Behind the Lens | Before and After (and a Look at Editing Styles)

I posted  a little preview from yesterday evening's styled shoot on the Raw Footage Photography Facebook Page last night, and was so delighted with the response! Lots of "likes" for this little darling, and I'm not one bit surprised. My little subject is stunning! I thought I would use this photo for a "before and after" look at my editing process, which I talked a bit about in the last edition of Behind the Lens . There are so many editing trends out there, and every photographer really has their own editing style. No two photographers will treat the same image the same way, so when choosing someone to capture your special moments, you want to make sure you "click" with not only their shooting style, but their editing style as well.

As for my editing style, I'd describe it as being simple, fresh and pure. I like to add a bit of a personal touch to my photos, but I'm all about capturing real life, and I want my editing to convey that. I am always striving to make my "SOOC" (straight-out-of-camera) shots the best they can be, so that I am only enhancing, and not fixing, in post-processing. I am also continuously seeking out delicious, natural light that doesn't need dramatic editing to create a dreamy mood. The less I have to edit my SOOC shot to achieve my vision, the happier I am.

I do have a handful of photoshop actions I enjoy (for those who may not be familiar these, they are a series of steps in photoshop that a photographer has "packaged" together into one simple click, allowing you to achieve a certain look by running any photo through the action in question. You can make your own, or you can purchase actions from amazing photographers around the world. You can run them at high opacity for a very dramatic effect, or at low opacity for just a subtle pop, which is what I do).

Here's a look at the before and after versions of the same photo, with a look at my editing process.

1. I did basic RAW edits in Aperture (I may be one of the few photographers that isn't using Lightroom or ACR. Not a preference, I just don't own the programs, and Aperture works for me!). This includes sharpening and a bit of minor tweaking of white balance and levels.

2. I exported the photo to Photoshop and tweaked the levels a bit more. I then used the "dodge" tool to brighten up the eyes a bit.

3. I ran the "bright eyes" action from Coffee Shop Blog at low opacity (25%) just to define the eyes a bit more, without making them look alien sharp. (the Coffee Shop Blog actions are FREE and great to start out with - it's where I first started playing with actions, and I still hang on to a couple of my favourites from her set).

4. I ran the "velvet peach" action from Coffee Shop Blog (again, FREE) at low opacity (20%). This one can be intense when you run it at anything more than 30%. I use it at low opacity when I want to add subtle, soft pink tones.

5. I ran the "lighter tones" action from Jordan Voth's set and customized each layer to my liking.

6. I resized and sharpened for web, and added my watermark.

This is my process. My vision for this photo. My artistic style. 

I really wanted to illustrate how a photographer's editing style is a huge part of their art and final product, and that while not everyone's post processing may be your cup of tea, there is beauty in everyone's unique vision. So I rounded up some of my photographer friends (ahhh, gotta love the internet!) from all over to put their personal spin on this photo. I sent them the RAW, straight-out-of-camera file and told them to edit it in their own style. These are women with whom I regularly share and receive constructive criticism, advice and encouragement, and photographers that I respect and admire immensely. I was so honoured that they took the time to help me with this little project, and so excited to see their take on my photo. Each edit below is so different, and really represents the photographer's style.

Go show these amazing photographers some love! 1. Angel Murphy Photography (facebook) 2. / 5. Amanda Laurette Photography (facebook) 3. (me) Raw Footage Photography (facebook)  4. Amber Snead Photography (facebook) 6. Leeshy Lou Photography (facebook) 7. /8. Nicky Montgomery Photography (facebook)

I love how photography is such a process. It starts with a vision, turns into a photograph, and ends up as a work of art that is as unique as each photographer!

London Ontario Lifestyle Photography | Neve at Home (personal)

I'm back after a bit of a blogging break with lots of photos and thoughts to share! To start, I'm so excited about sharing these personal photos with you, taken during an impromptu lifestyle session with my 13 month old daughter, Neve.  The last time I did a session of this nature with her, she was a lot younger, it was a different season, and her morning routine was a lot different. It's so fun to look at the differences and similarities between both sessions and see how my girl has grown. She still loves her morning playtime and stories though, and it's fun to see that her interests and personality are growing with her. I followed her around for about an hour and tried to capture the essence of a morning with Neve, at 13 months old. These photos make me so incredibly happy - as a photographer, yes - but mostly as a mama. :)

Enjoy!

