To add another level of playfulness, she challenged the dad to pick up both older kids at the same time. For this photo series, she asked the family to stand directly in the waves because, in her experience, that always adds a level of playfulness to the images. Elena explains that she’s constantly directing during her shoots, but with the goal of playful, fun images rather than perfect poses. While natural light is an integral part of Elena’s style, so is the relaxed lifestyle feel of her work. Because it was a completely clear day, the big blue sky in front of them was reflecting light right back on their faces, giving me the catchlights in their eyes and the highlights on their faces.” © Elena S Blair As you can see, the glow is beautiful behind their heads. By doing this I am angling the lens down toward them so that sun isn’t coming directly into the lens. “I held my camera above my head for photograph one in order to avoid lens flare and expose their faces. “I positioned the family right in the line of the sunshine on the water so that I could back light them,” Elena explains. With nothing on the beach to block the light, Blair instead used the reflection of the sun off the water-rather than the sun itself-to create the backlighting she was looking for. One of the challenges to shooting on the beach, Elena says, is that there’s nothing to help block out the light - and in order to get beautiful lens flare without a drastic loss in contrast, the sunlight needs to be partially blocked before entering the lens. As a natural light photographer, I almost always schedule my photoshoots one hour before sunset.” © Elena S Blair Light is one of the most important elements of my work. I don’t play by rules, but I am very intentional when using light and creating flare. Then we move to the open beach or field, so I can play with light and use light creatively. “That being said, I start my sessions in wooded areas where I can get a few safe shots and portraits. I do not play it safe with light,” she says. Another important piece of advice? She tells her clients to make sure the clothes fit well and warns against putting kids in clothes that they are meant to grow into.Īs a photographer who works exclusively with natural light, Elena explains that she starts in the shade for a few portraits before moving to a beach or open field in order to get creative with the light. As a lifestyle photographer, she suggests comfortable clothing that coordinates but isn’t an identical match. She explains that her client lounge advises families on what to wear for her sessions. While Elena doesn’t style her clients, preparing the family is an important part of her process. I wanted to capture that essence at the beach!” © Elena S Blair With this photoshoot, I wanted it to feel a bit more editorial, like a magazine shoot. “I want my images to feel nostalgic, like a memory shared. “I am a lifestyle photographer, and my goal is to always focus on the family’s love and connection,” she says of her style. For this particular family, she wanted an editorial, magazine-like feel to capture their energy and connection. This particular photo comes from an active family with three kids - ages 10 months, five years and eight years. Her trick? Using the water as a natural reflector.Īs a lifestyle photographer, Elena photographs around 100 families a year. “Why? Because there are zero environmental elements to aid in filtering light or blocking light.” Elena recently chatted with Rangefinder to share a behind-the-scenes look at how she tackled the challenge of open natural light to photograph an active family on the beach. “In my opinion, beach lighting is some of the most challenging - even at golden hour,” Elena says. For lifestyle photographer Elena S Blair, those challenges are met with creativity, planning, and the right angle. As inspiring as a picturesque beach scene can be, shooting along the water presents a long list of challenges.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |