Behind the Lens | Editing Without Actions and Before/After Comparisons

I've already explored the importance of finding a photographer whose editing style you love, and how vastly one photographer's finished product can vary from another's, even when the starting point is the exact same SOOC (straight-out-of-camera) photo. You can find that post here. Today I wanted to share a few of my before and after comparisons with you and give you a glimpse into my editing style, and how it has evolved and come into its own recently.

If you're into photography, you've likely heard of Photoshop Actions or Lightroom Presets being sold, individually or in sets, to facilitate post production. Essentially, a series of actions in an editing program is recorded to then be reused on multiple images. Some are basic and do simple things like boost exposure and sharpen up the image. Some are more creative and add colour casts, grain, haze, heavy contrast, etc. The really great thing about actions and presets is that they can be a quick and simple way to really transform an image. They're also great for achieving a certain look that you may not know how to recreate on your own (Photoshop can be complicated, to say the least!). It's also great to have consistency in your work, and if you find an action (or a series of actions) that you love, it can help you develop an editing style that is unique and recognizable.

I first discovered the world of actions for myself last Spring. I've always been really picky about the look I want my photos to have, so I set out to find a handful of simple actions that enhanced my images without totally transforming them. I eventually found an editing groove and applied the same editing technique to almost all of my images. I would use actions on low opacity so as to not create an over-processed look and make sure I stayed true to the essence of the photo when it was taken, which is important to me.

The thing with actions, at least for me, is that you grow tired of them. Lucky for all of us, photographers are always putting out new action sets to keep up with the demand and the newest editing trends. But in my case, I wanted more than just new actions. I wanted to know how to create the look I wanted myself. I longed for complete creative control over my images. Essentially, I wanted to make my own actions. So I used the slower season (January-March for me) to really explore what I want to achieve with my editing and how I could get there. I researched, found tutorials online, and did a lot of trial and error. Photoshop curves became my best friend. I figured out how to add just a touch of a hazy matte finish while still keeping the image fresh, clean and timeless.  In short, I figured out what I wanted to achieve with my images, and how to achieve it on my own. It's been fun, liberating and so empowering to ditch my actions and just edit the way I want to edit. I still have so much to learn about Photoshop, but it's been so exciting to have a few "Aha!" moments in the past few months. We truly are always learning.

I thought I'd share a few before and after comparisons for you. It's important for me to try and nail the shot in-camera as much as possible, and to do as little "fixing" in post-processing as possible.  That said, sometimes I intentionally underexpose to hold on to details in the sky or light, and sometimes I just plain old forget to adjust my settings until I'm a couple of clicks into a new shooting situation. This is why I always shoot RAW.  The photos below are all hand-edits and have all undergone essentially the same action-free processing. I want my final image to stay true to the original colours and mood of the photograph. If it was a dark, gloomy, sunless day, then I'm going to embrace that... I won't be adding a fake blue sky or throwing in some artificial sunflare. As much as I love me some golden sunlight, it's gotta be real for this girl. That said, if there's some dreamy, delicious sun, then I want to enhance it and allow it to set the tone for the image. I like my images to have a touch of matte haze to them, but just a touch. I also like to bring out the deeper tones, but I'm not about overly contrasted images. I like my photos soft but bright, fresh but hazy. Does that make any sense at all? I suppose the good thing about figuring out my own processing is that I can take all of my crazy non-coherent thoughts and work toward getting the result I want.

My style is certainly not for everyone, which is why, as I said at the beginning of this post, it's important to find a photographer whose style is a good fit for you. And just in case anyone reading this has been lead to believe that I am anti-action, let me clarify. I loved actions while I used them, and some of my favourite photographers use actions and presets regularly. The important thing, I think, is to do what works for you. And because I am the kind of person who'd rather bake the bread than go to the finest bakery, this was the right path for me to take. And it's a path that has made editing go from a tiresome task to an art form that fulfills my need to create - a MAJOR bonus, since editing is a HUGE part of my life!

-xo

Behind the Lens | FAQ

This post has been brewing for awhile now, ever since I started receiving "frequently asked questions" through the RFP Facebook page. The first time a message came in from an aspiring photographer loaded questions and requests for advice and critique, I was a little shocked and extremely flattered. And not in a fake-humility, "awww, shucks, stop it" kind of way. I was genuinely surprised, and even more so when they kept coming in. As I go into my fourth year of business, even with lots of learning experiences under my belt, I still feel like I have so much to learn. So it's a very strange experience to be approached by a handful of people who apparently look up to me. I'm honoured, of course, but it all feels a little unbelievable. Just to clarify, I am definitely not an expert.  There were some key people who really helped me along in my photography journey, answered my countless questions, encouraged me and helped build my confidence, and I will be forever grateful to them. So consider this a combined effort to both pay it forward to those just starting out by answering some frequently asked questions, as well as a place for me to compile these answers for future use! I'm also using this as an excuse to share a bit more about myself by answering some not-so-frequently asked questions! Not-So-Frequently Asked Questions:

Before jumping into the nitty gritty, I figured I'd tell you a bit more about myself with the help of this charming  list of 10 unsolicited random facts about me (you're welcome).

