Creative Urban Portrait Session with Kyle | Lansing, Michigan

If you’re looking for a photoshoot that’s bold, stylish, and unapologetically you, this creative urban session with Kyle in Old Town Lansing, Michigan is the perfect inspiration. We combined a sophisticated street style with a gritty urban backdrop, splashes of vibrant light, and even a Porsche to really push this shoot beyond the ordinary.

Urban Meets Sophistication

When Kyle reached out, we knew we wanted to merge two vibes—something sleek and high-end while still keeping an authentic street edge. He showed up rocking a Louis Vuitton shirt, Burberry tie, and bold red shoes. And, of course, he brought his Porsche, which set the tone for a luxurious yet edgy shoot.

Old Town Lansing was the perfect location. We started at a graffiti wall that added color and texture, then moved to a dark parking garage for a more dramatic, creative look.

Creative Lighting & Styling Choices

For this session, I wanted to create something badass—something that felt like an editorial spread you’d see in a high-fashion magazine. Since Kyle’s favorite color is green, I paired it with purple gels for a vibrant contrast.

In the garage, the lighting was intentionally dark, so I could control the mood with flash. For the outdoor shots, we were dealing with harsh midday sunlight. I used high-speed sync to cut down the ambient light and brought in my own flash to sculpt the shadows.

Gear used:

• Canon R6 Mark II + 24-70mm lens
• 3 Geekoto GT200 strobes (one softbox key light + two gelled lights for creative effects)

Kyle absolutely owned the camera. I kept the posing natural but intentional, giving him prompts like:

• “Take one step toward me while grabbing your glasses like a badass.”
• “Look off to your left, like you own the street.”

This created strong, confident poses that matched the vibe we were going for.

Here’s a funny twist: the gel-lit parking garage shot was supposed to involve spraying water to create reflections. I took one test shot… and right as we were about to add water, security came and kicked us out! Ironically, that test shot ended up being the final hero shot.

Kyle’s Reaction

When Kyle saw the final images, he was hyped. See video of his reaction below.

Want a Creative Editorial Session Like This?

This type of session is perfect for entrepreneurs, men looking for something bold, or even women rediscovering themselves and wanting a powerful, unique portrait experience.

If you’re tired of the same old cookie-cutter photoshoots and want something that truly reflects your personality, let’s make it happen.

👉 Contact me here to book your own creative editorial session!