Thursday, January 12, 2012

Hunger Games Fever: Studio photography

Posted in Fun, in-studio, one-a-day-2012, People, photographic technique

It’s a race around my house regarding The Hunger Games, the first story in the series written by Suzanne Collins which will be shown as a movie opening on March 23rd.  Most everyone here is reading one of the books, or has read the books, and are talking about them.  I have to leave the room when they are talking about them, because my pace is slower (I do have other things to do!), and I don’t want to hear any spoilers.

I decided to use the Hunger Games posters, which are featured all over the internet, as my photographic inspiration.  So one night, I photographed 4 of the kids around here (3 of them my own) in the style of the posters.  Caroline had her friend Kate from college over for a couple of nights, and all the girls were willing to participate.  Just so you know, I did borrow the logo from some site, but I am not profiting in any way from this.  It was just for fun.  I also opted to use them for my one-a-day project.  Taking one photo a day is proving to be a challenge, and this gave me a chance to combine two of my photo ideas into one.

You can see the movie posters here.  And these are my versions:

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The direction each girl was facing was based entirely on the side of her head she parts her hair.  Trying to copy Katniss’s look as much as possible.  Hope you enjoy, and go see the show!

Posted in Fun, in-studio, one-a-day-2012, People, photographic technique Tags:

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Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Cory, Eileen and family: composited family panoramas

Posted in children/family, composite, custom photography, lighting, on location, People

Early in December, I had the wonderful opportunity to photograph three generations of a terrific family, in their own home.  Although the original plan was to make an outdoor portrait during the fall, by the time the whole family could make it to the photo shoot, the leaves were gone…and the sun was down.  So I planned for an indoor shoot, in their family room.  My large backdrop is about 10′ wide, and plenty big for a small-medium-sized family.  I could easily layer people, seated, standing, etc., but I wanted to try something different, and similar to what I had done for the kids’ cast for the King and I last spring.   One thing I really like to do, and doesn’t depend on space available, is to create a panoramic composite of the whole group, like this:

This image is comprised of 5 different images, and really makes for a unique, contemporary family portrait. And, I might add, it looked fabulous on their tri-fold Christmas card!

The really cool thing about this technique is that it can be used for families of all sizes, and even over a period of time, gradually collecting all the family members when they can’t be together all at once.  I can’t wait for the perfect huge family to ask for this…imagine a wall portrait, 4′ wide by 1 and 1/2′ tall…wow!

 

Posted in children/family, composite, custom photography, lighting, on location, People

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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Cody & Britton, brother & sister: family photography

Posted in children/family, custom photography, lighting, on location, People

I cannot believe that Christmas is over.  I had Thanksgiving dinner in November, then December started, and now it’s just about over.  Christmastime was C-R-A-Z-Y!  But so good.  Caroling, cookies, presents to Thailand, more caroling, meals to shut-ins, more caroling, more cookies, church, family, family, and family.  Wow.

That said,  I actually have a number of photoshoots that I hadn’t been able to post, because they were Christmas presents, or Christmas cards, and I didn’t want to show anything on the web before the recipients were supposed to get them!

One of my favorite photo shoots was of Cody and Britton, a brother/sister duo who wanted to gift their parents with great photos of themselves.  I met Cody at the Chicago Heights Drama Group’s presentation of Smokey Joe’s Cafe, where I was taking headshots of the cast.  Cody arranged with me to meet him and his sister at a local park, for some fun outdoor pictures.  So much fun to be in on making such a great gift for their parents!!

Photographing them separately was easy.  Each one is great looking in his/her own right.

Here was the challenge–photographing these two together in such a way that they DON’T look like a couple!  For a brother and sister, that meant keeping them more separated, avoiding any boyfriend/girlfriend-like poses/gestures, while keeping the posing fun, friendly and natural.  All of these photographs were made with off camera light.

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Posted in children/family, custom photography, lighting, on location, People

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Monday, November 21, 2011

7 reasons why the midwest is a great place for photography: my Thanksgiving

Posted in Fun, general, Holidays, People

I see websites of one photographer after another who have built their businesses doing remarkable work.  Sure their photographic skills are fabulous, but who doesn’t look good by a mountain stream, or (worse) in front of a snow-capped mountain?!  How about those photographers who have an ocean-for-crying-out-loud practically in their backyard?  What about us Midwesterners, who live in cities where there are precious little changes of elevation, except if you go downstairs to move the laundry?

Well, I have to admit, I would love to have some snow-capped mountain reflecting in a pristine pool, all behind whoever it is I am photographing.  But there is something pretty special in our neck of the woods, too.  Here are a few things that I love about the Midwest:

1.  Tall vegetation.  Yes, we have that.  Not only do we have lots of trees, but we have tall grasses.  We are, after all, called the Prairie State!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(click “Read more” below to see the other amazing reasons!)

Read more »

Posted in Fun, general, Holidays, People Tags: , ,

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Thursday, November 17, 2011

My last M&M is gone

Posted in Dogs, Fun, Holidays, in-studio, portraits, projects

Yeah, we finished our Halloween candy.  I just love tiny packages of chocolate within arms’ reach of the coffee pot, don’t you?

Still, I had to take a minute and post a couple of my favorite images from Halloween’s photo treat contest.  What a terrific costume!  Great job, and thanks to all who participated.

Posted in Dogs, Fun, Holidays, in-studio, portraits, projects Tags:

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