1. I love lists. Grocery lists. To-Do lists. Goal lists. And yes, self-indulgent personal lists like this little gem right here! You know those group ice breakers that most people hate where everyone gets handed a paper and is asked to write three random facts about themselves? Yeah, I love those.
2. When I was little, I always wanted to teach young children (except for that brief period when I randomly wanted to be a figure skater). I studied Early Childhood Education at Canadore College and St-Lawrence College and studied Inclusive Education at McGill University before working as an ECE for 6 mostly-wonderful, occasionally-stressful, glitter-filled years. I loved it.
3. When I was in grade 3, I inherited my first film camera. I  brought it to school and photographed my friends at recess. I was hooked. I still have those photos, and this was the start of a lifelong passion for photography and life documentation. In highschool, I was the annoying girl who made everyone stop and take a picture. I  remember agonizing during the 3-4 days it took for my film to get developed, and if my mom forgot to pick up my printed photos on her way home from work when they were finally ready, well... it basically felt like my life was over (hooray for teenage angst!). When I got my first digital point and shoot as a highschool graduation gift, I just about lost my mind with excitement. And the rest, as they say, is history.
4. I got married at 19. I started my business at 23. I had my baby at 24. People have called me an old-soul, and I think they're right. My biggest dream has always been to marry my best friend, start a family and live happily every after (my apologies to Feminists everywhere). At 26, I'm going on 7 years of marriage and spend my days with an adorable 19 month old that just happens to be all mine while running my own business, which I happen to be over-the-moon-passionate about.
5. I am sometimes often almost always running a little late. It's never my fault though. Promise. ;) (amazingly I somehow have the ability to show up on time for clients. phew.)
6. I am addicted to delicious, freshly-ground, black coffee. If I'm treating myself to Starbucks, it's an extra-hot cappucino for this girl. Enjoying coffee and conversation is probably one of my favourite things to do.
7. I am not a big movie-goer. And if I do watch movies, it's got to be romantic, hilarious, or both. No dying, no blood, no explosions, no stress - unless it's the kind of stress where everything gets resolved and everyone lives happily ever after. I'm still not over Titanic. For real.
8. I am French-Canadian. I grew up speaking French at home, married a French boy and now speak French to my daughter. I spent the first 10 years of my life in Northern Ontario and the following 10 in Montreal, Quebec before coming to settle here in London, Ontario.
9. I love single-camera tv comedies and get weirdly attached to fictional characters. I collect all the seasons and can rewatch them anytime, like a 3-year-old who can watch the same movie over and over again. The Office, Parks and Rec and New Girl are up there at the top of my must watch (and re-watch, and re-watch) list. I realize this makes me sound like a dork- I kind of am.
10. I have a serious muffin addiction. I love baking in general, but muffins are a passion...or a problem, depending on how you look at it!

Fascinating stuff, right? And now for....

