Our Shooting Stars feature returns with a collection of images of we’ve shot over the past few years with the inimitable Claire Dailey (and the stories behind the scenes).

We take pride in the fact we can make an amazing photograph almost anywhere, from our kitchen table (see here) to the parking lot of a Starbucks. Or, in the case of the image on the right, the parking lot of the Phoenix Convention Center, on a Sunday morning, with the sun bouncing off the hotel across the street.

It’s the first of several “model off duty” looks we did with Claire this past fall that included the classic “Levi’s and lattes” and cute some shots of her wearing a bow-tie and Chuck Taylors.

The look below was done much later in the day, at a place called Papago Park, which features a gigantic rock that people climb to watch the sunset. We preferred to stay closer to the ground and take advantage of the setting sun for some wonderful fashion images.

The images below were also taken quite spontaneously, in and around Claire’s neighborhood. The one on the left was taken next to the pool at her neighbor’s house across the street. We were hoping for her to hang 10 on the fake surfboard, while we made fake waves in the pool, but figured that we’d need fake water to make that happen.

The image on the right was taken on her next door neighbor’s patio, after spending about 20 minutes trying to break into his house. (OK, so he did give us the door code; it just didn’t work.) It just goes to show that when you have great clothes, a beautiful model, some soft light (and the correct door code), you can make an amazing picture.

Sometimes we actually do go on location, which is what we did for this shoot from a year or so ago. The photo to the right was captured in about 60 seconds, which is about how much time Claire’s Mom and our hair and makeup stylist, James, could distract the hotel security guard before he kicked us out of the lobby.

The pictures below we actually took in the hotel room where we were preparing for the shoot. We grabbed James’ ring light, moved a little furniture and captured this wonderfully casual fashion image, complete with the grungy plaid and the, of course, Chucks.

The bottom pair are, in case you didn’t figure it out, inspired by David Bowie. We whipped up enough hair for three girls with this one.

Michael Verity is a Portland, OR-based photographer specializing in professional headshots, modeling portfolios and fashion editorial photography. The husband of an acting coach and father of two young adult actors, he’s been photographing successful actors, models and creatives and business professionals for more than a decade.