A Lady Warrior in Motion
Posted on December 20, 2023
I am always up for shooting something a bit different for senior shoots, something more unique. When I consulted with a client about some action shots for volleyball, I saw the images of what I wanted to capture in my head. This is how I typically start with conceptualizing the shoot. Yeah, if you read this blog, you will read that tidbit often, as it is so accurate, true, and evidence of my muse striking. What I did not initially expect, was gorgeous Miss Eva joining her bestie, Brinlee, for a tandem shoot. I was overjoyed by this turn of events, and I love the sequences of Eva’s hitting, and her unique serving style. Let’s take a look at these shots!
While my photography journey started by capturing soccer players during games, the thing I loved most about capturing athletes in action was to witness the way the light hit them doing their thing. You watch someone giving so much effort, their muscles flexing with the movement, the intensity on their face, the thought that went in to the action of what they do. Volleyball is vastly different from soccer, but the elements of what I love are the same. I asked Eva to show me what her hitting the ball looks like, then I had her break it down for me so I could meter my shots. We repeated the action a few times and the results are simply stunning. The light loves this girl, showing you her strength, beauty, and poise. As her photographer, it is an excitement to capture her in motion, but for her to see herself looking so effortlessly dominating, even better!
When we were transitioning in the shoot, Eva’s mom, Layne, asked if we could capture her serve. Of course we can! Eva has a very cool serve and it was impressive to not only watch the power with which she serves, but the way she moves through her serve…add lighting and I am just loving it!!
That hair…I may have a bit of hair envy! I loved every minute of capturing Eva in motion, the way the lighting embraced her movements and motions, the way her planes and curves of her face and muscles were shown. Beautiful!!! I adjusted some of the shots so that the pride of her school’s accomplishments over the years were able to shine through too. It is only 4 years of a high school athlete’s career, but the pride and legacy that comes with being an alumni that made their mark with their team, having not only your school’s support but your village’s support, is lifeblood, and one that persists and continues for generations to come.
It is an honor to capture someone’s moment in time, and with Eva, we deconstructed that even further to the actual movement in time. Don’t worry, Eva will be coming in to the studio soon, so make sure you stay tuned to see what’s happening at E.robinsonphotos in January!
To schedule your own fantastic experience, send me a message, or call (740)418-9211!
What’s Your Why, It’s YOUR Session
Posted on November 5, 2023
Yesterday, I posted some fairly revealing photos of Allia, and I am overwhelmed by the positive responses I have gotten. When you share photos of skin, people are not always receptive to that, are often appalled by it, and sometimes you will get the oddest replies to a question you never asked someone. Why do I tell you this? It’s YOUR session, tell me YOUR why and we’ll come up with YOUR custom session.
When you contact me, are you wanting to see yourself through my lens because you like what you have seen or you trust I can deliver on your concept, maybe both, maybe more? Do you need visibility for your business, in your job, in your industry, or are you trying to elevate your ability to get hired? Do you want to capture this moment in time that is important to you? Have you made an accomplishment you are very proud of? Or did you see work that I have done and you love the concept for yourself? Maybe it is something I haven’t asked here, and you wish to inquire about making your ideas come to life in captured images by me?
When I contact you about a shoot, it’s because I have seen a vision of you in my head that I want to capture, and it then becomes a process of you telling me no, telling me yes, or working through details that match your expectation and comfort level and seeing how this will work. That last part holds true for both approaches, YOUR session is always about YOU, and your comfort level, and there will always be details to work through.
In both approaches, your comfort level is important, but it is my job to suggest ideas around the concept to help you see yourself in varying ways, ways you may not see yourself, ways you may not be comfortable seeing yourself, ways in which you would love to see yourself, ways in which you feel may be cliche, and ways in which make you think I have bumped my head. It is my job to capture you, authentically, in a safe environment, in a loving environment, in an objective environment, and in an environment where you can not only tell me no, but you can tell me hell no. And then we can laugh about it and move on. It is YOUR story, YOUR why, YOUR session. While I am the photographer, you are the client and subject. We are doing this together, for YOU!
