Winter Engagement Session | Calgary Wedding Photographer

I have shared a few of these on social media already, but haven't yet done so here. We were so incredibly lucky to get a beautiful snow fall with a bit of sun. Especially this year...when the snow here has been minimal. This couple is getting married in July and their wedding will set a record for past brides being present. I will have to get a photograph of me with all of them ;) It will also be my first wedding in a big red barn!! Can't wait ;)

I know I've been kind of quiet here lately, but I've been busy shooting, teaching, and preparing to launch my new studio sessions. Keep an eye out here for some awesome opportunities to be amongst the first to be photographed in my new studio coming soon ;) And, I still have a couple of spots for weddings this fall if you know of anyone who is looking!! Some popular dates are still open.

Thanks!

~ Dana

Getting Creative With Your Shutter Speed

After I posted one of these images online, I had a number of emails asking me how I did it so I thought I'd share the how to here on my blog.

It isn't rocket science. It's using your settings to get a creative portrait. For me, it seemed obvious that if we were all going to be skating around we would want a few images that showed movement. The easiest way to show movement is to create a little blur. So, in order to do that, we have to slow down our shutter speed. In this instance, we were outside so there was a lot of natural light. I had the ISO at 100 and I knew from experience that I would want my shutter to be at about 1/40 or 1/50 to get the kind of blur that I want, so I lowered it to there. I didn't want the boys to go too fast as they weren't wearing helmets for aesthetic reasons. I told them to space themselves as I knew that I would be trying to capture their parents between the two of them to create a 'framing' effect. In order to get my exposure correct, I now had to adjust the aperture...there was WAY too much light to shoot it wide open, so I closed the aperture until the proper exposure was achieved which in this case was f11. I focused on the parents, braced myself and had the boys skate by while I shot. They did it three times in total and thanks to the wonders of digital technology, I could look at what we got and determine that the image I wanted to make had been achieved :) NOTE: your shutter speed will be slow enough to cause camera shake, so you must be sure to hold steady to achieve the sharp subjects in the centre. You must also ask your subjects to hold still :) I know from experience that I am able to hand hold at this setting.

Now, I was lucky here because the kids had a parent who was a photographer, but older kids are usually eager to help you create anything you can dream up. I always explain to them what I am trying to do and show them any results on the back of my camera if they ask.

Another option open to me was panning. I could have attempted to get the boys sharp by using similar settings and moving my camera with them while they skated by. In my experience, this is rather time consuming to achieve and so I made the call on this colder winter day to get everyone inside as quickly as possible and do this instead.

I hope this helps everyone in trying to create movement in their own images. If you have any other questions on how to achieve a certain look, be sure to ask me(either here in the comments or on my Facebook page). I'm going to try and post more photography tips from now on. And, if you have a mom's group that would like to have a photographer come and teach them the basics of using their digital SLR, I would love to have the opportunity to come and talk to them. Just contact me via the contact form and we can set something up.

Thanks,

~ Dana

Just Be Yourself

I love Shel Silverstein. He was a favourite when I was a kid and I have bought all of his books for my own kids. We are currently redecorating their rooms and I keep thinking about framing one of his poems for Jack's room. Not this one, but I saw this on Pinterest today and it made me smile so I thought I'd share it with you all.

I've been thinking lots about what it means to be a portrait photographer lately. This is what I tend to do in the winter time. Reflect upon my own work as I don't work as much as the rest of the year so there is time for that. I know that for some people, it is simply about making their subjects look pretty--and, I agree that is important. Mostly because as I age I see the importance in photoshop tools on images of myself ;) and I know that no one likes to see a picture of themselves where they look totally awful. But, what I also know is that I want more than to look pretty. I want to see your blue. I want you to remove your masks...and I know it's hard, but I also know that it is so so worth it if we can work together and make it happen.

It is a process that doesn't happen quickly. There is a reason why it can't happen in a department store portrait and that reason is a simple one--time. Lots of other photographers like to spend time with you after the portrait session in sales and design consults. I like to spend mine during the session...I like to spend it in helping you remove your masks and showing me your blue. I think you can see that in my work...if you can see it and that is something you value, then I want to work with you :)

2013 is going to be a time for me to shed some masks. I'm going to be more myself. And, I'm excited. Most of 2012 was spent half awake, but something has happened recently and I feel more alive than ever. And, I am ready to embrace life and capture it along the way. Here's hoping you stick with me ;)

~ Dana