Summer

Even though the calendar says we still have a month left of summer, psychologically we all feel that this upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend officially ends the season.

With the end of our summer coming to a close, this is a great time to reflect on what our summer has brought into our lives.

We often use this time to gather with friends, enjoy great meals outdoors, take vacations with the family, enjoy nature with walks and hikes, or experiencing the ultimate summertime pleasure - finding a beach to just sit and be.

This is it, your week to relax and recharge, but most importantly enjoy!

"Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn't stop to enjoy it.”



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Beauty Inside and Out

I really enjoy all my family portrait sessions, but when it's like getting together with a group of close friends, it seems to make the time go so fast.

Everyone appears more at ease, there is a lot of catching up in between shots, and it's just a fun time for me!

I'm also amazed that one family can have such beauty inside and out.

The interaction between everyone is relaxed, but with some lively energy thrown in.

Because I wanted to capture the unique appeal of everyone, I decided to set up a fake studio outside by the lake - complete with backdrop and off camera lighting.

This way I was able to have some 'one on one' time with each member of the family. Letting them have their moment to shine.

And shine they did!

Of course we needed to add in a dose of silliness, play acting, and good ol' horsing around.

Thank you once again for letting me capture these timeless, memories of your beautiful family.

Sometimes it's not the process of taking photographs that's important during a session like this, but the experience you come away with!

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Early last year, I did a fun photo session with a small group for a martial arts studio.

It was a long afternoon of shooting, but the results were really special.

I'd like to present a series from that session that includes a gorgeous family sharing this common interest.

From an adorable young girl, eager to learn and absorb the lessons presented through this art, to a very talented (as well as photogenic mother) also passionate about this discipline, and a wonderfully involved father who completes the trio.

Because life keeps us on the run, with schedules, events, day to day obligations - we put things off until tomorrow, next week, next month ...... well you get the idea.

I recently received a call from the family interested in reviewing these images once again, determined to select prints so this time in their lives can be recorded, enjoyed and treasured throughout the years.

Here are my picks from that day.

I tend to favor the bold, crisp, look of the black and white with these images.

I love the relationships and connections that come together in many of these pairings together.

Enjoy the series, I hope this will help in your selection process!

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Location

Location, Location, Location...

One of my favorite environments to do a portrait session in is a barn.

Preferably a horse facility (and preferable with a horse involved with the shoot)

Each corner presents another wonderful back drop.
With peeling paint, weathered wood, open fields, hay bales and of course a beautiful model and handsome equine to top off the mix!

Enclosed pastures are perfect for including a curious horse without worrying about him getting loose - and into trouble!

Include a bright red velvet chair and you have a perfect accent to add a touch of contrast to the scene.

With each location, it's also fun to include some variety to the portraits by having a wardrobe change.



 Each style creates the scenes - whether it's a relaxed comfortable pose and setting, or a more put together look and traditional feel.

I also treasure the moments that just happen to come together, not so posed, but evoke a special bond or emotion.

Those can hardly be duplicated.
But when they happen it's just magic!

"A horse is the projection of peoples' dreams about themselves - strong, powerful, beautiful"....Pam Brown

Behind the Scenes

It's always fun to put together a series of images from a session and think about how the image was put together.

Of course I love the outcome, but many times the initial concept is not what ends up as the final product.

That is the beauty of it.
I love - the unexpected.

It's the interaction with my subjects, the people assisting, or even the "live" props that make up the experience of a shoot.

The "live" props in this series is the horse.

Initially the horse was to be loose and grazing peacefully next to the model.

Well.... in our first try with this idea, our "prop" or horse (aka Neo) was released from his lead and halter only to decide the "set" for this shoot was now his personal race track!
Yes, it had obstacles, like trees and stumps, but it didn't stop him from seeing how fast he could run around the perimeter - dodging the trees and people in his path!

Take 2 - in comes the "understudy", (aka Swimmer).

Not my first choice, but reliable.
Unfortunately, Swimmer was happy to graze peacefully, but not anywhere near the subject or camera.
Which leads us to our next prop -
"a halter and lead rope"!

I also chuckle when I think about my "assistants" helping to get the horse's attention by throwing things into the air, only to have the objects land on their heads!
 Ouch!

Our final prop was an apple.
My idea was to show the whole apple, but when it was brought out for the picture, someone had sliced it into several bit size pieces for the horse!
The model did a great job trying to hold the pieces together to make it look whole again (and struggling to keep it from the horse's mouth before I got the shot)

Yes, there is quite a lot going on "behind the scenes".

I enjoy the stories that are created in the making of an image, and the stories that are formed by person's imagination when viewing it.

Wonderful job Ariel - Thank you!

Stay tuned for more Ariel and Neo in my next post!

Introducing - Robyn - My Guest Photographer

Photography means many things to different people. It can be a way to record a news event, a family gathering, exotic vacation, growing children or it can be a means of artistic expression.

Photography as an art form is often appreciated by many – but understood by few.

The technology of how photography works can be learned through text books, classes, workshops, and even the internet.

Exposure, aperture settings, speed, depth of field, and focus distance are all part of the science. Anyone can learn how to work the camera and get a perfect exposure. But not everyone can “create” an image.
Few can see outside the box, or explore the world around them through a different perspective.

My guest photographer, Robyn, understands the art of “seeing”. She is comfortable “breaking the rules” and creating a visual composition worth lingering over.

Robyn, is new to seeing life through the viewfinder of a camera.
But she gets it.

I was so excited to spend an afternoon with her shooting various subjects that caught her eye.
It was her first time using a digital SLR (single lens reflex) camera and some cumbersome lenses.

But she appeared at ease with the equipment, composing various shots that spoke to her.

After picking out a few favorites, and running them through a photo editing program to complete the final product.
I would like to present “An Afternoon at the Barn” by Robyn.



Thanks Robyn for being my guest, I look forward to more photo shoots together!

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