The Actual Frequently Asked (photography-related) Questions

1. How did you get started in photography? >> I always had a passion for photography. I always carried a camera with me everywhere I went. Around 2008 I started trying to get artsy with my Sony point-and-shoot and delighted bombarded friends and family on Facebook with album after album of artsy closeups of tree branches and flower petals. When my friend asked me to take some photos of her baby, I was terrified and excited. I showed up with my camera, a wicker laundry basket, some blankets and a makeshift backdrop and experimented. I will forever be grateful to this friend for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I was officially hooked with photographing people and knew that I wanted to do this for the rest of my life. I invested in a second-hand entry-level DSLR and I started putting myself out there and offering to take photos for family and friends for free to gain experience. I second shot a wedding for free and loved it. I started reading everything photography-related I could get my hands on and scouring the internet for tutorials, detailed explanations and tips on mastering my camera. I contacted my own wedding photographer back in Montreal and asked for her advice (Thanks for believing in me and being so awesome, Sophie!). When I felt I had a nice little portfolio going, I started charging $50 for family sessions, and only progressively increased my pricing when I felt that my experience, talent and product justified it. Around that time, a good friend and business/web guru offered to put a website together for me and helped me with a business plan, branding, marketing ideas, business advice and spent hours helping me get started. If it wasn't for his kindness and expertise, I honestly don't know if I would be where I am today. I have a lot to be thankful for, and I had a lot of support getting started. I officially launched my business in January 2010 as an on-the-side venture as I continued my full-time job in early childhood education. After I had my baby, I chose to stay home and pursue photography full time. And now here we are!
2. What do you use to edit your photos? Do you use actions? If so which ones?>> I use Aperture (for Mac) to edit my RAW files and then export them to Photoshop to polish em' up. Aperture does what I need it to do, but I am actively looking into other more user-friendly, efficient programs in which to manipulate my RAW files. So at this point I wouldn't specifically recommend Aperture as a program that I love, but it certainly does what it needs to do. I strive to take a good photo straight-out-of-camera (SOOC), so that all I have to do is sharpen it up and tweak exposure, levels, and white balance in Aperture before sending the image to Photoshop. The nice thing about shooting RAW (as opposed to JPEG) is that if your SOOC is less than perfect, you can usually save the image. For a long time I didn't use actions in Photoshop. My editing style is clean and natural with a bit of haze, and my personal opinion on some actions out there (not all) is that they can leave images looking over-edited, especially when they aren't used properly. That said, there are some amazing action sets put out there by some fabulous photographers and, when used well, they can beautifully transform your images. Many of my favourite photographers regularly use purchased actions, and their work is unbelievably amazing. Do whatever works for you! I experimented for about 6 months with a few free actions from The Coffee Shop Blog, My Four Hens, and some affordable and amazing actions from Jordan Voth. Some of my favourite images have been edited with these actions, and using them actually helped me learn what I could - and wanted to - achieve in Photoshop. That said, I have recently decided to stop using actions and develop my own editing process in Photoshop to truly reflect my style and to give me complete control over my finished product. I always start with some curve and level adjustments, and then add a few custom adjustment layers to achieve a consistent look with all my photos. It's pretty minimal - clean, fresh and definitely my style.
3. What types of lenses do you use?>> I favour prime lenses. When I first started using my (Canon) 50mm 1.8, it totally rocked my world, and really helped me come into my own photography style. I now exclusively shoot with prime lenses. Currently I almost always use my 50mm 1.4. I also have an 85mm 1.8 and a 35mm 2.0 in my bag that I use as needed. The 35 is great for lifestyle photography when you are in tight spaces, or when you want to tell the "whole story" of a scene. It's also great for large group shots. The 85 produces some really delicious bokeh, and I really should use it more. My goal is to upgrade to L-series lenses soon.
4. Canon or Nikon?>> Canon, but only because the first DSLR I purchased was a Canon. I've never used a Nikon. I know so many photographers who swear by one company or the other. I have no complaints with Canon and don't foresee a switch in my future. But honestly, you'll do just fine with either or!
5. What camera do you use? /  What camera did you start out with? >> I started with a gently used Canon Rebel XT. And it served me really well. It was great for building my portfolio and learning everything I needed to know. When I got serious about turning my passion into a business, I upgraded to a Canon 50D, which is a cropped sensor, mid-range DSLR. It was an amazing camera, great for transitioning out of my beginner phase without having to spend the big bucks for a full frame camera just yet. I had some good times with the ol' 50D, and still keep it as a backup. I now shoot with a Canon 5D Mark ii, and while I love love love it, I've heard wonderful things about the Mark iii (like the superior focusing system), and I am now itching to upgrade again soon!
6. How do you get that golden light in your pictures?>> For me, it's all about time of day. There are actions you can buy to add artificial sunflare to your images, but that's just not my thing. I'm all about capturing real, natural light. 1-2 hours after sunrise and before sunset is my favourite time to shoot, and other than weddings, it's now the only time I will shoot. That's when the sun dips down and that warm, delicious, hazy, flattering "golden hour" light comes out to play (unless it's really overcast, in which case you make the best of it without the magic light!). I prefer to shoot my subjects backlit, which gives them that haze and glow. I don't shoot during midday, because the light is harsh and heavily contrasted, and not at all flattering. Clients might think a 2pm time slot is more convenient for them, but I always assure them that the light is infinitely more flattering during "golden hour". There are certainly ways to make midday light work (open shade is your best friend at that time!), but I choose to schedule my shoots around the best light that produces the kind of results that I love.
7. How do you get your pictures to look so sharp?>> This one always surprises me. I don't know exactly... proper focus is important, and a stable stance. A good rule of thumb to avoid any camera shake or blur is not to lower your shutter speed below your focal length number (so when shooting at 50mm, try not to go slower than 1/50, and if you do, use a tripod or try and stabilize your body as much as possible). I also find prime lenses to be fast and sharp. When displaying my photos on the Web, I size them accordingly for either Facebook or my blog, and do a touch of sharpening in Photoshop.
8. How do you manage to get work done and still care for a toddler everyday?>> Haha - that's a good question! Some days I'd tell you that I simply don't. Like every step of my photography journey, it's been a learn-as-you-go trial and error sort of thing. Ultimately, I've learned three things. First of all, I am a maman before a photographer. I love my work as a photographer, but I am always a maman first. That means that if my girl is having a really hard day (I'm looking at you, molars), sometimes my to-do list is left untouched. The perfectionist in me has had to come to terms with that reality. Secondly, I've learned to design my living and working space to be functional for our lifestyle. That meant turning the spare bedroom into a main-floor office/play room, where I can do a bit of work at the computer while my girl plays/colours/looks at books/has a snack in the same room, with the option to close the door if needed. Finally, I've learned the importance of scheduling my work. I now know how much office work/playroom time I can realistically schedule per day before my daughter starts getting restless. I also choose to spend nap time getting work done and pay for a few hours per week (one morning) of childcare close to home. In an effort to spend as much evening/weekend time with my husband as possible, I've also had to schedule which evenings I am going to dedicate to work and which evenings are to be work-free. On weekends, in addition to shooting sessions, I usually schedule 2-5 hours at some point where I lock myself up in the office. These are also special papa/bebe fun time bonding hours, so it's a win-win-win. :) I do what works for us, and what allows me to be present with my girl as much as possible. It's not always easy (it's never easy), and some days the editing piles up and the toddler is cranky and the maman in discouraged. But at the end of the day, I remind myself that I am fulfilling two of my greatest ambitions - to be a stay at home maman to a beautiful little girl and to be turning my passion into a career. So we do our best and tweak as we go!

Ok - that's all I've got for now.

xo

Behind the Lens | Growth

If you're a photographer, then I'm sure you've found yourself caught between "wow, look how far I've come" and "I'll never be as good as -fill in the blank-". We're always progressing and growing, and yet it's so easy to look at those who inspire us and let admiration turn to self-criticism. As a self-taught photographer, I have always strived to continually grow and learn, try new things, seek advice and critique, improve, and work hard to be able to produce the images I saw in my head. I set out to learn how to really use my camera and made it my mission to understand the variances between the light at different times of day, the intricate components of perfect exposure and how to process an image without compromising its integrity. It's always been hard not to let self-doubt creep up on me, and oh - how I've often wished I had a framed degree on the wall that could justify to myself - and to others - that I was, indeed, a photographer. But I have continued to push forward, to grow. And now when I look back on my early work, in addition to cringing a little, I can't help but smile at how far I've come. I certainly have not "arrived" - and I hope I never do. The journey continues and there is much growing left to do. But it certainly is encouraging to see progress in my photography.

This collage was put together to illustrate just what a difference two years of learning, searching, trying, failing, asking and growing can make. When you simply let time pass, nothing happens. But when you actively seek to improve and learn, time can be a powerful tool. That bottom row does not represent perfection, but for me, it represents growth.

To photographers just starting out: I often get messages from photographers just starting their journey asking for advice and critique. I am always so astounded, because it's crazy to think that I can be an inspiration to someone else, but I am also always so touched and honoured. And I do try and respond to as many messages as I can! To all those photographers out there doubting whether or not you'll ever achieve your goals, look at the comparison above and take heart. Time and practice really is a winning formula. Don't give up. Keep trying. Keep growing. Don't ever get too comfortable, and don't ever stop chasing that perfect light, emotion and technique that will take your photography to the next level. I know I won't!

