Ida
Apr, 2017Views
986
Likes
Awards
Top Shot Award
Contest Finalist in Motherhood Photo Contest 2017
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Outstanding Creativity
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Magnificent Capture
All Star
Top Ranks
Top 20 rankTop 20 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 20 rank
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This might surprise you, but this photo was actually taken in my garage in a green and white blow-up kiddie pool! Momma had requested a milk bath for her maternity session, and I knew that I just didn't have the bathtub to do the job. So instead, I bought a giant 10 foot pool and filled it with powdered milk to create this stunning image of a gorgeous mom-to-be!Time
We shot in the middle of the day, not that it really mattered because I had the garage door shut and an artificial light source to use. I guess what mattered is that we shot right before her older son's nap-time, so he was there and ready to help keep the flowers afloat as needed.Lighting
I was concerned that we wouldn't have enough light, but I didn't want to open up the garage and suffer from a blown-out or washed out image. So what I did instead was set up my backdrop stand and drape a muslin sheet over. I then placed an Alienbee light behind the sheet and turned it into a giant softbox, which gave a nice warm and even light to the images. I was very impressed with my creativity!Equipment
I really with I had taken a pull-back shot of this set up, as it looked ridiculous and even my husband was skeptical of how they would turn out. With the blow-up kiddy pool draped with a cream colored bedsheet to hid the green sides, filled with that delicious childhood scented powdered milk, on a concrete slab garage floor next to a homemade muslin softbox......it was quite the "picture". To complete the set up, add a paint splattered foot stool because I'm too short to get high enough clearance for an overhead shot. Then between shots, I had to hurry and refloat the flowers that had sunk! It was a process, but my trusty Nikoin D810 and versatile kit 18-55mm did the trick!Inspiration
Ida is a beautiful woman from Gambia, and I had worked with her previously for a modeling session. When she found out she was pregnant with her second, she contacted me and asked if I would be willing to do a milk bath maternity session with her. I wasn't sure how I would accomplish this, because I didn't have a good tub for the job, but after a few weeks of thinking and asking around, I settled on the blow-up pool! Ida really wanted a milk bath because she thought it would look beautiful with her dark skin, and she was right! The colors of the milk and soft pink flowers (in honor of her baby girl!) complimented her gorgeous skin tone to perfection.Editing
As it was taken in a green sided pool, I did have to do a little touching up in photoshop. Not much, mostly just cloning and patching away the green with what was already in the image. The pool was big enough that there wasn't much to fix, and the lighting was practically perfect in camera. That doesn't happen often, but when it does, it is amazing!In my camera bag
I travel light and simple: my Nikon D810, my 85 and 35mm lenses, my flash, and my trusty versatile reflector. That's all this gal usually needs! This time though I had to pull out he 18-55mm because I can only stretch so high on my tippy toes, and like I mentioned earlier.....the pool and the muslin and the Alienbee!Feedback
Sometimes the perfect shot has a less than perfect scene. I've learned how to get very creative on a limited budget, and how to transform the mundane into the spectacular. Don't get discouraged because you don't have all the fancy bells and whistles other photographers might have. To be a real artist takes skill, not fancy equipment. There were several jaw drops when I mentioned this was done in a kiddie pool in my garage. You just need to think outside the box and not be afraid to make a mess! And we sure made a mess, which is why I'm glad it rained afterwards! A few tips: use real flowers, fake ones sink. Try to find a white blow-up pool, less editing out color in post. Use warm water! And try to be as directly above your subject as possible, it makes the angle look more flattering. Good luck!
