Wellness Lifestyle Photo Session in Bali
How did two girls from New Jersey end up collaborating in Bali? Here's a quick recap:
Emma and I both moved across the country to attend UC Santa Barbara. Despite being in the same sorority for a short time, we never officially met—until we both graduated and found ourselves in Bali.
Emma, a digital marketing strategist, focuses on surfing, women’s empowerment, and sustainability. She’s passionate about wellness, manifestation, and inspiring others. I’m a yoga teacher, also deeply invested in these same values. So, when we connected, it was exciting to collaborate, knowing we shared a similar outlook on art, wellness, and life.
By chance, Emma was visiting Bali at the same time as me, and I was eager to do a photoshoot here—because, come on, it’s BALI! I needed someone in front of my camera that wasn’t my mom. So, I reached out to Emma, proposing a shoot to build my portfolio while giving her content for her business. She said yes, and I was thrilled to finally make it happen, especially knowing she was comfortable in front of the camera.
On my last day in Bali, I hopped on a Grab (basically a motorcycle Uber) and headed to Emma’s place. We strolled down to the private beach nearby, initially planning to shoot there. But we stumbled upon the Impossible Cliff House, (we actually couldn’t find the beach entrance and later realized we missed the turn lol). The spot we found, though, was magical: bridges and sandy patches overlooking the stunning blue sea. It ended up being a much more unique setting than just the beach itself.
Whenever I start a shoot, my first priority is helping the client feel relaxed and comfortable. Both the photographer and model are usually stiff at the beginning, but by the end, we're trying out all sorts of fun, creative ideas. We began with some simple, candid shots on the sandy steps and in front of a large wooden door, feeling out the surroundings and the vibe.
The lush greenery around us provided a perfect backdrop for some close-up portraits. It looked EXACTLY like my mood board inspo.
We then moved to another set of stairs with a random shelter where the lighting was just right. We used the walls, plants, and steps as props, and Emma added a flower to her hair, really bringing the whole shoot together.
Next, we headed to a bridge overlooking the ocean, playing around with poses. The heat was intense, and we were both getting pretty sweaty, so we decided to cool off by a rock in the water and got a little more adventurous.
After cooling down, we started doing some yoga poses—Emma had just begun her teacher training, and as a fellow yogi, it felt natural to incorporate this into the shoot.
Emma embraced the elements, getting covered in sand—which was perfect because I had been dreaming of capturing those sandy shots for months! The midday lighting was tricky to work with, especially with the stunning scenery, so I had to do some extra work in post-production. But that’s the beauty of these creative shoots—you never know which shot will flop or become your absolute favorite!
So, here’s your sign: start reaching out to people you want to shoot with, because someone will eventually say yes!
BTW follow @emmadanzo on IG! <3