To my clients: Thank you. Thank you for believing in me as I learn and grow. Stick with me and I promise next year your photos will be even better. To the Charlebois family pictured above, thank you for your loyalty and your support when I was just starting out. And thank you for coming back to see me.

To photography enthusiasts: The two sessions above were both shot with a "fancy camera". A good photograph doesn't come from a good camera, it comes from a good photographer. It comes from time spent learning, it comes from an understanding of technique, light, composition, exposure, posing and post-processing. I still love those first images I took. But when I look back on them, I am able to identify many areas that needed improvement. Even though they were taken with an impressive piece of equipment. Just like two years from now, I'm sure I will look back on my work and see how far I'll have come. Please remember that the camera does not make the photographer. Look beyond the equipment.

To everyone: Let's always remember to celebrate our small victories, our improvements, our successes. Let's always keep pressing forward, never giving up on our dreams, and not allowing someone's else's perceived success to become our failure*. It's been said that comparison is the thief of joy*, and this is SO true. Let's be happy with how far we've come without being complacent, and let's admire the talent around us without being self-critical. Deal?

xo

*These are my fragmented versions of two inspirational quotes I've heard in the past. I have no idea who said them, but didn't want to take credit for clever wording that isn't mine!

Behind the Lens | Choosing Light Over Background

When I was first starting out as a photographer, one of my biggest "mistakes", if we can call it that, was focusing almost entirely on the background, and not nearly enough on the light. I would try and scope out the coolest locations with the most interesting backgrounds - an old building, a barn, a wild field, etc. I would then always position my subjects in front of these great backgrounds, but I was often disappointed with my results. I've since learned that light is almost everything, and that perfect light makes the shot, not a perfect backdrop. I've really found my style as a photographer, which is essentially to capture light (specifically, backlight)and emotion. Perfect backdrops are a bonus, but are not essential. Not to me, anyways. Being an on location photographer, the backdrop is always different, and the light is always in a different spot. While everyone has their own shooting style and positions their subjects accordingly, my shooting style is to almost always backlight my subjects. On overcast days, this is less important, but when the skies are clear and the sun is shining, the time of day and how you position yourself and your subject makes a huge difference. Huge. I always plan my sessions around the location of the sun. With locations that I use more regularly, the end result of a sunrise session will be completely different from the end result of a sunset session. The location is the same, but the sun is in a totally different spot. Sometimes this means forgetting the prettier background and opting for something more unexpected... but with gorgeous light. Again, every photographer is different. Some prefer shooting front-lit subjects. Some don't care. Some prefer to always shoot in shade. And you can most certainly create stunning photographs in any lighting condition with the right approach. But as for me, creamy, delicious backlight almost always wins. And on rare occasions, this has even caused me to disregard otherwise "pretty" locations when the light is blocked or when I simply can't work with the background in the direction I need.

Below are a few examples of times where I've chosen light over background and positioned my subjects accordingly.

While walking around downtown with this cute couple, we stumbled upon this cool empty parking lot. I really wanted to shoot them with the neat brick building (behind me) in the background, but that golden sun peeking through those houses was calling my name. I think I even said out loud "argh I wish the sun was on the other side of this parking lot!"  - but we went ahead with it, and these shots turned out to be some of my favourites from the entire engagement session. In retrospect, those houses looked kind of cool. But in the moment, had it not been for the light factor, I would have never positioned my subjects this way. I was especially not a fan of the parked cars (which I opted not to try and photoshop out because of their tricky position). But in the end I am so glad I chose light over background.

This pumpkin patch was a location I had initially scouted for an evening session, when the sun would be setting on the other side of the field, with no houses or buildings in sight. Because this was a sunrise session, I positioned my subjects to be backlit, which meant there were rooftops and buildings in the backdrop. Of course I did my best with strategic positioning and angling and cropping to make these signs of the city less visible, but they definitely made it into the photos. In the top photo, you can see posts on the left and a house on the right. In the bottom left photo, tall buildings in the far left, and in the bottom right photo, a hint of a rooftop. While the logistics of this session were tricky (these photos don't do justice to just how many homes and buildings are behind and to the camera right of the subjects), in the end I loved how this session turned out. The light was warm and soft and delicious - just the way I like it!

I'd been wanting to shoot at this abandoned highway-side diner for so long, but I had always envisioned shooting in the other direction, with the actual building behind my subjects. When I arrived and realized that the sun was setting on the other side of the highway, I was so disappointed. But we rolled with it, and I love love love the results. Sure, I had to photoshop out a few passing cars, and the actual dinner didn't make it into the photos, but the light was perfect that night, and I'm so glad I was able to capture it!

While the background in this photo isn't too bad, you can definitely see some buildings in the background, and it's certainly not a spot I would have chosen had it not been for the light. This was actually a patch of grass/trees along the parking lot of a university building. Certainly not scenic or rustic, per se, but that sun was right there, and I'm so glad we grabbed a few shots in this spot!

There is nothing wrong with this background. But again, it's a spot I never would have chosen in the context of the large park we were shooting in. I was focused on a lovely wooden pedestrian bridge and a tree lined pathway. And had I not been looking for light, this little patch of snow with golden sun rays would have gone completely unnoticed. But when I saw how the light was shining through those trees, I brought this family away from the bridge, laid a quilt down (hint: with a tarp under, so no one had a wet bottom when they stood up!) and took my favourite shot of the whole session.

