Exploring my Vision: The "Chasing Clouds" Photoshoot Breakdown
- Metta Xiong
- Mar 31
- 5 min read
Hello!
As I continue to blog, I'm making it a priority to document each photoshoot – sharing the creative process, lessons learned, and, of course, the highlights. One of my goals is to get better at capturing behind-the-scenes photos and videos, knowing that this footage will bring you all closer to the action.
Speaking of action, I'm excited to dive into my recent shoot from last weekend with a fantastic group of models! I will be sharing my creative process and how I took an idea that I had, and brought it to life and the meaning behind this photoshoot for me. It's helpful to understand a bit more of my photography story, but I will share that in a future post coming soon!
The Idea
While my work typically leans towards a dark and moody aesthetic, I deeply appreciate artistry in all its forms. I find myself constantly drawn to ethereal, magical, and dreamy elements, and I've been actively incorporating these influences into my photoshoots. This often involves scouting magical locations and curating elaborate wardrobes to fully execute my vision. A few years ago, I impulsively planned a trip to Yosemite. The park itself is a source of inspiration for many photographers. On a whim, I reached out to my friend Stacy to see if she'd be willing to model the following weekend. Luckily, she was available! We drove out, and the beauty of Yosemite was immediately breathtaking. However, it was July 4th weekend, and the park was unbelievably crowded – a situation I definitely wouldn't recommend repeating. We were lucky enough to have found parking near The Boardwalk with Lower Yosemite Falls right in the background and captured some stunning images. I was incredibly inspired by the simplicity and natural beauty of that shoot. Earlier this year, as I considered ways to reignite my creative spark, I found myself constantly drawn back to those Yosemite images.
My Process
Determined to recreate that same magical feeling, I began scouting locations nearby, but nothing quite captured the right essence. Confident I would find the perfect spot, I reached out to Pachia, Yvonne, and Bella, all incredible models I know through personally and through pageantry. Luckily, they were all enthusiastic about helping me bring my vision to life. I created a group chat, sharing my Pinterest board as a visual roadmap of my inspiration. I love using Pinterest as a way to bring my vision to life, both for personal projects and when working with clients to ensure we're all on the same page. After coordinating schedules, we arranged to carpool to the location. The funny thing is, even the week before the shoot, I still hadn't found the perfect spot! Continuing my research, I discovered a couple of promising locations about an hour away, and based on the photos, they seemed like they could work. Since I didn't have time for a pre-shoot visit, I had to trust my instincts, while also keeping backup options in mind. In the days leading up to a shoot, I tracked the weather patterns and how the light will behave at different times. While sunset trackers can estimate golden hour, I prefer to observe the light firsthand, to ensure we have enough time and confirm the schedule with my models.
The Experience
Just a few days before the shoot, Pachia had to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances. Of course, I completely understood since life happens! But in a surprising turn of events, she pulled off a major miracle to make it after all! A huge shoutout to her for always being so committed and dedicated. Her arrival put us a little behind schedule, and she was still getting ready in the car as we drove to the location. Upon arriving, I was a bit hesitant since I had never been to this spot before, and I knew we would have to hike in. That short trek quickly turned into regret as we faced a surprisingly steep incline! Thankfully, the climb wasn't too long before we reached level ground. And the view from the top? Absolutely breathtaking! What I didn't anticipate was the sun setting behind the tall hills, effectively cutting our shooting time down to just 45 minutes, despite having nearly an hour and a half until sunset. I only brought my 35mm and 85mm lenses, and in hindsight, I really wish I had brought my 50mm – it would have been perfect for both landscape and close-up portrait shots. I had to work quickly to capture as many shots as possible with all three models. While I didn't get everything I had envisioned, I'm thrilled with the images we captured. Driving to the location, we passed by incredible cloud formations that I had hoped to incorporate into the backgrounds. Unfortunately, those clouds dissipated by the time we arrived. So, I took creative liberties and added clouds in post-production, giving the images a much-needed lift! I don't often use sky replacement in Photoshop, but in this case, it was definitely worth it, and I'll certainly be using it more often moving forward.
From RAW to Radiant
I envisioned vibrant colors, especially in the dresses, so I experimented extensively with tones and temperature, ultimately settling on a warmer palette. Normally, I strive to keep the grass lush and green, but it just wasn't working with these images. The warmer tones transformed the grass into a more muted, almost dormant shade, which initially concerned me. However, once I added the clouds and completed the overall edit, I absolutely loved the final result. You can even see a hint of the real clouds that were present that day in the comparison below. Due to the location, we were limited to shooting primarily towards the West and South. Facing North or East would have revealed civilization in the background, creating significant challenges in post-production. After completing the edits, I fell even deeper in love with the entire day. The synergy between the location, the team, and the overall magical atmosphere truly fueled my creativity. I also used this as an opportunity to delve deeper into Photoshop, a program I usually only use sparingly, experimenting with overlays and Generative AI. It was incredibly fulfilling to continue learning and pushing my creative boundaries, and I'm already considering how I can apply these new techniques to future projects.
Original without sky replacement and with sky replacement
I would love to continue to shoot here and will be making plans to go back. I also want to hike here and explore the area more to find spots that can serve as a backdrop for my photography. I am open to taking full sessions here. If you're interested in booking a session, you can visit my Website and send me an inquiry. Follow me on Instagram or Facebook to see more images from the photoshoot @mettaxiongphotography.
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