I know the importance of making a strong image. To capture a look that will bring a sense of empowerment, and show the strength of my client’s heart through their image. Also, allowing their senior portrait to showcase their character and beauty.
Here, I’ll talk about how I create bold, statement focused portraits.
The most important feature to creating a strong, captivating portrait is to plan. I always have a pre-session consultation where I get to know my clients’ personality, and what they want for a look and feel for their portraits. I have them create a mood board, or a Pinterest board, so I can see their sense of style. Then, I can base our location off of that.
In this image, I started off by finding the light. I typically always shoot in the golden hours, approximately 2-3 hours before sunset. Using the covered shadows from the buildings that we were shooting around, I had my senior face towards the light. This allowed for even, rich lighting. Addtionally, I exposed for my subject rather than the background. Megan wanted to really play up the urban feel for her portraits. Keeping her wardrobe very simple, we were able to really accentuate the rich, bold colors in the locations we were shooting at.
Canon 5D Mark III | 85mmL 2.2 |1/800sec
Shot in broad, open lighting in the golden hours – I knew this series needed to have a couple of different looks. I shot close-ups and exposed for the client’s face. I had the sun to her back, and I used the lens hood to help filter the sun flare off of her face. This kept the image sharp, but still allowed for that delicious, soft light to frame her. Then, I did a pull back to give the image more of a fashion forward, couture flare that my senior girls love!
Canon 5D Mark III | 85mmL 2.2 |1/2,500sec
Shooting behind buildings and in alleyways are some of my favorite locations! This look was achieved by pulling from textures, colors, and using the shadow created by the overhang for even lighting. I created a dynamic portrait simply by using the angles of my client’s body. The rule of thumb is, if a joint can bend, do it. Use leading lines with your subject. Then, create a point of focus with triangles, so that your focus stays on your subject.
Canon 5D Mark III | 85mmL 2.2 | 1/640sec
Again, the sun is to my clients back. I used a reflector as fill to achieve this strong, spirited portrait. I spent time talking to my client during this segment about things that were going on in her life. This is what helped me to achieve the look of connection and life in her eyes. While I’m always excited to have a beautiful image, these portraits are for and about them! When they are excited about something, you can see it shining through their eyes. Verbal connection is the best way to achieve this look!
Canon 5D Mark III | 85mmL 2.2 | 1/640sec
I simply love backlighting. This was shot in full sun, and with a very wide aperture. This allows for that soft, dreamy look and for a beautiful amount of sun flare to enter the image. Yet, her facial features are tack sharp. We wanted a very strong, couture fashion presence in this sequence of images. While I was shooting, I would have my senior walk away from me, then very purposefully turn to look right at me. A lot of motion makes these type of images successful. It allows for the movement in the hair, the engaged look in their eyes, and a feeling of freedom as well.
Canon 5D Mark III | 85mmL 1.6 | 1/8,000sec
This young man’s session was so much fun. He put together his retro styled wardrobe, along with his favorite fashion accessories. I always try to encourage seniors to bring their favorite accent pieces, because it adds character to their images. The location he chose brought even more life to the session, because it was a place where he spent time at everyday. This image was shot using backlighting. A reflector was used to add fill light to his face, so that the background was not blown out.
Canon 5D Mark III | 85mmL 2.2 | 1/320sec
My passion is art. I sometimes feel like I eat, breathe, live, and dream about photographing people and their special moments. In 2008, I started my photographic journey. In 2013, it finally took me to Paris, France – where I dove head first into furthering my education of Lighting and Couture fashion styling. I am now preparing for my 4th trip to Europe to take portraits of families in Rome, Italy for the 3rd time. I cannot even begin to describe the joy it brings me to be able to travel, doing what I love, bringing joy, and making sweet memories for others. For me, being a photographer isn’t just a job. It’s a chance to make a new friend, and to be a part of one of the most important moments in my subject’s life. I have spent time learning with some of the leading senior portrait photographers in the nation in Tennessee, Nevada, and Texas. I also have a degree and two national certifications in Radiologic Technology as an x-ray/ computed tomography technologist; helping to heal lives by imaging.
When I’m not being a photographer, I love to spend time with my critters on my 5 acre ranch in Montana. I love adrenaline pumping activities just as much as I enjoy watching Netflix snuggled up on the couch with my coffee. My guilty pleasures include, Game of Thrones, Glee, chocolates, and vacationing in Los Angeles.
Find Violet Ray Photography on the Web: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Snapchat: violetrayphoto
