Observing how photographers create their own style can be just as fascinating as doing it yourself, and also beneficial when starting out as a photographer. They perfect and reform their styles through hours of shooting, manipulation and post-processing, experimenting with lenses, angles or editing styles to expand their creativity and create a look unique to them.

For instance, fellow senior and photographer Gavin Mullin shoots portraits with attention to detail and post-processing which emphasize the emotion in the shot. On the other hand, senior Macey Norvell photographs concerts, using bold colors, crops and angles to convey the atmosphere created by the music.

In early December, the three of us decided it would be interesting to do a photoshoot together to compare our styles, inspired by photographer Jessica Kobeissi’s YouTube series. Titled “3 Photographers Shoot the same Model,” the series highlights the different outcomes shooting the same subject in the same location.

Senior Gracie Christie agreed to model for us, and we left for the Overland Park Arboretum in the afternoon of Dec. 10. We ended up stopping on the drive there to take photos in a couple of peculiar locations we saw on the side of the road, where we checked for “No Trespassing” signs so we knew our presence was welcome.

At the first location, we found a vacant lot with geometric planks, ladders and a stone structure, with a broken, abandoned machinery nearby. Nonetheless, Gracie was a committed model and executed her poses with creativity and zeal.

Mullin’s Photos:

Gallery • 6 Photos

Gavin Mullin

Senior Gracie Christie poses dramatically for Mullin at the first location.

After about twenty minutes, we got back into Gavin’s car and drove another mile, taking rights and lefts on a whim. Eventually, we stumbled upon a grassy area with a wooden shed. The light in the shed was tranquil and gave us a refuge from the bright winter sun. The grass was dry and dead, like scarecrow hay.

Mehra’s photos:

Gallery • 6 Photos

Kanishka Mehra

The winter sun and white tarps illuminate the background at the first location.

As expected, our photographs were all distinct in their own ways, but I liked seeing other perspectives of the same scenario and was satisfied with the outcome.

Norvell’s Photos:

Gallery • 6 Photos

Macey Norvell

A cropped shot of Christie in the grass at the second location.

“It’s so humbling to be able to shoot with such talented photographers, I learned a lot from them just from the shoot we had,” Mullin said. “I never realized how different our perspectives were either, there are some photos shot in the same place and you can barely tell that it’s the same location. I think it’s so amazing seeing how different artists see the world around them.”