot of confidence right out of the gate. We dove straight into the fun stuff: dramatic lighting, vibrant colors, and a setup inspired by one of my photography heroes, Lindsay Adler. If you haven’t seen her Modern Hollywood Glam 5-Light Setup tutorial on YouTube, do yourself a favor and check it out—it’s a masterclass in timeless elegance with a contemporary twist. You can find that video here: Modern Hollywood Glam Photoshoot with 5 Lights! 🤩 🤯 - YouTube That was our starting point, and oh, did we run with it!
The Setup: Glam Meets Ingenuity
For this standout shot, I channeled Hollywood glamour with a few creative tweaks of my own. The star of the show? A shimmering mylar background that caught the light in the most mesmerizing way. To amp up the drama, I swapped out traditional gels for something a little unconventional—simple LED RGB lightbulbs. Yes, you read that right: lightbulbs! These little powerhouses cast rich, vivid hues across the scene, bathing Gracie’s hair in delicate purple highlights that danced like starlight.
Since I don’t own a Fresnel lens (yet!), I improvised with a honeycomb light modifier over my key light. The result? A focused, spotlight-like beam that illuminated Gracie’s face with cinematic precision, accentuating her poise and grace. And here’s where it gets even more fun: as I clicked the shutter, my son was behind the scenes, gently shaking the mylar backdrop. The colors rippled and swirled, creating unique tones and textures that transformed the background into a living, breathing canvas of light. Every frame felt like a work of art unfolding before my eyes.
The final image? A breathtaking headshot that blends vintage Hollywood allure with a modern, vibrant edge. Gracie’s expression—confident yet soft—paired with those purple highlights weaving through her hair, made this a portrait that stopped me in my tracks. It’s one of those rare moments where everything—lighting, composition, and energy—clicked into place.
A Pageant Victory to Celebrate
While this Hollywood-inspired shot stole my heart, I can’t wrap up this spotlight without giving a nod to why we were there in the first place: Gracie’s pageant headshot. After our session, she submitted her official portrait and took the stage at the Panther Princess Pageant last Saturday night. The verdict? She walked away with the title of 2nd Alternate—a huge accomplishment that reflects her hard work and undeniable charm. I’m so proud of her, and I’d be remiss not to include a little glimpse of that winning energy here. Below, you’ll see a couple of bonus shots from our session that capture the joy and confidence she brought to the pageant.
Why This Session Matters
What I love most about this shoot is how it reflects the power of thinking outside the box. Starting with the dramatic stuff set the tone for Gracie to shine from the very first frame. It reminded me—and hopefully inspires you—that there’s no “right” way to create. Whether it’s using lightbulbs instead of gels, a honeycomb instead of a Fresnel, or shaking a mylar sheet for that extra pizzazz, the magic happens when you trust your instincts and let the moment unfold.
Gracie, thank you for trusting me with this milestone. Your spirit lit up every shot, and I’m thrilled to have played a small part in your pageant journey. Here’s to your success—both in that crown-worthy title and beyond!
Until next week’s Session Spotlight, keep shining, everyone.
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