Behind the Lens | Why I'm Crazy About Lifestyle Photography

If you follow me on Facebook, you've probably heard me raving about lifestyle photography a lot in the past few months. It's a style I've always loved, but something clicked when I had my daughter last year... I realized just how passionate I am about capturing those everyday moments, because those are truly the moments that memories are made of. Don't get me wrong, posed shots definitely have their role, and I enjoy these types of shoots as well. But there's just something about being a fly on the wall and grabbing onto those fleeting moments that slip away so quickly. As a new mom, the "lifestyle" photos of my daughter are my most treasured keepsakes. Sure, she is adorable in her headbands and dresses, sitting in crates and on quilts and every other way I've posed her. But these shots below of her quietly basking in the morning light, playing in her room, wearing only a onesie? Be still my heart. This is my girl, and looking at these photos reminds me how she used to do this every single morning, and it fills my heart with joy.

And then there are those photo of her taking a morning snooze on our big bed. Every time I see them, I melt into a puddle of mush.

Or this shot of her at the beginning of the summer, wrapped up in a towel after experiencing the kiddie pool for the first time. There is something about this photo that I just love. Her dripping eye lashes. Her quiet expression. How she looks so snug and warm. It's a real moment, and I couldn't have posed it if I tried. For years to come, I will look at this photo and remember that summer day.

Lifestyle photography tells a story. And when I started to see how much I loved lifestyle photos as a mom, I became even more passionate about offering this type of session to other families who might be skeptical about - or unfamiliar with - lifestyle photography.

I had the pleasure of doing a couple of lifestyle sessions this summer for some lovely families who had never been photographed in this way before. It was a new experience for them to just be in front of the camera. But after a few awkward minutes everyone was able to relax, and life just started to unfold naturally. And I snapped away while moments happened.

Like a little boy who is crazy about cars proudly driving his ride around the yard and then running into his mama's arms for a hug.

Or a neighbourhood walk before bedtime followed by snuggles and a story.

I also love to capture the details during a lifestyle shoot. I love this shot of the pjs and diaper laid out by mama right before bedtime. It might seem like a mundane detail today, but when this little sweetie is 15, a shot like this will bring back a whole slew of babyhood memories.

A far cry from most scenarios where families coordinate and dress up for their photo session, this sweet family opted for pyjamas and some big bed snuggles and stories. This laid back in-home lifestyle session perfectly captured where this family was at that moment - adjusting to a new little family member, a little tired, extremely happy and totally in love. These guys were no strangers to being photographed, but this was a completely new experience for them, one that captured real life and really documented their sweet relationships (and allowed them to stay in their pjs - score!).

There really are no rules or standards when it comes to lifestyle photography. These sessions can take place in your home, at the park, or on a family outing. If you love getting ice cream as a family on hot summer evenings, why not make a lifestyle session out of it? Capture that experience through beautiful photos that will not only capture your family as they are right now, but will always remind you of this special experience. Do you want to remember your trip to the beach? Your Saturday afternoon baking with your daughter? Playing in the snow? No matter what it is you want to capture, a lifestyle session can be tailored to meet your needs and capture those moments you never want to forget. And, because we know that grandparents want that perfect mantle portrait, we can always throw in a few formal family poses here and there to make sure you truly get the photos you want.

If you're interested in booking a family session or have any questions, drop me a line here!

Have a great day, everyone!

Behind the Lens | Let the Littles Be

Alternate titles for this post include: "Please don't say "cheese" ", "It's OK if they don't smile", "Kids will be kids" and "Nagging probably won't help". I love photographing children. Perhaps it's because I've always had a thing for kiddos, and I worked with them in the Early Childhood Education field for 6 years. Or maybe it's because they keep things exciting, unpredictable and fun. Either way, photographing those lively littles is one of my favourite things to do. But it doesn't come without its challenges.

