by mphotoadmin | Jul 7, 2014
I have just recently started to feel like I have come into my own as a photographer. Many have told me that I am an amazing photographer but I have not always believed it myself. I found myself always getting inspiration from other photographers (which in theory is good) but what I really wanted, was to be my own inspiration. Just like any artist, I wanted to look at my work and see my happiness, my struggles, my HEART and myself!! Awww, that word ARTIST. I still feel like it is hard to call myself an artist. But more recently, I have started to see it because, what does “artist” really mean? The dictionary defines it as “a person who creates art: a person who is skilled at drawing, painting, etc.“, but I see it as an exploration of one’s soul manifested into a tangible object. I think anyone can be an artist in their own fashion, mine just so happens to be photography and more specifically, children. To me children are the pieces of my soul that hold me together, the purest form of love lies in a child’s heart and if I can tap into that for a few minutes while hanging out with them, well, then my heart is that much more full and my artwork is that much more meaningful.
I think my struggle with photography was like anyone’s starting something new. Just because your passion is in art you still have to hone that skill and slowly develop it. For the last few years I have wrapped myself up with learning as much as I could about photography and the business of photography. While still trying to be a functioning member of my family, I completely delved into learning all that I could and eventually I got lost in learning what others do and lost focus on what I can do! My heart, soul and spirit were wrapped up in the mechanics of it all and I forgot what it felt like to be passionate about photography. Now you may wonder how I was able to refocus. I hadn’t only lost my passion for photography but also in life. I was depressed and cranky. You try spending all your time editing, invoicing, marketing in a very messy house (because who has time to clean when you are editing until 2am) and still feel happy with the path you’re on. I was not and something had to change.
From all the classes on the mechanics of photography and the business of photography I slowly was able to put a system in place to keep my business organized and restructure what I offered to make myself successful and happy. I know there are a lot of articles out there from prominent photographers speaking about how to structure your pricing in order to be successful by not giving away the farm. These articles helped me quite a bit when I chose to go from a shoot and burn photographer to offering beautiful pieces of artwork to my clients. These articles are great but the ones I read were missing one important aspect for me! I was not only giving away the farm when I was selling a portrait session and DVD for less than minimum wage but I was also giving away a piece of myself. My artwork was not reaching its full potential when it was sitting on a CD somewhere in someone’s drawer. I was taking these great images and saying see you later to them hoping that someday they would go from being little eggs to a full grown chicken (yeah, yeah I am going to far with this giving away the farm analogy I know!) BUT SERIOUSLY!!! I had no control over what was being done with them! I was seriously getting depressed. I found myself designing albums for myself because I was so inspired by the story told in the session that I couldn’t let it go! I wanted these stories written across pages in albums, or splashed across the walls of my clients’ homes or at least printed in a nice image box to be displayed when desired! The other part I was missing was getting to see my client’s reaction when they saw the images for the first time. I find it very important for my clients to be involved in the selection process. Of course I narrow the 300+ images down to about 60-80, but at that time it is important for the client to choose which one tells the story of their family. By going to the client’s home and walking them through the selection process they get a more customized and personal experience and I get to hang out with these people I like so much and cuddle and giggle with my mini mes (I find that every little kid wants to be me after they leave a session. I have had clients send me pictures of their kids playing Miss Mel the photographer!) Spending time with my clients is very important to me, not just as their photographer but because I love people! The more stories I hear about others lives the more fulfilled I am in my own. I am constantly learning about myself by stepping into others lives for a bit. I guess that is just the psychologist in me! Oh did I mention I have a degree in psychology!
I know not everyone agrees with me and that is fine. I hope you can find a photographer that best fits your style but I am here to make my clients’ souls and spirits happy and I have chosen the clients that want to invest in my happiness as well because that is what the human experience is all about: not only making a happy life for yourself but also for the people around you!
