When the Forest Calls


Some stories aren't read - they're stepped into.


This series was inspired by the enchanted worlds of Holly Black's Folk of the Air, not to recreate a character, but to capture a feeling. A girl wandering beyond the ordinary. A lantern lighting the path through tangled branches. A crown that seems discovered rather than worn.

A quiet forest where every shadow hints at something ancient just beyond sight.


As the sun slipped behind the trees at Butcher Jones, the Arizona desert transformed into something unexpected. The winding trails became woodland passages, the fading light softened into magic, and imagination blurred with reality. For a little while, it felt entirely possible that wolves might emerge from the darkness and crows might carry secrets through the trees.


I love creating portraits that tell stories rather than simply document a moment. When someone steps into a world like this, they stop worrying about posing and begin experiencing. That is where the most honest expressions live - between curiosity and courage, wonder and becoming.


These photographs are for everyone who has ever believed there might be another world waiting just beyond the trees.


If you've ever dreamed of stepping into your own story, I'd love to create it with you.

Kristin Ellermann Photography logo featuring an engraved bird on a floral branch inside an oval frame.
Young woman in black dress holding a glowing lantern in a dark forest, wearing a decorative crown.
A young woman in a black gown and crown crouches by a glowing lantern in a dark forest with a wolf lurking behind her.
Young woman in dark blue gown with curly hair and floral crown sits beside a glowing lantern in a dark forest.
Young woman with curly brown hair wearing a black dress and dark crown poses outdoors in soft forest light.
Young woman in dark blue gown holding glowing lantern on mysterious forest path at night.
A woman in a black gown and tiara stands in a misty forest with a wolf lurking behind her.
A young woman with curly hair in a black dress poses among dark tree branches in a moody forest setting.
Woman in black dress holding dark tree branches in a mystical forest, wearing a dark crown, fantasy witch aesthetic.
Woman in black tiered gown poses dramatically under arching tree branches in a dark, moody forest setting.
Young woman in black dress and decorative crown poses gracefully outdoors in a dark forest setting.
Young woman in black dress and crown poses gracefully in a dark forest setting with curly hair.
Black and white portrait of a young woman in a dark dress wearing a crown, posing gracefully outdoors.
A woman in a black gown reaches upward in a mystical dark forest, with light rays filtering through lush green trees.
Black and white photo of a young woman in a black dress holding a bird on her hand in a dark forest setting.
Young woman wearing a dark crown and black dress poses mystically among green forest plants in moody lighting.
Young woman in black halter dress and decorative crown poses among dark forest greenery.
Young woman wearing a decorative crown poses among lush green plants and purple flowers in a dreamy outdoor portrait.
Young woman in black dress holding glowing lantern on forest path at dusk.
Woman in dark gown holding glowing lantern walks forest path with wolf following behind at dusk.
Young woman in black dress holds glowing lantern on forest path at dusk.
Young woman in black dress holding a glowing lantern on a forest path at dusk.
Young woman in black dress holding glowing lantern on forest path at dusk.
Young woman in black dress poses at golden hour with mountains and lake in the background.
Young woman in black dress with a bird on her wrist poses against a golden sunset over mountains and lake.
Woman in black dress poses by lake at sunset with birds flying and mountain backdrop.