I think the most important thing to remember when photographing young children, for both parents and photographers, is that they probably don't fully understand what they're getting into. They don't know that their parents might have saved up for this family session forever, agonized over the perfect location and gone over budget on the adorable coordinating outfits. They don't fully understand that this may be the only date that worked for each member of the extended family and that this is a one-shot deal. They don't care that you wanted four separate poses of them smiling with their sibling to fill the four-frame arrangement in the living room.

The simple reality is that young children won't fully grasp the importance and meaning of what's going on, and as much as both parents and photographers try to plan out a session to perfection and find potential solutions for every possible outcome, children are unpredictable. So we can all get ridiculously stressed, or we can just go with it.

It's no secret that I love a good candid shot, one that shows a person as they are, without a fake, forced smile. Don't get me wrong, I love a good genuine smile. But I'd rather frame a real expression than an awkward grin. When I'm photographing your child, I start out with no expectations. I usually take the first little bit to get to know them, chat with them, ask them about school, their favourite colour, etc. We might pick flowers or explore the location a bit. I've found myself collecting pinecones, playing "alligator hug attack" and singing ridiculous songs while making funny noises. The most important thing for me is that they have fun and don't feel pressured, cornered or forced to do something they don't feel comfortable doing. Some of my favourite shots are of children exploring and just being themselves. And as a parent, the same goes for my favourite shots of my own baby girl. The smiles are lovely. But those photos that show her just being her? Priceless. 

Now, moms and dads, don't worry. I do my very best to get some smiles for you. And I almost always do. But here's the key. For real smiles to happen, we all need to back off a little bit and figure out what produces a grin. Sometimes that means I need to make a fool of myself and dance around and make silly sounds and play peek-a-boo relentlessly. Sometimes that means asking them about their favourite TV show and proceeding to imitate some of the characters. Sometimes that just means letting them pick up rocks for 15 minutes and catching a spontaneous smile as they show off their treasures. Sometimes, that means I need to stop asking them to sit on my pretty quilt because it's just not going to happen. But these smiles - these genuine expressions of joy - are so worth it when they happen.Because let's face it, children aren't quite so skilled as many adults are when it comes to faking a smile. They haven't all figured out that a giant toothy rigid grin isn't quite their best look.

When we force children to sit still and "say cheese", often we get smiles that no one is too excited about. So often I hear parents pleading with their kiddos to give their "real smile" - but the thing is, these smiles need to just happen. Which is why I always tell parents that I'd rather go with the flow than push children to the point where they are cranky, upset, and no longer wanting to participate. You can usually work with a busy, silly, shy child. But a child who is pushed to the point of tears and frustration is usually all done.

I do understand that desire parents have to capture that beautiful smile they know their child has. I know that the intentions behind bribing and pleading and threatening consequences and insisting on cooperation are good. And I certainly never judge whatever method a parent chooses to try and make things work. I've been there, both as a parent and a teacher, where you're grasping at straws to just try and make things work. I've also been in a situation where I've paid for family photos and my joyful, happy-go-lucky baby decided to be cranky and serious. It's frustrating. It's disappointing. But it's life. So don't worry if your child isn't on their best game the day of the photo session, and please don't feel the need to apologize for them. I've worked with children for years, and I know that, like everyone, they have their good and bad days. I also have a very good understanding of child development and adjust my expectations accordingly. Sometimes, a three-year-old miraculously sits, poses, tilts their head and gives me the most gorgeous, natural looking smile with no coaxing at all. But most times, by the end of a child or family session, I'm sweating, dishevelled, and I've spent the last hour or so running around and being silly to try and capture the essence of who your child is.

Parents, you have to believe me when I tell you that it's not just your child. This is just the way it is most of the time.

And it's totally OK.

And while I can't 100% promise that you'll get that perfect smiling pose (although I can promise I will try my best!), I can promise that you'll get photos that really tell the story of who your child is right now, and that when you look back on these photos, you'll see their personality shine through.

