The Click Clique

theClick

By Elizabeth Rexing, Print Editor

CLIQUE

MATTHEW ORBAUGH PHOTOGRAPHY

IMAGES BY AMBER

Sophomore Matthew Orbaugh started his “journey with photography” in May 2020. “After being locked in my house, I was itching for something creative to do,” Orbaugh said. “So, I picked up my camera and started shooting.” Orbaugh currently focuses his attention on senior portraits. Future graduates of 2023 make up his current group of senior ambassadors. The ambassadors applied and were selected by Orbaugh to be a part of the team. He plans on having 10 to 14 senior models each year, chosen from a variety of high schools in central Indiana. As an ambassador, each model will get to participate in four or five themed shoots with all the reps as well as an individual senior portrait session, Orbaugh said. One of his models this year is junior Amelia Loewer. After meeting through show choir and using Orbaugh for a surprise photoshoot for her best friend’s birthday, Loewer decided to apply to be on his team. Loewer remembers her photoshoot with her best friend as being “super professional” but yet “super casual.” “It was the best of both worlds,” Loewer said. “Matthew made the shoot fun and comfortable. Our smiles were so genuine.” Loewer is excited but notes that modeling is “unlike anything” she’s ever done and a “little out of her comfort zone.” “A lot of times when I’m taking pictures by myself, I am pretty self conscious,” Loewer said. “I’m an extremely extroverted person and I’m confident but there are times that I’m insecure.” When Loewer did her first shoot with her friend, she said it was “nerve-wracking.” But, working with Orbaugh helped her to relax. “He is such an uplifting photographer,” Loewer said. “Eventually, I didn’t even notice the camera. It was just me being myself and getting my personality caught on camera.” Capturing more than a pretty picture is one of Orbaugh’s favorite parts of being a photographer. “I love being able to work with new clients and capturing their true authentic self,” Orbaugh said. “Being able to connect with [the models] is so important to capture who they are.” In the end, Orbaugh’s goal is to not only to “grow as a photographer” through this experience, he said, but to give his models something to remember. “I want them to be able to look back on these images and know who they were as a senior and who they have become since their senior year,” Orbaugh said.

Loewer smiles for the camera in her best friend photo shoot with Orbaugh. photo submitted by Orbaugh “What really attracted me towards Amber’s company was her eye for photos,” senior Charlie Steiner said. “They aren’t just the typical senior photos; she is able to capture each individual person’s essence in their photos.” As one of local photographer Amber Bryant’s senior reps, Steiner said he is responsible for promoting Bryant’s company. “Senior photography is such a word of mouth business,” Steiner said. Steiner will model in an individual senior portrait shoot along with several themed group shoots with other senior ambassadors, one being senior Carly Seward. Seward said she was drawn to Bryant’s business after interacting with her at church and because she “does a great job of showcasing her work on Instagram.” Group shoots are her favorite, Seward said. Seward especially loved rollerblading for their pastel shoot and the fall shoot. “We made s’mores and had so much fun together,” Seward said. Seward said by being an ambassador she has gained “confidence and new friends.” “I don’t like taking pictures by myself because I often don’t know how to pose,” Seward said. “But Amber helps guide us. She really hypes you up and is always in awe of her models’ beauty.” Steiner said during his first shoot that he “definitely” had some insecurities too, but Bryant is “one of the most genuine people to work with.” “Modeling for Amber makes me feel really special,” Steiner said. Seward has grown closer with the other models

Steiner poses for his senior portrait photo shoot. photo submitted by Steiner

and has developed a great relationship with her team, gaining “new friends” through the experience. Steiner is thankful for the opportunity to “gain a lot of confidence.” “I’ve been able to really find a sense of style,” Steiner said.

GLASS PHOTO DESIGN AND FINE ART

Senior Molly Jefferson walked into the photography studio with her crocs on, and worked hard to convince her photographer, Melissa Glass, to let her wear them in a couple shots before putting on her nicer shoes. “Glass was like, ‘you’re such a weirdo’ but she was laughing,” Jefferson said. “It was awesome that she got to capture my personality.” Jefferson decided to apply as one of Melissa Glass’s senior representatives after having Glass as a teacher. Glass, a ZCHS art teacher, also has a photography business: Glass Photo, Design and Fine Arts. Glass takes pictures for families, fine art, and branding, but seniors are her “favorite” she said. “I’ve worked with teens for over a decade, so it makes perfect sense that this has become a niche for me,” Glass said. According to Jefferson, as a rep, her role is to help Glass “build her brand” in exchange for a solo shoot and group shoots throughout the year. So far, the team has done several themed shoots including Halloween, New Year’s Eve, all-denim and spring blossoms. Glass and her team have a Galentines and vintage-vibes shoot planned for this semester. Jefferson is looking forward to the cap and gown pictures in the Spring. “It’ll be so special to have pictures throughout my senior year,” Jefferson said. Jefferson is one of about 11 models from ZCHS. Through this experience, Jefferson said she’s been able to meet a lot of new people. “We aren’t necessarily all from the same social circles,” Jefferson said. “But I really love them all.” Audrey MacLauchlan, senior, also

Jefferson (left) and MacLauchlan (right) pose at the New Year’s Eve shoot with Glass. photo submitted by Glass models with Glass. MacLauchlan prefers the group shoots because she gets to interact with the other models. “The group ones are fun because it’s just like hanging out with friends,” MacLauchlan said. “We always have lots of laughs and a good time in general.” According to Jefferson, there are so many things to love about being a senior ambassador. It’s not just about modeling; she is inspired by Glass. “I love photography and seeing art,” Jefferson said. “I love being able to grow as a photographer. I love being able to catch moments; I think it’s so beautiful and important.” Glass takes as much from the experience as her models, she said. “There is always an awesome vibe among the group,” Glass said. “I’m really energized as an artist by the reaction to each idea and the shots we get.” As a photographer, creating shared moments is what Glass lives for. “I love capturing a time that is memorable to people, and senior year is such a unique time,” Glass said. “There is often an emotional reaction to senior images. Parents are sentimental that their baby is all grown up and seniors, especially girls, don’t realize just how beautiful they really are.”