Just a few examples for you. I suppose the point behind this post is to simply share a valuable lesson I've learned as a photographer, that delicious light doesn't (usually) just appear out of nowhere and beautifully grace your perfect shooting location. Sometimes (often) you have to be more intentional about seeking out a location with really great light if this is something that is important to you. Something that really helps me once I've scouted a few new locations (because my sense of direction is no good on the spot!) is to go home and look those locations up on google maps to see where east/west is, and whether this location would be better suited for a sunrise or sunset session (or none at all) based on the background that I'd be working with at specific times.

Happy shooting, friends! :)

xo!

Behind the Lens | Best of 2012

I can't believe it's 8pm on New Year's Eve... another year is just about behind us, and boy what a year it has been! My first full year as a mama, an amazing year for my business, and a year that has been full to the brim with learning experiences (both easy and hard), moments of intense gratitude and a newfound enjoyment of life's simplicities. It's been amazing to sift through all of 2012's photos and reflect on my growth as a photographer. It was so hard to narrow down a "best of" list, because every single session, every photo I've taken of my own family, holds a special place in my heart. Each and every time I pick up my camera, I learn something new about myself, about photography, about the type of photographer I aspire to be. But that said, there are definitely the standouts - those photographs that really make my heart skip a beat when I see them, either because they are simply one of my favourite photos, or because they represent a goal achieved, a milestone reached, an artistic lightbulb that suddenly went on, or an area of growth in my photography journey. Here are some favourites from 2012. I considered writing a piece about why each one was chosen (the writer in my was a little giddy at the thought), but I thought I'd just let the photos speak for themselves. Remember, these aren't my favourite sessions, or my favourite clients (I love you all... for real), but some favourite photographs. (psst... the last ones are my favourites of my girl...). A big thank you to each and every client, friend and family member that has been a part of this journey. To everyone who referred me to a friend, to every loyal client who trusted me once again with capturing their family's special moments, to my photographer friends who have given me advice, encouragement and listened to me vent my joys and frustrations, to my husband who has been so supportive and encouraging this year, like every year, as I pushed myself to reach higher, dream bigger and work harder, to my friends who have looked the other way when my house has been a disaster or offered to take Neve during the busy season's intensive editing marathon, to the Facebook "fans" I will never meet, but whose likes and comments brighten my day, to all of you - Thank you, thank you, thank you. Here's to 2013 - may it be lovely, challenging and full of laughter. xo

Best of 2012 - The Photos

Behind the Lens | Reflecting on November (aka: the joys of giving back and the work-from-home/family balance)

I can't believe we're 1/3 of the way through December already. The blog has been a bit quiet these these, partly because I've been giving a big push to get all of my November sessions out the door in time for Christmas cards and gifts, and partly because my website was down last week. I can't wait to start sharing my November sessions here with you, but first I thought I'd take a moment to reflect on the whirlwind that was last month. In early October, I posted this announcement for the November "It's Better to Give" special, offering clients 40% off a regular session in exchange for a minimum donation of 8 non-perishable items to the food bank. I crossed my fingers and hoped that people would go for it. I was definitely hoping to attract some new clients as well as offer a great discount just before the holidays, but my main goal was to use my passion and gift to give back to the community. Photographers all over the world are using their gift in different ways and through different organizations to give back, and I was inspired to do something significant for my community.

The response was overwhelming, and this past November beat out October's record for being my busiest month yet, with 20 wonderful sessions. We had a bit of everything, unseasonable sunny days, snowy mornings, foggy evenings, you name it. I got to try out some great new locations and meet some amazing new families as well as reconnect with some of my beloved loyal clients! And at the end of this whirlwind of a month - I got to make a HUGE donation to the London Food Bank on behalf of all my amazing November clients - over 200 non-perishable items to go to those in need this holiday season. I was blown away by their generosity and enthusiasm, and I can't say THANK YOU enough to everyone who gave and allowed me to capture some memories for them!

As amazing as it was to have 20 sessions booked in a 30-day month, it definitely taught me a valuable lesson about balancing work and family time, a tough one for someone in the early stages of both motherhood and full time self-employement. I found myself so busy between shooting, editing, putting together packages, answering the flood of emails and fulfilling my promise for a ten-day turnaround for November sessions. As much as I love what I do, there were days when I longed to just snuggle with my girl and a pile of books, far away from my camera and my computer. It's all about balance, discipline and time management. I'm still learning the perfect equation to being an involved full-time mama and a successful and efficient work-from-home-super-woman, all while keeping the house clean, cooking healthy meals, maintaining my relationship with my spouse and friends and getting some exercise. I have a feeling this will be a lifelong lesson. I also have a feeling it may be impossible...haha!

The November rush taught me exactly what kind of workload I can handle while maintaining my high standards both as a photographer and as a mother. I've come out of the last month with a clearer picture of the type of business I want to run and the the kind of home I want to keep, along with a schedule and an action plan to make it happen. I never want my passion for photography to get in the way of my commitment to spend as much time with my daughter as I possibly can during these precious early years. I also don't want to make promises I can't keep on the business side of things and am committed to providing my clients with an amazing experience from the first email to the session to the package pickup. I'm sure there will be many bumps along the way, but I am so excited to start the new year with this fresh outlook and many exciting plans for Raw Footage Photography. It's a wonderful feeling when people respond positively to their experience with me, and I am so grateful for each and every one of my clients who has trusted me with the huge honour of capturing some of their precious memories.

December promises to be much slower, on purpose, with only a handful of portrait sessions and one wedding. This month will be for mornings spent in pyjamas, afternoons spent baking holiday treats and experiencing all the joys of Christmas with my wide-eyed little girl. Wishing all of you a family-fun-filled December.