Happy Clicking,
Melissa
by mphotoadmin | Jun 26, 2014
When Dawn contacted me for her sons newborn session he had already been born and she was in a frenzy trying to find a photographer who would be willing to take her “older” newborn. Many photographers will not photograph a baby past 15 days old and with good reason. When babies are within their first 15 days they are much more malleable and can be soothed easily. I prefer between 5-10 days old, this way they umbilical cord has fallen off and the baby has not quite started to get that wonderful baby acne. I also find that after 10 days they go through a big growth spurt and they are constantly startling themselves awake. However, when a mother calls me in desperation wanting so badly to capture her new lovely in that first month, who am I to turn her down! So was the case with Dawn. We booked her session right away and prayed the little man would be cooperative.
A few days later Dawn arrived at my door worried that all those cute poses she had seen on Pinterest would not be achieved with her month old little man. I quickly calmed her nerves and got to work. However, little Crew was not in the sleeping mood that afternoon and so I started the morning with some cute wide eyed poses to show off Crew’s handsome eyes and of course some poses with big sis! The way Wren cradled Crew in her arms spoke volumes to her gentle and sweet nature. I couldn’t believe how patient she was while Mr. man cried in her arms. Eventually we calmed him down and we got some sweet shots of them together.
Once we got THE SHOT with sister it was time to get THE SHOT of Crew asleep looking all cuddly! This took a little while. Like I said at this age they like to startle themselves awake quite a bit and so was the case with Crew. I kept assuring Dawn to not worry not only were we going to get the shot but I was getting my baby fix (don’t tell Andre but I have got some serious baby fever!). Once I was sure little man was asleep it was time to work some magic (quiet, gentle, slow moving magic!). We had about two minutes to nail a few sleepy poses and then Crew was wide-awake again! But I was able to get some great shots and mommy was very pleased!
This little guy was worth the challenge and I must say that if we would have shot him earlier we might not have been able to capture those gorgeous gorgeous eyes!
by mphotoadmin | Jun 15, 2014
When scouting a location for a portrait session there are many things I take into consideration, first and foremost the people or thing I will be photographing! This is always the most important especially when it comes to photographing kids under the age of five especially when they are just walking/ running. I cannot tell you how many times when I was first starting out that I chose a place that was heavily populated with people or super interesting things! Sure the location has to have a sense of appeal to that age group but it shouldn’t be HEAVILY saturated with so much going on that a child cannot focus on the task at hand (ha what am I talking about you get maybe two seconds of a child’s attention before they are onto the next thing, I have learned to think/click quick!).
Anyway, first I think of whom I am photographing. For this session it was a family of three (almost four) with an 18-month-old child! So I was looking for a location that had a lot of space for the little guy to run but that did not have too many people or too many distracting elements.
Second I considered what time of the day I am photographing. This is very important when choosing a location (In a later post we will discuss why shooting at certain times of the day is so important). Why is the time of day important when choosing a location? When you live in area where you drive down the street and there are beautiful rolling hills and mountains with gorgeous trees and then you drive the other direction and there are flat open fields, there can be a bit of a dilemma if you choose either of these locations at the wrong time of day. If you are shooting on there other side of a mountain you have to choose an earlier time of day otherwise you will be dealing with the location getting dark too early due to the sun going behind the mountain. Sames goes with shooting in a large open field if the sun is still too high then you will get drastic shadows! For this shoot we were photographing close to sun down so I chose a place that had a variety of open shade as well as a field with lots of grass.
Lastly I take into consideration where the family will be displaying their portraits and how we have stylized the shoot. I try to choose a location that goes with what the family is wearing as well as where the portraits will be hanging. If we are decorating two or three separate rooms, I want to have variety in the location I choose or choose more than one location. For the Martin’s they were wearing blacks, blues and tans, this went perfectly with the stone wall we shot behind as well as the waterfall and rocks we had in the background.
Now that the location has been chosen all that is left is the session itself. The Martin family arrived with one happy little 18 month old. We gave him lots of area to run because what is most important about documenting an 18 month old? Those cute little legs and how precious they look scouting around! This was an important session for Mandi, Adrian and Nickel, in that they will soon be welcoming a little girl into the family. It was important to them to have portraits taken of them as a family of three. To show that undeniable bond with you’re first born. It was definitely a touching session with lots of hugs kisses and squeezes!