London Ontario Children's Photography | Bella and Gracie

A little while ago I had the privilege of capturing some photos of Bella and Gracie, two sweet and beautiful sisters. It's always so fascinating for me to photograph siblings together and see their similarities and differences shine through. These girls are opposites in so many ways, but both were a delight to photograph. Little Gracie made me work for a smile, but it turned out that the candid shots of her natural, inquisitive expressions ended up being some of my favourites from the session. I love capturing children as they are, because years from now, when mom and dad look back at these photographs, my hope is that they see their girls' personalities shine through. Here are some favourites from the session.

London Ontario Children's Photography | Neve's 1 Year Portraits and Cake Smash (personal)

I can't believe my girl is 1. How did this happen? Seems like only yesterday I held her in my arms for the first time after hours of labour. She is a treasure and we are so madly in love with her. Here is a peek at her first year portraits and backyard cake smash (and subsequent hosing down, haha!).

London Ontario Family Photography | An Orchard Session at Birtch Farms

Every photographer has a photography "bucket list" of sorts - a list of locations or ideas they are dying to try out. Shooting in an orchard in full bloom is on my list, right there with photographing subjects in a barn, in a canoe at sunset, and on the beach at sunrise. When the Birtch family and I started talking about a family session at the family farm, which also happens to be the beautiful orchard my family and I go to every Fall, I had it in the back of my mind that I might get to cross this beautiful idea off my list. Sadly, because of the weird heat wave we had in March, the orchard bloomed far to early, and the subsequent frost devastated the apple crops. While I was sad to have missed the flowers, I was even more sad about the apples and what this means for Birtch Farms and so many other orchards across Southern Ontario. Thankfully, Birtch Farms and Estate Winery has a lot to offer, even without apple picking, so be sure to check out the fun activities they have for the kiddos as well as their amazing baking and delicious selection of apple wines and ciders (yum!). Blooms or no blooms, this setting was breathtaking, and the gorgeous summer light combined with this lovely family made this one of my favourite sessions ever.  There is something magical about running barefoot through an orchard, and I'm so glad I was able to capture some sweet moments for the Birtch family in the place they call home.

Enjoy the photos!

London Ontario Family Photography | Father's Day Minis

Since becoming a parent for the first time last year, one of the most amazing experiences outside of my own motherhood journey has been watching my husband become a dad. Watching his relationship with our daughter grow and flourish and watching their unique bond develop and strengthen over time. They are adorable together, and I often sit back and watch them play and giggle. There is something sweet and magical about a loving dad and his child(ren). I wasn't sure about doing Father's Day minis at first, thinking that the demand for them would be too low. But when a couple of mamas requested them after the mother's day minis, I decided to give them a go. It was a smaller affair to be sure, but each of these mini sessions was sweet and special and I know that these photos will be treasured by these families for years to come. Here are some photos for you!

London Ontario Newborn Lifestyle Photography | The Krawetz Family

I've known Jen for a few years now. We met while she was pregnant with Kingston and we both worked in childcare. Since then, I've enjoyed seeing her lovely family grow with the addition of Charlotte and, just recently, sweet baby Oakley. It was so special to be able to capture some intimate moments for these guys, relaxing at home and adjusting to life as a family of 5. I love lifestyle photography because it truly captures a family as they are right now, in their environment, pure and simple. It documents the beautiful simplicity of their everyday, like snuggles and stories in the big bed, tickles from mom and dinosaur soccer with dad. Krawetz family, I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed taking them!

London Ontario Family Lifestyle Photography | The Fluit Family

It's no secret how much I love lifestyle photography. I love capturing families in their element and letting their personalities shine through. There is something special about documenting the simple everyday, the beautiful little moments we sometimes take for granted. For it is in these moments that real life happens. And there is nothing more captivating. We started our session in the backyard where little Cohen loves to play with his beloved cars and trucks, then went for a little walk around the neighbourhood before settling back into the house for the bedtime routine - stories, pjs and snuggles. We also got to capture Meghan's growing belly as the Fluit family prepares for the arrival of baby #2.

Things are about to change for this family of three, but I really feel like this session captures the Fluit family right now. Here are a few photos from our very fun session!