-Sophie :)

Behind the Lens | When Everything Goes Wrong

A couple of weeks ago was supposed to be my family session with the talented Natalie of Mint Photography. We did a photo swap (you can see her session here) and I was excited to bring my little family in front of her lens. And then it rained, so we cancelled. Ugh. Outfits picked out, schedules arranged, haircut just a few days prior, nails manicured, and the rain completely messed up our plans. So we rescheduled for the following Sunday. On our reschedule date, it was freezing cold with zero sun. But, it wasn't raining. So we looked on the bright side and prepared for our session.

I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a bit of tension and stress as my husband and I attempted to get ourselves and our tired, teething 15 month old ready for a 7:45am session. It was a flurry of ironing shirts, spooning yogurt into my daughter's mouth, trying to blow dry my hair (something that doesn't happen too often these days!) while applying mascara and not losing balance as my aforementioned daughter tugged at my waist... you get the idea. But we made it out the door only 15 minutes late (ha!) and our very gracious photographer was waiting with a smile.

When I got in the car, I realized I'd had no coffee (not a good situation), no breakfast and forgot to put a belt on those jeans that always seem to slowly inch down until I need to annoyingly tug at them in a very unattractive way to bring them back up to my waist. Great. But again, we looked on the bright side. We made it into the car, tired baby and hyper dog and all, and it still wasn't raining.

Once at the field we choose for our session, the real fun began.

It's kind of all a blur after this point. A few minutes into our session, our lab Lexi rolled in some wild animal's green poo, and got totally covered. Goody. Needless to say, we tried to include her in a handful of pics before the grossness of the whole situation forced us to tie her to a nearby tree, which she loved. The rest of our session took place to the soundtrack of a very unhappy dog barking. Nonstop.

About this time, our daughter Neve started getting cold, but kept insisting to take her hat off. The tired crankiness set in, and coupled with her freezing discomfort, caused some very sad toddler tears off and on (mostly on) for the rest of our shoot. I am that mom who tries to avoid candy and obsessively brushes her kid's teeth several times per day... but let me tell you, I was popping smarties into her mouth like they were going out of style. Thank goodness for smarties.

By the end of our session, Neve was screaming. Not an angry, defiant tantrum. But a devastatingly sad cry that said I'm cold, I'm confused, I'm tired, my teeth hurt, and where the heck are we?

At about this time I also realized that I forgot to take my glasses off for the pictures (I prefer contact lenses but am out at the moment). sigh.

We attempted warming up in the car and trying again. Total fail. Finally we packed it up and parted ways. I must have apologized about 30 times to Natalie, who was so patient, gracious, good humoured and creative throughout our entire session. She assured me that it was ok, that this happens all the time. And suddenly I could hear myself through her. How many times have I reassured clients in similar situations? We had to laugh at the irony. The tables had turned. And while the whole experience was exhausting and a little disappointing in the sense that you just want everything to go perfectly because you've prepared so much, it was such a huge learning experience.

I've always strived to be patient and understanding with clients and their children, but there's nothing like experiencing the total loss of control when a child doesn't follow "the plan" firsthand to really understand. And my poor girl, she just needed a nap and some warmth and she was as happy as can be for the rest of the day... figures.

We can plan outfits and locations and have all kinds of creative ideas, but at the end of the day, we simply can't control how a session goes. We have to just roll with it and make the best of it. Children are people too, with real needs, and sometimes those needs trump the photo session.

My point is this. Clients, I've been there. So when I say I understand, I really do. 

I've felt that sinking feeling when your child is miserable and impatient and refuses to cooperate and there's nothing you can do about it. Tears, poo, incessant barking, this session had it all. We arrived late. Most of our ideas didn't come to fruition. Did I mention lots of tears? I walked away from this session thinking : As amazing as Natalie is (and she is!),  there's no way we'll have any decent photos out of this.

The good news is that we have tons of lovely keepsakes from this disaster of a session.

Natalie captured my daughter's sweet expressions, and even though they aren't all smiles, I love them. They are her. She captured us reading Neve her all-time favourite story book and snuggling her close. I haven't seen all the photos yet, but I love what I've seen. You can check out the blog post with a sampling of pictures here.

Natalie, thank you so much for being patient with us and capturing some sweet memories despite the chaos! I'm amazed at your talent and so glad you could do this for us!

And clients, I cannot stress this enough. Don't feel bad if nothing goes as planned. I have lots of experience with this from a photographer's point of view, and now I have some experience on the client's side, too! :)

Behind the Lens | What to Wear to Your Fall/Winter Session

I can't believe October is behind us. Boy, what a crazy busy wonderful October it has been! My busiest month to date, although November will have it beat. And let me tell you, the October families rocked it. I have such amazingly beautiful, fashionable clients, and they really brought it in the coordinated wardrobe department. I get asked this question all the time - what should we wear? And while I do touch on this with a few tips and examples in my welcome package, I thought this would be a good time to dig a bit deeper and show you what works. Courtesy of my super stylin' October families, of course. Now, a few things.

Disclaimer #1: Your own personal style and what you feel comfortable in is the most important thing to consider when planning your wardrobe for a session. If you are uncomfortable, it will show. If you dress in a way that doesn't represent you, then your photos won't represent you. These are just examples, not meant to be an explicit list of "do"s and "don't"s.

Disclaimer #2: October was packed with sessions. I'm going to showcase a few examples, but I'd need a ten part series to showcase them all. If you don't see your photos here, it doesn't mean you didn't totally nail your family's wardrobe. Promise. :)

Ok, here we go!

#1. COLOUR - Gone are the days of jeans and white t-shirts on everyone. There's nothing like a punch of colour to really bring some life to your portraits. Now, this doesn't mean put everyone in jeans and red t-shirts. I'm talking complimentary colours, coordinating neutrals with an accent. A mix of tones that works.

