mariannedixey

untitled

Canon EOS REBEL T3i

settings

Aperture f/4.5 ISO 160 Shutter 1/100 Focal Length 11/1

upload_date

Sep, 2015

Views

1054

Likes

+106

Awards

Contest Finalist in Pregnancy Photo Contest

Great Shot

Superb Composition

+14

Peer Award

+14

Top Choice

Absolute Masterpiece

Outstanding Creativity

Superior Skill

Virtuoso

Genius

Magnificent Capture

All Star

Emotions

Impressed

Happy

Top Ranks

Top 20 rank

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 20 rank

Top 20 rank week 3

Top 20 rank week 2

Top 20 rank week 1

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 10 rank

Top 30 rank week 2

Top 20 rank week 1

Top 30 rank week 1

Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken in the clients home in Oakland, CA. She was about a week from her due date, nearly ready to pop, and not feeling her best; so we decided to start in a warm bath so she would be comfortable. It turned out to be a fantastic option because the lighting and tile in the bathroom really made the photos pop and my client was warm and comfortable!

Time

If I remember correctly, this was taken in the afternoon, sometime around 1 or 2. Their apartment had so much beautiful light, it was almost too hard to choose where we wanted to start! It was a nice sunny early August day so the room and my subject were both glowing.

Lighting

Every photographer nearly has a heart attack if they have to shoot in harsh light; not me. I almost prefer harsh light sometimes, because it gives me the opportunity to play with the photos a bit more in post processing. I actually recommend shooting in harsh light, especially if you're shooting indoors. The way the light becomes diffused through the windows adds an extra pop.

Equipment

This particular image was shot using a Canon t3i and a Sigma 10-20mm wide angle lens with natural light. No other equipment was used.

Inspiration

This was from the first maternity shoot I ever did; I wanted to truly capture the beauty and happiness that comes with being a new mother. I lost my mom at an early age to cancer, and I like imagining that she was as happy as my subject while she was pregnant with me. Even though my subject was not feeling her best that day, I knew she would appreciate the silly jokes I was telling to get this reaction from her. I feel so lucky to be able to share my creative eye with a first-time mother and I know she will cherish these photos forever.

Editing

I didn't have to do much! My client was extremely photogenic and the lighting and color in the bathroom was spot on, so there really wasn't much for me to do! I turned down the shadows and bumped the highlights a bit to ensure the subject was the main focus of the picture (not that beautiful bathroom tile). At this point in my career though, I would have definitely taken out the shower head and shampoo rack because I think they're a little distracting.

In my camera bag

I'm a little bipolar when it comes to camera gear. I shot professionally with a crop censor (Canon t3i) for the first 3 years and only recently upgraded to the 5dmkii; so I have a strong relationship with both of my girls. Currently, I'm traveling the country and I have both of those cameras with me! On the t3i I use a Sigma 10-20mm wide angle, which is perfect for landscapes and sunsets (my favorite!). I have the 5dmkii with a fixed Canon 35mm 2.0 as well as a Yongnuo 50mm 1.8 (the TRUE nifty fifty). All of my lenses were hand-me-downs except my 50mm; which was a surprising fifty buckaroos, and quite possibly the best $50 I have ever spent in my life! All three of my lenses and both of my cameras are equally as important to me because I use them all for different things. For details, I like the 50mm. For lifestyle, street, and candid photos I prefer my 35mm; and as I stated above, my t3i and Sigma wide angle for landscapes and sunsets.

Feedback

I'm primarily a boudoir photographer, so when I get to mix boudoir and maternity together, I'm a happy gal. One of my favorite tools in boudoir (and maternity alike) is my wide angle lens. Unfortunately a lot of women are uncomfortable in their own skin, or don't feel confident for one reason or another; we are our own worst critics. To combat that evil voice inside people's heads, I have my Sigma 10-20mm. I got the idea from my sister using it for nightlife photography, after seeing a photo she took of me and thinking to myself "Wow!! I look so thin!". If used correctly, the wide angle can enlongate the subject's body in the perfect way. After shooting a few images and showing them to the client you can almost immediately see a difference in how they feel, and their comfort and confidence levels rise. People don't often recommend wide angle lenses for anything other than landscape, but it has been one of my favorite pieces of equipment in my journey of boudoir and maternity photography. I also exclusively shoot in natural light. It can be anytime during the day and I would prefer it over studio lighting, hands down. My biggest preference is shooting a person in their natural state. I want to help people realize they don't need a big production in order to feel like a model, because I believe everyone is a model in their own way. Natural lighting and natural settings really help make the subject's personality shine through, opposed to calculated lighting and poses from a magazine.

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Behind The Lens

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