The way a picture FEELS...

is one of the most important parts for me. When you look at an image, I want it to feel cozy, comfortable, and REAL. The expression on their faces, the texture of the clothing, the grass under their feet, the colors, the layers of detail need to give you the coziest, dreamiest, authentic look.

 

 

A Cohesive Collection..

...is high on my list of priorities!! When I deliver a gallery of photos, I aim to make sure they all have the same look, the same overall vibe. This has a TON to do with editing. When you hang my pictures next to each other on the wall, do they look amazing next to each other? I always want that answer to be YES. In addition to that, all my galleries should be very similar in editing style. Regardless of your outfit, the location, the weather, I am aiming to edit as accurate to my style as possible. A slight variation is to be expected, but shouldn't be distracting or obvious. You would be so surprised to see the variation in raw images, even for pictures that are taken seconds apart. Camera settings and ever-changing lighting fuels this issue, which makes editing all the more important!!


I would describe my editing style like this:

  • Warm but natural - the overall feel of the photo has just a TOUCH of added warmth. Whites are still white, they aren't golden or yellow. Skin tones are true with a gentle warmness and creaminess.
  • Colors are moderately saturated - in other words, the colors are THERE, but they aren't what your eyes are drawn to first. They're not totally muted, but they're softened just a bit. This helps give the pictures a classic look, avoiding punchy or vivid colors. **When you have photos taken in a very bright or bold color, that outfit choice is not in alignment with this editing style. Therefore, the overall appearance of your photo gallery may not match my typical "look". Outfit choice is a huge factor in creating a cohesive photo gallery.**
  • A soft contrast - shadows and highlights are there, but they're flattering. I aim to keep the images looking smooth. Harsh sunlight is one scenario that makes this task extra difficult, but it can be done! My work often avoids harsh sunlight to minimize extreme shadows/highlights and harsh contrast.
  • What I like to call "Classic bright" - my photos are not exactly light and airy, but share some qualities of that style as opposed to dark and moody or vibrant photographers. I shoot for moderate and balanced exposure, so I can edit to have bright and crisp photos without washing out any highlights or colors (the brightest areas of the photo like the sky or white clothing STILL has a little detail; its not blown out to pure white nothingness. Overcast days, for example, might maintain that soft-white/soft blue, hazy color). Each image will be as bright or a smidge brighter than real-life.

Composition, posing and movement..

Let's start with MOVEMENT.. it catches the viewer's eye! Spinning in a dress, walking a few steps then looking over your shoulder at me, tossing a kiddo up in the air...it's the hook that draws us in. I love to balance my client galleries with candid, off guard images and structured poses. Adding or taking away movement totally guides our posing and prompting.


Here are some further details and examples of POSING:

structured Poses
  • the couple is smiling at the camera, or nose to nose, or he is smiling at her/she is smiling at the camera
  • all the family members are in one spot
  • less movement
  • i've told you how to position your legs/feet as well as your hands










Candid Prompts
  • a family - "everyone hold a hand, mom lead us, and walk a few steps ahead"
  • a couple - "run to each other, and then pick her up and spin"
  • a senior - "take a few steps and then look back at me over your shoulder"
  • movement based
  • a bit of motion blur sometimes
  • eyes may not be on the camera
  • genuine grins/smiles/relaxed expressions









COMPOSITION

  • You'll often find me using the rule of thirds (slightly off center), as well as centering my subjects for balance
  • I prefer to have a combo of up-close detail images, and full body pictures with tons of background aka negative space, too. I would say majority of sessions (not events/weddings) are a good balance of all variations
  • I like to capture natural interactions, whether we replicate them or catch them in the moment (a toddler kissing mom on the cheek, siblings hugging, a couple walking while holding hands). Again, the movement comes into play here!
  • I lean more towards having a shallow depth of field (the background has a creamy blur aka bokeh!!) but not every image is that way! When the landscape or background needs our focus, everything will be more crisp. Just depends on what the subject is.
  • Occasionally I'll do intentional/stylistic motion blur, but generally, I aim to have very sharp, clear, crisp, "good quality" images to the naked eye!!

 

If these ideas and style choices resonated with you, I would love to be your photographer. You'll find even more about me on my instagram page, that I keep up with more frequently.

Hope to hear from you soon!!

 

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