Beyond Autumn: How These Women Became the Goddesses of Fall
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The Story Behind the Session, Goddess of Fall 2025.
Hey there, beauties!
This isn’t my first stylized shoot, but it was one that I think really dialed in. Back when I was kicking around different thoughts about sessions, I thought to myself, “Well, I’ve done a theme and concept for glam-inspired shoots for winter, spring and summer… It’s fall’s turn.” The "Goddess of Fall" mini-sessions were exactly that.
With using Brown’s Farm as the nature-inspired colorful backdrop, and bringing together the flowers, the peeacock chair, and more - the only thing I needed was a passionate makeup artist that I know would knock it out of the park for me - and I found just that.
We didn't wait for autumn; these women became it.
The goal was to transform the beautiful, muted tones of fall into something bold, editorial, and empowering. This blog post gives you an exclusive look at the planning, the talent, and the intentional vision that went into creating these high-impact images.
The Vision: Trading Muted Tones for Main Character Energy
We wanted to capture more than just a seasonal trend; we wanted to capture confidence.
The entire project was built on a precise vision: to deliver photos that felt like they were ripped straight from a high-fashion magazine, set against the natural backdrop of Erie, PA.
To achieve this, we partnered with the incredible Marissa of Artistry Kissed by Riss (a true wizard!) and designed a strategic experience:
Custom Styling: Every client was guided on wardrobe that emphasized strong lines and rich, autumnal colors.
The Set: We built a high-concept set using custom florals and dramatic props (like the wicker chair) to ensure the images were instantly unique.
The Light: We used professional off-camera lighting to enhance the natural sunset glow, creating the "pop" and subject separation that defines our style.
Marissa of Artistry Kissed by Riss
The Magic Makers: Introducing the Talent
When you build a high-concept session, you need an incredible team.
The Makeup Magician: Marissa of Artistry Kissed by Riss. Marissa was vital. She translated the "Goddess" vision into a flawless, camera-ready look for every client, ensuring the makeup looked incredible under professional lighting. She was also key in the planning, marketing, and vision!
The Photography Guru: That's me, Chris Zdarko. My job was to fuse the chaos of the set with technical precision - managing the lighting, creating the composition, and using light-hearted direction to empower each woman to step into her confidence.
The Amazing Assistant: Kennady showed up to help film and capture some behind-the-scenes, setup, keep things flowing, and lend her expertise. She also stepped into the light, and she rocked it!
Meet the Goddesses, themselves.
Confidence is Key:
The final images aren't just pretty—they are proof that when you feel confident and supported (thanks to Marissa's work), the outcome is iconic.
The ladies had this to say about their experience:
“It was an absolute pleasure working with Chris! He made the process so easy and natural, I can’t wait to do another shoot with him!” - Elizabeth
“I am obsessed! 💖 You captured me perfectly once again!!! This is my favorite photoshoot yet! 😭😭” - Kennady
Ready to step into your confidence? Book your high-concept session with me, and let's bring your extraordinary vision to life.
