Who are we?
Hello! We’re Darrell & Kara Adkins.
We’re both Northville kids — Amerman Elementary, Cooke Middle School, NHS Class of 2001. So when we say we know this town, we really mean it.
Kara started at MSU not really sure what she wanted to do with her life. When she landed on photography she went all in — moving to Santa Barbara to attend Brooks Institute, then spending a few years in Orange County as a photo retoucher. She shot a friend’s wedding, fell back in love with being behind the camera, and hightailed it back to Michigan in 2007 to launch her own photography business.
(Reenter Darrell)
After four years of photography school, Kara taught him how the camera worked. He absorbed it in about a week and turned out to have a completely natural eye for the artistic side. She is proud of him and only slightly annoyed about it.
In 2012 they landed back in Northville, opened the studio, got married, and became Stackwood Studios. Senior portraits became their focus — and after fifteen years of getting to know NHS seniors and their families, they still love every minute of it. These days Kara shoots all the seniors while Darrell keeps everything running behind the scenes and coaches high school football and basketball. They spend their spare time with their three girls, trying to find adventures.
Why Stackwood
WE KNOW THIS TOWN. We've been right here in downtown Northville since 2012 and have been the preferred senior portrait photographer for Northville High School for 8 years. We know the yearbook staff by name and submit your portrait directly — no other photographer can say all three.
WE HAVE AN ACTUAL STUDIO. Most senior photographers work outdoors only. Our downtown Northville space opens up creative possibilities that outdoor-only photographers simply can't offer — dramatic lighting, editorial looks, creative studio work that goes way beyond a yearbook headshot.
YOUR IMAGES ARE ALREADY YOURS. Every session includes all of your fully retouched digital files — no ordering appointments, no minimum spend, no surprises. You paid for your session and your images are yours. Done.
IT'S FUN. Seriously. The number one thing I hear after sessions is that it was way more fun than expected. No stiff poses, no awkward direction — just good energy, great light, and images that actually look like you.
The Process
CHOOSE YOUR SESSION
First things first — pick the session that's right for you.
- Just need the yearbook headshot? → Headshot
- Want outdoor photos, simple and short? → Quick
- Want a real variety of looks and locations?* → Complete
- Have a specific vision or location in mind? *→ Beyond
BOOK YOUR DATE
Click the session below and hit Book Now. Pick a date and time, check out, and you're locked in. Don't see something that works? Reach out — we're always adding slots.
BEFORE YOUR SESSION
We'll send a short questionnaire — tell us your vibe, share any inspo you've been collecting, and let us know what matters to you. This is how we make sure your session feels like you before we ever pick up a camera.
ON SHOOT DAY
We start in the studio with your yearbook headshot and look through the images together to pick your favorite — it's a great way to get comfortable in front of the camera, and I get to learn what you love before we head outside. Then a quick run-through of your outfits and we lock in our location order. From there we'll move through everything at a comfortable pace — no stiff poses, no awkward direction, just good energy and great light.
YOUR GALLERY
Your fully retouched gallery will be ready within 2–3 weeks and stays live for 60 days. Every image is retouched before you see it — ready to download, share, and order any prints or products directly from your gallery.
Photos of you, your way
Before your session, we'll send you a short questionnaire. It's not about paperwork — it's about getting to know you before we ever pick up a camera. Tell us your vibe. Share photos you've found on Instagram or Pinterest that caught your eye — a lighting style, a pose, an edit, a mood. Show us your aesthetic even if you can't quite put it into words. We'll use all of it to plan a session that actually feels like you.
You might have an idea of something completely different from what's on our website — and honestly? We love that. The seniors who come in with ideas and a point of view make for the most interesting sessions. We're not here to put you in the same poses as everyone else. We're here to figure out what works for you.
So if you've been collecting inspo, bring it. If you have a location in mind, tell us. If you have a prop, a piece of clothing, a whole concept — we're into it. The more you bring to it, the more the photos will feel like yours.