#2. PATTERNS - Stripes and spots and plaid, oh my! Patterns are good, but you want to be careful about really bold patterns that might be too busy and take the focus off your lovely faces. You also want to avoid putting everyone in patterns. A pop of pattern can have the same effect as an accent colour - it can inject a ton of personality and really bring together everyone's wardrobe.

#3. FOOTWEAR - I remind all of my clients of this in their welcome package. Shoes matter! We do see your shoes in at least some of the photos, and it's important to not only wear something comfortable and practical for you location, but stylish and aesthetically appealing, too. Now, this doesn't mean to wear stilettos for your forest trail session (eek!). But it does mean your footwear is a part of your outfit. So if you throw on some old runners with your skinny jeans, leather jacket and patterned scarf thinking no one will notice.... well, we will. And you will. You'll see it in your photos and you'll think "ahh, why oh why did I wear those shoes? I love everything about this photo except for the shoes!". So you want to think comfortable and coordinated.

#4. ACCESSORIES - Love them. Scarves, hats, jewelry, headbands. And the cooler weather is the perfect excuse to go buy a special accessory that is at once stylish and functional, like a warm scarf or a cute wool hat. Accessories help to tie different outfits together and give some personality and colour to your wardrobe. Especially in a season when your outfit options are limited by the cold weather, accessories allow your own personal style to shine no matter what you're wearing.

#5. COLD WEATHER - There's no escaping the cold. It's here to stay for awhile, but that doesn't mean we all need to retreat to our indoor havens. Coats can be super stylish and fun, and you can actually build your wardrobes around your jackets. Now, I don't mean for you to wear your fluorescent ski jacket with reflectors and 85 zippers. I'm talking about your snazzy wool coat, your sharp leather jacket. You know, your "going out to dinner" outerwear. Pair that with a fun patterned scarf or a brightly coloured knitted cowl and you've got yourself an amazing "outfit" for your outdoor session. If you want to leave the jacket out of the photos, no worries. My suggestion is to dress in layers, and bring your coats along just in case. I've often paused for warm-up breaks in a session so that everyone can slip back into their jackets and mittens for a few minutes before resuming the picture taking.

The moral of the story is this. Be yourself. Be comfortable. But be CREATIVE! These photos will (hopefully) be framed on your wall, given as gifts to relatives and used for holiday cards. You want them to represent you, but you also want them to have personality and style.

On that note... Here are just some of my stylin' October families who really raised the bar with their wardrobe choices!!

Meet Phil and Jessica. They came to their engagement session with two locations and two outfits in mind. And they totally nailed both. On the left, we have a great striped shirt paired with a coordinating solid colour, and adorable shoes that really add personality to the outfit (LOVE me some TOMS!). On the right, we have a bold red solid paired with a coordinating navy solid and great boots that really complete the look. Not to mention... the accessories! I LOVED Jessica's fun patterned scarf (that tied in with Phil's navy) and the cute leg warmers peeking out above the boots. Personality and comfort. BOOM.

Ahhh, the Kelly Family. I loved their mix of blues and greys. You can barely tell, but the little guy on the left actually has an argyle pattern on his navy sweater, which added a nice punch of personality. I loved mama's boots and lovely blue scarf in a lighter, bolder blue, as well as the girls' blue hair accessories. Lots of warm layers and fun accessories meant they stayed warm AND looked amazing.

For her maternity shoot, Teresa came sporting a GORGEOUS handmade shawl. I loved the rich green. It really added a colour pop to their black and white wardrobe.

The Babineau girls were adorable in their coordinating reversible jackets. They stayed warm and didn't even need to take their coats off, because they were so cute! They also added a fun pop of colour and pattern to mom and dad's neutral palette.

Mette, Hubert and their girls did such a fantastic job mixing and matching. This is the difference between "matchy matchy" and perfectly coordinated. We've got a pattern on the far right that ties in the white, blue and fushia present throughout the whole family's wardrobe. Throw in different shades of grey, varying denim styles, bright colour pops and awesome accessories (see girls' headbands, jewelry and scarf), and you've got a fun, interesting, totally coordinated combination.

I love the pink rubber boots (how could you not, right?)!! Mom knew we'd be trekking through the muddy woods, so she came prepared. The matching boots added a punch of colour and tons of personality, and I love how little sister ties everyone together with pink, blue and white in her cute little outfit!

Natalie and Ron did such an amazing job coordinating by using a neutral palette of navy, grey and white and throwing in a fun pop of teal and great accessories to add visual interest and tons of character!

The Kucharski Family coordinated blacks, browns and whites and used Anya's gorgeous handmade mustard sweater for a pop of colour. I love how mama's sweater (left)  ties all the colours into its beautiful pattern.

Finally, the Friyia family. They came with a great combination of blue, cream, grey and fushia for a fun pop of colour. I love little Jillian's bright cowl - a fun accessory that kept her warm, too!

Hopefully these tips and examples have been helpful and inspiring as you prepare for your upcoming session. If you have any questions or need a second opinion, feel free to ask!

Now it's my turn to go put together outfits for our upcoming family session... wish me luck! :)

Behind the Lens | Right Now

I am a photographer.

Yes, I am. Simple enough statement. But I've only recently been able to say it without a hint of self-doubt. Maybe it's because I don't have a piece of paper stating that I fulfilled the requirements of a photography program. Or maybe it's because of the long list of photographers from around the world that I admire like crazy (they are photographers). Or maybe it's because I don't own the equipment of my dreams (yet). Regardless of the reason, when people have asked about my photography, until recently, I wouldn't say "I am a photographer" - I'd say "I have a photography business."

