I upgraded to the just released TCM wireless transmitter. This will save me precious time when shooting off-camera flash portraits because like I said, time is an extremely critical factor in portrait sessions so I do whatever I can to make the setup procedure as smooth and minimal as possible.
Less time during set up results in more time taking pictures. :) More pictures to showcase is a win-win situation for my clients.
Thank you to Sandy Gerencer and her very cute Palomino mare for letting me capture the special bond between the two of you. You were both full of energy and excitement, it was great seeing the both of you having such a great time in each other's company.
Because of some limitations in the setting, I felt it was a great opportunity to work on a lot of close up work, as I truly believe that it is essential in every Equestrian Photographer's portfolio.
Click HERE to view all the photos.
I faced some new minor challenges on my shoot this past Sunday, but it was a great learning experience in overcoming them. Shooting a 17hh grey horse in tight spaces brings unique challenges. The initial thought that came to my mind when I first saw him was to showcase just how tall this boy is and to use the environment to emphasize that.
Then we introduced little Charlie into the picture and had some fun in the field just letting the three of them live in the moment.
Thank you to Kayla Duheme and her boys Lou and Charlie for being such great models. It was a lot of fun!
Moving forward, one adjustment that I've decided to make is that I will be shooting off-camera flash for now on (at least majority of the time). This will allow me to shoot more dramatic portraits.
I quickly learned that when taking portraits of a person AND a horse, because horses are so large, that it's best to shoot wide on my flash. Time is critically important during my portrait sessions and the sooner I can get my bread and butter down, the quicker I will be in setting up.
My next photo shoot is this Saturday and it will be Christmas themed. :) It will be a little different, not in the way that I shoot the subjects but I will be looking for and scripting unique moments.
One very important note that I would like to mention is that I do still plan on incorporating more environmental photos and I guess it's a bit tough with Canadian winters where we don't have the sunsets or luscious green pastures with lots of green grass and dandelions to capture. Afterall, you look at some of the best photos out there that really bring in the setting and 99 out of 100 times they're shot in gorgeous green fields with flowers everywhere and the sun is setting.
Unfortunately, we are still a few months away from Spring, so I will make the most of it until Spring arrives. Then that's when my ideas and vision will really start to open up as I will be taking full advantage of green pastures, flowers and sunsets.
Click HERE to view all the photos.
My new custom embroidery hoodie has arrived! It was quite the process in getting this all done up but I am in love with it, it turned out perfect. My biggest concern was the sizing and how the digital to physical transition would translate but I just eye balled it many times over and over until I felt it was perfect.
It's a little nerve racking having this all done online and not knowing what the final product is until it shows up on your front door.
I will also be getting a custom down fill vest as well and possibly my own ball cap. More to come!
Here are the photos from Evelyn & Marc Sabrow's Equine Portraiture session yesterday morning out in Acme, AB.
It was a great first experience for me, I definitely know what adjustments I need to make for today's appointment and moving forward.
We did some experimenting, unfortunately a couple did not work. I couldn't capture Evelyn leading 4 horses in an open field due to the field being in harsh sunlight and I needed a 5 stop ND filter to limit the light coming in and allow me to shoot wide open. Now those 5 stop ND filters are on order to be added to me camera bag.
Now off to Dewinton, AB today! :)
Click HERE to view all the photos.
Photos from my shoot on Sunday out in Dewinton, AB. It was a very brief one due to weather conditions so there was not a lot of experimenting involved, but still some superb captures!
Thank you to Shaun Rathy for showing your beautifully clipped Palomino mare and your great taste in your outfit colors to go with your mare :)
Click HERE to view all the photos.
Here are a couple snap shots of my new and final proof on my business cards. They are now in production!
It was an incredibly tough decision as I was constantly tossing back and fourth for almost two weeks as to which fit and finish I was going to go with but sometimes the classic squared corners is better. The gloss makes those photos of mine pop! Sometimes simpler is better and more effective and in this case it was.
Initially, I was going to get all four corners rounded but my reason for going with squared corners is because when you look at the backside (with the four photos) it still looks best with squared corners as that is how photos are shot and that is how we all view images (no matter what platform they are on) - with squared corners. It was just more consistent, organic and a bit cleaner with the squared corners.
I had a higher up version that I really wanted but unfortunately there is a thing called budget and we can't have everything that we want in this world. Instead, I put $100 of that towards equine rescue this month.
These still look great - 16pt stock, 3mm glossy laminate, squared corners.
