jmphotgraphy
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken on a chilly, windy March day at a beautiful local park. As a lifestyle photographer, I love capturing those secret hidden moments that most parents miss as they prepare for the big family shot! Kids always give the most amazing candid shots when they think no one is looking!Time
This was taken smack dab in the middle of the afternoon - around 2:30pm. Normally I would avoid any mid afternoon shoot due to the harsh lighting - but the day was perfectly cloudy so we decided to go for it!Lighting
It was a perfectly overcast day. I find cloudy days capture the most beautiful tones and colours, and also enables me to shoot in any location without worry of harsh shadows and sun spots. Cloudy days are my favorite!Equipment
This was shot on a crop (gasp, I know!) Nikon D7200, with the Nikon 85mm lens. No other equipment needed! I often see photographers judged by their cameras - with the thought that only full frame cameras should be used by professionals. I believe the absolute best gear is the gear you own! You can take spectacular photographs with just about any camera, as long as you know how to use it (but a great lens definitely helps!).Inspiration
Its all about those sweet spots during any given shoot, where your clients may be a bit preoccupied. Those genuine moments, smiles and laughs! I love being a fly on the wall as much as possible, so I can watch my families interact in the most natural way. This little guy was snuggling in a blanket to keep cozy, and he found me crawling on the ground taking photos quite amusing!Editing
I love incorporating dark, moody editing into my post processing. The balance of light and shadows, the colours and tones - all of it. I feel it brings emotion to the photo. When I look at this one, I can still feel the cold chill in the air! I mostly hand edit in Lightroom, bringing the photo into Photoshop for sharpening as a last step before export.In my camera bag
I like to carry all my gear with me - you never know when you'll need it! I like to cover focal lengths from 35mm - 200mm via a variety of quality glass. I also pack my speedlights, spare batteries (lots!) And various other items like lens buddies to get the attention of kids. If it's a big shoot, I'll pack a spare body, as well as my triggers, a easily collapsible soft box and light stand, cause you never know what kind of light you'll need!Feedback
Get on the ground! I spend most of my shots crawling about at ground level, especially when shooting kids. Bonus - they find it hilarious and so do the parents! Position yourself for the best angle, but more importantly be ready for every moment. You never know when that perfect expression will come, and sometimes you dont realize you got it until you're ready to cull through your session photos! I love depth of field - so I try to always shoot as close to wide open as possible to allow for some beautiful bokeh. It focuses the eye on the subject and really helps it to pop!