I am a firm believer that the world is a classroom, and that no matter what you are passionate about learning, an abundance of opportunities for growth and improvement await (if you so dare!). My journey as a self-taught photographer has been exhilarating, difficult, amazing, discouraging, rewarding, frustrating, and beautiful. And it's just begun. Yes, I am a photographer. And while I would have loved to go to school to really dig deep into the art and technique of photography (I still may one day!), I continue to embrace my journey as a do-it-yourselfer. Because photography is what I am so passionate about. And for every ounce of self-doubt in my being, there's double determination.

Like any art form, photography is a very emotionally involved craft. It's not about having a fancy camera, it's about vision. light. love. passion. We do more than click a shutter. We document the world as we see it, we find delicious light and capture even more delicious moments. The world becomes our canvas, and nothing is off limits. We photographers become very attached to our photographs. They are the culmination of our creative efforts, our vision come to life.

When I post my photos for the world to see, I feel like an artist displaying paintings in a gallery, watching people go by, hoping someone stops. appreciates. gets it.  If my work seemingly goes unnoticed, I start to question myself. my abilities. my calling. I gaze longingly at the perfect work of the many photographers I admire. And I wonder if I'll ever get there, while forgetting just how far I've come.

There's a handful of fragmented quotes I hang onto for these times. Something about how the only photographer you should compare yourself to is the one you used to be, and comparison is the thief of joy and don't let someone else's success become your failure... or something.

I love what I do. I love my clients and I love bringing their story and my creative vision together to make something beautiful. When I compare my work to what it was three years ago, the difference is astonishing. My technique has improved. My creativity has flourished. My style has evolved. The work I've produced in the last few months is my best. And I'm excited for what the future holds. There are so many photographers that inspire me, but their strengths don't need to be my weaknesses. I am learning to draw the line between inspiration and comparison.

This evening, I'm photographing a fellow photographer for the first time. I admire this girl like crazy and am a huge fan of her work (she took the first photo above during my portrait session with her in the Summer). I'm definitely feeling a little nervous. But more than nervous, I feel excited. A few years ago, I never thought I'd be at a level where other photographers would trust me to capture their memories. I feel so honoured and encouraged. And yes, a little scared. But it feels good to be here. And rather than focus on where  other photographers are in their career, or on where I could be in five years from now, I'm going to enjoy where I am right now.

Right now is good.

Behind the Lens | Before and After (and a Look at Editing Styles)

I posted  a little preview from yesterday evening's styled shoot on the Raw Footage Photography Facebook Page last night, and was so delighted with the response! Lots of "likes" for this little darling, and I'm not one bit surprised. My little subject is stunning! I thought I would use this photo for a "before and after" look at my editing process, which I talked a bit about in the last edition of Behind the Lens . There are so many editing trends out there, and every photographer really has their own editing style. No two photographers will treat the same image the same way, so when choosing someone to capture your special moments, you want to make sure you "click" with not only their shooting style, but their editing style as well.

As for my editing style, I'd describe it as being simple, fresh and pure. I like to add a bit of a personal touch to my photos, but I'm all about capturing real life, and I want my editing to convey that. I am always striving to make my "SOOC" (straight-out-of-camera) shots the best they can be, so that I am only enhancing, and not fixing, in post-processing. I am also continuously seeking out delicious, natural light that doesn't need dramatic editing to create a dreamy mood. The less I have to edit my SOOC shot to achieve my vision, the happier I am.

I do have a handful of photoshop actions I enjoy (for those who may not be familiar these, they are a series of steps in photoshop that a photographer has "packaged" together into one simple click, allowing you to achieve a certain look by running any photo through the action in question. You can make your own, or you can purchase actions from amazing photographers around the world. You can run them at high opacity for a very dramatic effect, or at low opacity for just a subtle pop, which is what I do).

Here's a look at the before and after versions of the same photo, with a look at my editing process.

1. I did basic RAW edits in Aperture (I may be one of the few photographers that isn't using Lightroom or ACR. Not a preference, I just don't own the programs, and Aperture works for me!). This includes sharpening and a bit of minor tweaking of white balance and levels.

2. I exported the photo to Photoshop and tweaked the levels a bit more. I then used the "dodge" tool to brighten up the eyes a bit.

3. I ran the "bright eyes" action from Coffee Shop Blog at low opacity (25%) just to define the eyes a bit more, without making them look alien sharp. (the Coffee Shop Blog actions are FREE and great to start out with - it's where I first started playing with actions, and I still hang on to a couple of my favourites from her set).

4. I ran the "velvet peach" action from Coffee Shop Blog (again, FREE) at low opacity (20%). This one can be intense when you run it at anything more than 30%. I use it at low opacity when I want to add subtle, soft pink tones.

5. I ran the "lighter tones" action from Jordan Voth's set and customized each layer to my liking.

6. I resized and sharpened for web, and added my watermark.

This is my process. My vision for this photo. My artistic style. 

I really wanted to illustrate how a photographer's editing style is a huge part of their art and final product, and that while not everyone's post processing may be your cup of tea, there is beauty in everyone's unique vision. So I rounded up some of my photographer friends (ahhh, gotta love the internet!) from all over to put their personal spin on this photo. I sent them the RAW, straight-out-of-camera file and told them to edit it in their own style. These are women with whom I regularly share and receive constructive criticism, advice and encouragement, and photographers that I respect and admire immensely. I was so honoured that they took the time to help me with this little project, and so excited to see their take on my photo. Each edit below is so different, and really represents the photographer's style.

Go show these amazing photographers some love! 1. Angel Murphy Photography (facebook) 2. / 5. Amanda Laurette Photography (facebook) 3. (me) Raw Footage Photography (facebook)  4. Amber Snead Photography (facebook) 6. Leeshy Lou Photography (facebook) 7. /8. Nicky Montgomery Photography (facebook)

I love how photography is such a process. It starts with a vision, turns into a photograph, and ends up as a work of art that is as unique as each photographer!