I read something like this on a fellow photographer’s blog a while ago…and thought it might be a good idea to detail out how my sessions go, a little bit how I photograph!

My portraits my not look like the formal family portraits we all grew up with over the years. I do pride myself on creating something different that captures my clients being themselves! My clients are usually looking for something a little different, stylish and more contemporary than what many “traditional” photographers offer. The following descriptions explain some of the things you may notice in my portfolio.

That being said, there are some things you may notice when looking at my work that is different from what you might be accustomed to…

“Tight Crops” – This means super close close-ups where often the face fills most of the frame of the image. These images are about the eyes, and often the top of the head is not included in the image. I meant to do that!

“No Cheesy Grins”- Our moms always told us to “smile for the camera”…and that it wasn’t a good photo unless we had a big smile. That really isn’t true. I love a pensive look as much as a big grin. I’ll even capture that big ole pout and even the occasional tear! I meant to do that!

“A Little Negative” – Negative space is when the subject is placed off to the side of an image and the rest of the image is empty—this is done for artistic impact. I meant to do that!

“Left of Center”- The most boring position for a subject in a photograph is smack dab in the middle! I know, again, that isn’t what we were taught.  There is something in design called the Rule of Thirds that we photographers often employ to enhance visual interest.

The rule states that an image can be divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines (like a tic-tac-toe board). The four points formed by the intersections of these lines can be used to align features in the photograph. Aligning a photograph with these points creates more tension, energy and interest in the photo than simply centering the feature would.

Still not sure…trust me, your child does not need to be right in the center of an image for it to be a good portrait! I meant to do that!

“The Light in the Eyes” One of the most important characteristics of good portrait photography is good lighting. One of the markers for good lighting is something called a “catchlight,” – a reflection of light in the eyes. I love big catchlights! Flip through any parenting or glamour magazine and look at the eyes, you’ll see big bright catchlights! A lack of catchlights leaves the eyes looking flat, dull and lifeless. I meant to to put those big ole lights in the subject’s eyes!!

So as you look through my sneak peeks and portfolio…and you wonder “why did she do that” - just remember - “I meant to do that”!

Have a great weekend!