In January, there was so much snow here that my roommates all had a 6 day weekend from work. Two of us have never had a white winter so we were excited to drive around and take in the view. I had my window down to fully appreciate the scenery, but then I took a bunch of blowing snow to the face. Brr!
Want more Arizona? Check out last week's MST!
Or The Secrets of the Desert!
I think it's important before a photo shoot to know how you want to share your story because that is really what is being captured. Not just pretty faces in a gorgeous setting, but your personal story, who you are, where you are in life. I want people to see their lives truly reflected in my photographs.
That's why before Gabee and Kyle's shoot I asked Gabee how she wanted her relationship with Kyle depicted. She responded with some great adjectives that helped me come up with little prompts to capture the interactions between the two. We also chose our location because it holds meaning to Kyle and Gabee. It's a place they've hiked together often! What kind of adjectives would you use to describe how their relationship looks in our photos? Share them with me and we'll see if they match up!
I love lens flares!
Lately, I've been thinking about personal storytelling and how powerful it can be. Sharing your own personal story can open up a lot. Maybe you realize something about yourself or your life that you wouldn't if you hadn't shared or maybe your story impacts someone else. After thinking, I decided to start sharing personal stories of my own through a series called Mountain Standard Time. The videos really aren't too personal, but they show my love for the beauty of where I live. I'm not entirely sure where this little project of mine will go, but so far I have adored the process of reflecting on my weeks while creating these videos. I'm reminded of the simple things that bring me joy and also pushed to show gratitude for what I have. I hope you enjoy seeing a bit of life from my perspective!
Last month, my friends and I made a stop at Arcosanti, somehow perfectly timed at sunset during a rain. It was so beautiful! Mountain Standard Time is a series about living in Arizona, my home state. I think it's pretty cute here.
Want more video? Check out these posts:
"Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree." - Emily Bronte
Lighting is one of the great ways to create mood in a shoot and you don't even need expensive equipment. Actually, even natural light can be used to produce different feelings to pull viewers into a story.
Maybe your story carries a warm, romantic, and tender tone, painted perfectly in a pink-hued sunset. Another narrative might be more secretive and mystifying, so shadows would stir up the right emotions. I get a lot of opportunities to play in soft, warm lighting that shows the joy and love within my clients, but I've learned that harsh lighting can be just as fun.
Harsh lighting can be bright and bold, but also cast various shadows, creating a handful of moods from enigmatic to strong to menacing to somber. I had fun using mid-day light to set a few different tones in this shoot, where I explored some moodier ideas than usual!
Reach out and let’s start brainstorming!
