West Valley Teen Photographer
When I first started the KVP Creator Team, it was actually called the KVP Model Team. But after the first couple of shoots, I realized something important — I didn’t want this to be just another teen modeling program.
I’m not really drawn to the traditional “teen model team” concept. What I love is the creative process. I love watching ideas grow, collaborating with the girls, and creating images that feel unique and personal to them.
So after the first two shoots, everything changed.
Instead of me deciding every theme, I started inviting the girls to help create them.
The first idea they brought to life was a Disney Reboot shoot, and if you’re a Disney fan, you could probably guess exactly which characters inspired them. That was the moment I knew I wanted the team to feel more like a creative collaboration than a traditional model team.
When we started this season, I asked the girls to submit their own photoshoot ideas. I gathered every idea into a Google document and had them vote on the themes they wanted to create this year.
Of course, I added a few ideas of my own — including Denim and Lace with farm animals (which I still think would have been amazing). But the girls had other plans.
One of the themes they voted for?
Fire and Ice.
Fire and ice?!
At first I thought, What am I supposed to do with that?
Bringing the Fire & Ice Concept to Life
After thinking it through, I decided to split the team into two groups:
Fire and Ice.
Originally I had planned to shoot in a different location, but when that fell through I knew exactly where we should go. I really wanted to stay in the West Valley, so we headed out near the White Tank Mountains, which created the perfect desert backdrop.
My original plan included using a starburst lens cover and smoke bombs. But before ordering the smoke, it occurred to me that creating clouds of smoke in the desert might result in the fire department showing up… and that was definitely not part of the plan.
So instead, I scrapped the smoke and decided to create the fire and ice effects later in editing.
Letting the Girls Lead the Style
One thing I’ve learned while running the KVP Creator Team is that the best images happen when the girls are given creative freedom, especially when it comes to wardrobe.
And they absolutely showed up for this shoot.
The Ice girls came dressed in blues and silvers, while the Fire girls brought reds, oranges, and black.
Each outfit had its own personality:
- Lily wore an actual flame dress from her dance recital
- Dixie chose a sparkly blue dress
- Selena wore a metallic silver top
- Alison arrived in a beautiful long red dress
- Sabrina styled tall black boots, a short black skirt, and a red top with a dramatic black bow.
Some outfits sparkled, some had dramatic silhouettes, and some leaned into movement — all of which looked incredible against the muted desert tones of the White Tank Mountains.
For the first group shot, we separated them:
Ice girls on one side, Fire girls on the other.
Then we mixed it up:
Fire, Ice, Fire, Ice, Fire.
The contrast made the colors pop even more.
Sunset Light in the Desert
We shot the entire session at sunset, which is my favorite time to photograph in the desert.
As the sun dropped behind the mountains, the light became soft and even, and the desert colors turned warm and muted — which made the reds, blues, and metallics in the girls’ outfits stand out beautifully.
It also gave me the chance to experiment with a creative idea I had been wanting to try.
Trying Something New: Shutter Drag Photography
For this shoot I experimented with a technique called shutter drag, which I’ve seen used in wedding photography.
Typically, the bride and groom stand still while the wedding party walks past them. The people walking create a motion blur, while the couple remains sharp and in focus.
I wondered what would happen if we tried this with the Creator Team.
So we did it for each girl individually — the other girls walked in front while the subject stayed still.
The result?
Honestly… it was fire.
The motion blur created energy and movement while the girls stayed beautifully sharp in the center of the image.
The Creator Team girls were completely up for trying something new, which is one of the reasons I love working with them.
The Best Part of Creator Team Shoots
One of my favorite parts of these shoots isn’t even the photos — it’s watching the girls interact with each other.
While I’m photographing one person, the others are:
- laughing together
- helping adjust outfits
- cheering each other on
- or joking with whoever is in front of the camera
By the end of the season, even the girls who didn’t start out as friends truly end up becoming friends, and that energy shows in the photos.
For every shoot I try to capture:
- Full group photos
- Smaller groupings
- Individual portraits
- Creative experimental shots
This gives the girls a fun and diverse gallery, along with images that are just their own.
Hair & Makeup by Jenna Zeilger
A huge part of bringing these concepts to life is the incredible work of Jenna Zeilger, who created the girls’ hair and makeup for the shoot.
Jenna works out of her home in the West Valley, and her work is so loved that she even has a client who regularly drives all the way from Tucson to see her.
She did an amazing job creating looks that worked for both the Fire and Ice themes, and the girls absolutely loved it.
What Makes the KVP Creator Team Different
The KVP Creator Team isn’t just about modeling.
It’s about creativity, confidence, and collaboration.
Creator Team girls get:
- Multiple styled group photoshoots throughout the year
- An individual senior session (if the creator is a senior in high school)
- Professional hair and makeup once per season
- Digital images for social media and personal use
- A custom photobook at the end of the year
- And most importantly, a chance to build friendships and confidence while creating something beautiful together.
Want to Join the KVP Creator Team?
Applications are currently open for girls who will be Sophomores, Juniors, or Seniors during the 2026–2027 school year.
If you love:
- creative photoshoots
- expressing your style
- working as part of a team
- and being part of something fun and unique
I would love for you to apply.
You can learn more and apply here:
