I look at a lot of pictures. I don’t just look at what the subjects are, but the context of surrounding. What are the expressions saying? Does the photo tell a story? Can I easily imagine myself in their shoes? These are just a few things that I look at while I allow the photo to take me somewhere.
What I really want are the shots when you thought I wasn’t looking. When I’m behind the camera, my goal is to help illustrate your lifestyle. I feel that the best way to accomplish this would be to approach it from a candid perspective. While studio portraits have their place in the world, I find the photos that make my heart sing involve natural environments with natural expressions. Sometimes the lack of a smile makes the shot for me. It commands more attention; it creates a convincing tone. Photojournalism tells a story that no studio could ever do. That’s what I try to accomplish every time I take a photograph. I want to capture those playful moments, those unrehearsed smiles, and those spontaneous kisses. They show who you really are. That’s the whole idea right?
As a lifestyle photographer, what I’m hoping to get from our session is the candid moments. Although I might assist you in a pose, and occasionally stage a shot, what I really want are the moments that happen in between. Those shots I took when you thought I wasn’t looking. Lifestyle photography is free flowing, its fun, its impromptu. It captures motion and emotion, the personalities of it’s subjects, the inside jokes, and the affectionate gaze. Those are moments we all love to experience, but rarely get pictures of. That’s what I’m looking for every time.
My photographs utilize natural light whenever possible. In fact, I love the stuff. It looks great on you. But, I will often break out the flash for some added depth. Or sometimes I’ll play with the light to see what I get. Either way, the shots are never stiff or forced, overly posed or processed. I also try to keep my editing to a minimum and keep the majority of my work as natural as possible. I believe in colors that pop, and contrasty black and whites; they’re classic and timeless. Although I admit, a few trendy and artistic edits can be fun.