I have been told no many times. I have been laughed at many times. I have had a senior look at their mom, with a help me expression, and me ask if they will try anyhow and I can delete it later. I have heard a yes, and a no on those. Sometimes those are the most cherished shots, other times they say please burn that image. I am good either way and take no offense. It is YOUR session.
So, what’s your why? Why are you having a photography session? Does it serve a purpose for business or work, is it for your self esteem, do you need a yearbook picture, or are you marking a moment or milestone with your loved ones? Maybe you just want to see how I would capture you if given free reign? Why do you want to capture this moment? How does that look to you? What is the importance of the image for you? What have you moved through to get you to this moment that you want to step in front of the lens and see reflected at you? In consultation, we discuss the why. Thoroughly. We discuss details, and we work through the information, communication.
I had someone that I have been working on to shoot a concept with me, tell me I did not want to see their ass. This is true, I don’t want to see your ass just because I saw Allia’s. In fact, I was very comfortable seeing Allia’s derrière because she was very comfortable with showing me. We worked on the concept, embracing ideas around it as we shot the session. We talked about it prior, in consultation, so she could have boundaries in place if any aspect was not good for her. It is about YOU and YOUR why.
During your session, I may throw out an idea, see my idea did not work, and I always acknowledge that isn’t about you, but that my idea was not right for you. Other times my client may make a suggestion that I am unsure of but when we work on it together, it produces pure magic. Again, the session is YOURS, and I never lose sight of that. We have the same goal…YOUR why, for YOU.
YOUR why. YOUR session.
My concept, YOUR session.
Either way, it is about YOU.
Now, I will tell you that your session will change your life. It may not be noticed today, or even tomorrow, but stepping in front of my camera will leave you seeing yourself in a different light, and that is all about YOU.
Allia, Studio Transformations
Posted on November 4, 2023
It has been roughly 6 months since I have written a blog post here at The Photographist Life, perhaps you missed me, as I have missed you. The studio has had an upgrade or two, but we’ll talk about that another day. Today is all about Allia.
I have known Allia for many years now, and I have always loved taking her picture. I never thought when I first started shooting her during soccer games, that we would ever get to this moment in time. Life often sets you up with people that will have a big impact on you, and Allia is having a big impact on my life!
Allia is so naturally beautiful. She exudes confidence, and is just the right amount of sassy and sweet. She is always aiming to better herself, takes direction with ease and gives me her best every single time she is in front of my camera. She is amazing to work with, takes honing her craft of modeling seriously, and is eager to learn how to step up her game each session we have. I adore her!
Look at her. Sigh. She is stunning! When I conceptualized this shoot, I had all black and white images in my head, with Allia’s white bodysuit and her black blazer. We aimed to shoot this outfit last session, but honestly, it deserved it’s own set of images, as I am sure you agree. While I was editing, I felt the call to use some color and to tone a few of the images differently. I am a very instinctual with my work from start to finish, and this was very much in keeping with our session that day. Allia and I were so on par, it made us get the giggles at one point, maybe two. Again, she is a joy!!
Same image, it is just desirable to look at either way! Allia has IT, don’t you agree?
In our last session, Allia suggested a pose that she wanted to try, which we both loved. It was the front version of this, in jeans and a black cami, Kim Kardashian inspired she informed me. This is all Allia Hoosier, baby. Strong lines, feminine, sexy, but also high end editorial and evocative in black and white.
This photo. This girl. Allia worked to make this pose happen. She is instinctive in her work, and can show me things I had no idea I wanted to see. She started with a base, took direction. When she put her personality in to this and made some adjustments, I am pretty sure I yelled “THERE!”. Sorry, but who looks that killer in a bodysuit and blazer?? Allia, that’s who.
I am so thankful for this girl, she is always down to try to bend more, reach higher, move here or there, and she does it all with a smile on her face. Allia, my girl, you are not only amazing, you are HER.
Behind the Lens
The Photographist Life 