There are some birds you hear long before you see them.
A clear whistle floating over an open field.
A bright yellow flash rising from the grasses.
A song that somehow makes an entire landscape feel hopeful.
She carries that same quiet brightness—the kind of person who makes people feel safe enough to soften, breathe, and begin healing.
How We Met
I first met Ashley nearly fifteen years ago.
Back then I hosted Doc Night, a weekly documentary gathering where we’d spend Sunday evenings learning together, asking questions, and seeing the world through new perspectives.
Ashley was one of the regulars.
She was endlessly curious.
She never watched quietly—she wanted to understand. She asked thoughtful questions, connected ideas, and always left me thinking differently.
Years passed.
Life carried us in different directions.
Then one evening I saw a familiar face again through Michigan’s swing dance and ecstatic dance communities. Ashley was spinning fire at an event, sparks circling through the night sky.
It felt like reconnecting with an old chapter of my life.
The same curious eyes.
The same joyful spirit.
Only now she had grown into herself in entirely new ways.
Who She Is
Today Ashley is a licensed massage therapist at Central Lotus Massage Therapy on the lakeshore.
Every session she offers is centered around one simple belief:
Your body already knows how to heal. Sometimes it just needs a little help.
That feels deeply true of Ashley herself.
She loves adventure.
She spins fire.
She dances.
She laughs easily.
But underneath that playful spirit is someone who thinks deeply about life, people, and what it means to care for another human being.
She’s someone who notices.
Someone who listens.
Someone who helps people return to themselves.
Why the Eastern Meadowlark
Eastern Meadowlarks live in wide-open grasslands, meadows, and prairies throughout Michigan.
They’re known for their brilliant yellow chests crossed by a bold black “V,” almost as if they’re carrying their own heart proudly into the world.
Unlike many birds, meadowlarks spend much of their lives on the ground.
They nest low among the grasses, staying deeply connected to the earth while filling the sky with song.
Their call is one of the most recognizable sounds of summer—a clear, joyful melody that can travel surprisingly far across an open field.
To me, that feels like Ashley.
Grounded.
Gentle.
Steady.
Yet capable of bringing light to everyone within earshot.
She doesn’t need to be the loudest person in the room.
Her presence speaks for itself.
The Look
We built Ashley’s portrait around the meadowlark’s unmistakable colors.
A Bright Yellow rayon scarf became her top.
Another yellow crinkle rayon wrap transformed into sweeping wings across her shoulders.
Brazil Nut stretch denim echoed the warm grasses where meadowlarks make their homes.
A matching Brazil Nut scarf framed her hair like prairie grasses blowing in the wind.
A black rayon scarf created the bird’s iconic V-shaped chest.
Then layers of silver, gold, and flowing yellow scarves caught the breeze, becoming wings that seemed ready to lift with every movement.
She looked both radiant and completely at home.
The Session
We met at Grand Haven State Park just before sunset.
Before the camera ever came out…
we talked.
Both of us had been carrying heartbreak.
Sometimes that’s what these sessions become.
Not a photoshoot.
A conversation.
A place to be heard before being seen.
Ashley arrived with tears in her eyes.
There was grief present.
But there was also trust.
As we walked through the sand and the waves, something slowly shifted.
The weight she’d been carrying became lighter.
Her smile returned.
She laughed.
She danced.
The wind caught her scarves as the sun slipped lower over Lake Michigan, and suddenly she wasn’t trying to become the Meadowlark anymore.
She simply was.
The beach was full of people enjoying their own evenings, yet somehow we existed inside our own quiet little world.
These portraits never happen quickly.
They’re built over years of conversations.
Shared dances.
Unexpected reunions.
Tiny moments that slowly become trust.
The camera isn’t creating someone new.
It’s witnessing who they’ve become in this moment.
Ashley is still becoming.
She talks about changing her blonde hair to purple.
She’ll probably discover new adventures.
New versions of herself.
New songs.
And I can’t wait to watch those unfold.
Color Connection
The Eastern Meadowlark wears one of nature’s happiest palettes.
Bright Yellow speaks of optimism, confidence, warmth, and joy. It reminds us that hope isn’t naïve—it can be a daily practice.
Brazil Nut Brown grounds the body. Like prairie grasses and rich soil, it represents steadiness, nourishment, and belonging.
Black offers clarity and protection. The meadowlark’s bold V reminds us to lead from the heart while staying rooted in what matters most.
Gold and Silver catch the changing light, reminding us that healing isn’t linear. We shimmer differently depending on where we stand in the sun.
Together these colors tell a beautiful story:
Stay grounded.
Keep singing.
Trust that your light will find the people who need it.
Finding Your Song
One of the things I love most about portraiture is that every bird reflects a different way of moving through the world.
Some soar.
Some migrate.
Some hunt.
Some dance.
The Eastern Meadowlark reminds us that we don’t have to leave the ground to lift someone else’s spirit.
Sometimes healing sounds like listening.
Sometimes it looks like laughter returning after tears.
Sometimes it’s simply remembering that your song never left—you just needed a little space to hear it again.
Thank you, Ashley, for trusting me with this season of your life.
Watching your smile return was one of the greatest gifts this project has given me.
Join the Flock
Every Power Portrait begins with a conversation.
We’ll discover the bird, the colors, and the story that already lives inside you—and together we’ll create images that feel less like costumes and more like coming home.
Because each of us is still becoming.
I’d love to help you discover what takes flight when you’re fully seen.
