Some birds are large and commanding.
And some…
Are small, precise, and startlingly powerful.
The American Kestrel is North America’s smallest falcon — a bird known for its speed, intelligence, and ability to hover perfectly still before striking with intention.
When Kes stepped into the Michigan Birds series, the choice was immediate.
This wasn’t just a bird they admired.
It was already part of them.
How We Met
Kes shares a partner in common with a recent portrait subject, Jules the Crow, and we fit this portrait session into a brief window between their studies abroad.
From the moment we met, I could feel their attentiveness.
Kes listens the way birders do — observant, curious, fully present.
And they are a birder through and through.
The kind of person who can tell you migration patterns, habitat rhythms, and the hidden behaviors of Michigan birds with deep care and precision.
Who They Are
Originally from Grand Rapids, Kes is currently pursuing a master’s degree in the social dynamics of conflict and migration through the IMISCOE research network, based in Liège, Belgium. Next year, they’ll continue their studies in Neuchâtel, Switzerland — the only American in their cohort.
That willingness to step into unfamiliar spaces struck me deeply.
When I asked where that courage came from, they spoke about their mother.
Despite life’s challenges, she built a sustainable farm full of chickens, alpacas, and interconnected wildlife — creating a life rooted in resilience, adaptation, and care for the ecosystem around her.
You can feel that same spirit in Kes.
They move through the world thoughtfully.
Intentionally.
With openness to complexity and difference.
Kes identifies as agender and asexual and is part of a polyamorous relationship structure — all things they speak about not performatively, but with grounded clarity and honesty.
There’s a steadiness to them.
A grace in the way they communicate who they are.
Why the American Kestrel
The American Kestrel may be small, but it is fierce.
- It can hover midair while scanning for movement below
- It sees ultraviolet light, allowing it to track trails invisible to humans
- It adapts easily across environments — fields, cities, forests, and farmland
- Despite its size, it is a skilled and efficient hunter
Kestrels are observant.
They wait.
They study.
Then they move with precision.
That felt deeply aligned with Kes.
There’s intelligence in the way they engage the world — thoughtful observation paired with quiet confidence.
And then there’s the literal connection:
Kes has a kestrel tattooed across their chest.
They told me they’d always wanted to dress as this bird.
And watching them finally embody it felt electric.
The Look
We built Kes’ look around the natural tones of the kestrel:
- Dark brown stretch wide-leg denim
- Blue-gray belt
- Chamois rayon jersey top
- Golden brown wrinkle rayon wrap tied as a shrug
- Long black rayon scarf for movement
- Soft orange wristbands representing kestrel feet
The palette felt grounded and alive all at once.
Warm browns met cool grays, creating the same striking contrast found in the bird’s plumage.
And the drape mattered.
As someone with sensory needs, Kes lit up when the fabrics settled comfortably across their shoulders and hooded around their body.
The softness allowed them to play.
The Session
We met at Huff Park in the quiet of the morning.
By 11:00 a.m., sunlight was filtering through the trees and the park felt completely alive.
Birdsong echoed through the wetlands.
The playground stood empty.
The world felt open.
Kes climbed trees.
Balanced on playground structures.
Moved through the space with alertness and curiosity — like a small falcon testing the wind.
And then something shifted.
The more comfortable they became in the clothing and the landscape, the more playful they grew.
That childlike joy unlocked something in me too.
I love witnessing people play.
Because when someone else allows themselves freedom, it gives the rest of us permission too.
Color Connection
The American Kestrel palette is earthy but vivid:
- Golden brown → warmth, adaptability, grounded energy
- Dark brown → steadiness and resilience
- Blue gray → perception, intelligence, calm observation
- Chamois → softness and approachability
- Orange accents → vitality and movement
Together, these colors created a look that felt both ancient and youthful.
Like someone deeply rooted…
yet ready to fly.
A Falcon in Morning Light
There was a moment where Kes stood against the morning sky, wrapped in brown fabric, eyes sharp and attentive.
And suddenly the resemblance became undeniable.
Not because they were pretending to be the bird.
But because they had finally found a visual language for something that already lived inside them.
Find Your Bird
Sometimes self-expression isn’t about becoming someone new.
It’s about recognizing yourself clearly for the first time.
Whether your inspiration comes from a bird, a memory, a texture, or a feeling—
I’d love to help you build a look that reflects the truth already living inside you.
Let’s see what takes flight.
