Miss Amaya
Nov, 2014Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at a client's house for her child's first birthday. I had done a shoot with her previously when she was 6 months old, so it was exciting to be hired to capture her first birthday.Time
I captured this moment at about 3pm on a Saturday in September, 2014. The weather was absolutely perfect - a typical spring day in Australia with clear skies and a lovely temperature.Lighting
We set the chair and Amaya up on the back verandah, which with the afternoon sun, made for some really lovely soft, natural lighting - perfect for getting those vibrant colours to pop.Equipment
I handheld my Canon 6D camera with my Sigma 24-70mm lens using a Kenko UV filter.Inspiration
I love photographing children. Their faces contain so much joy and wonder, yet somehow, their eyes contain all the wisdom of the world. Amazingly enough, Amaya hadn't had her afternoon sleep and still managed to pull it off! Apparently, this pose she is doing is a pose her mother taught her. She wasn't playing the game until another party guest came out of the door behind me and BAM! It was posing time!Editing
When I first opened this file I knew it would be a great image, but it needed some work done. We had set up the chair in the corner of the verandah, which looked great. However, the corner of the walls and floor was clearly visible along with some cracks and imperfections. So I set to work in Photoshop and stamped over the offending areas. I then used MCP Actions Inspire set (Brilliant Base, Denim & Pearls, Custom Edge Burn & Perfect Print Sharp) to create an image that my husband says, looks like it was taken in a studio.In my camera bag
I always, always pack my completely fantastic Sigma 70-200mm lens. I LOVE that lens!!! I also pack my other two favourite lenses - my Sigma 24-70mm and my Canon 100mm macro (so good!). All of my lenses have UV filters attached. My Canon Speedlite 430EX II is also always packed for the ride. I always have at least two other camera batteries and multiple 16GB SD cards - you can never have too many - along with about 8 or so Eneloop AA batteries to keep my flash going. I also pack my seldom used, but extremely handy, Vanguard tripod.Feedback
Be patient. Children, especially young children, can be hard to pose - especially when they haven't had their afternoon nap! But if you are patient with them and get them excited or involved, it can be a fun experience for them and you'll get the photos you're after. I didn't ask Amaya to pose this way, nor was her mother there directing her movements - it's just a pose she learnt and has now become part of her personality. That's what I believe portrait photography should be about - the clients personally shining through.
