Meet Maggie. She’s all of these things and more: Personable, funny, sweet, talented, smart, inquisitive, determined, friendly, honest, and loving. She is also my friend and I call her that now. We hadn’t met until this past weekend! As soon as she got out of her car I KNEW that they day was going to be amazing! She had the greatest smile. I was totally humbled as one of the first things she said to me was, “thank you so much for today I totally value your time and appreciate you taking the time for this today.” I was blown away and hoped that she was still going to feel this way at the end of the day!….I had a feeling she would.
We started our day with a Newborn Session. I do TONS of newborn sessions and think back to my first newborn session. I was SCARED to death! So the more practice the better. I have to say, that the more newborn sessions you do, the more comfortable you will be. There is the basics, that’s what I taught Maggie today. Then, once you are comfortable and willing to move out of your comfort zone and test yourself, that’s when you get some amazing and more original images. But it also depends on the baby, some just aren’t having a great day and the basics is all you will get. They are still beautiful. Always remember when you are doing a newborn session, that parents will love your photos, cause basic to the photographer, is not so basic to the client. Here is what we captured on this mentoring day:
Following the Newborn Session, Maggie had some of her own clients she wanted to practice on. I like to give people a grasp on SIMPLE studio work. I do a TON of high key images in my studio. I use natural light and coached Maggie on getting HUNDREDS…of amazing images. At times during a mentoring session, I will shoot over the shoulder of my student. However, these shots were all Maggie and with a little help with posing and ideas she came up with some amazing shots! I love where my studio is and I usually always take my clients outside as well…..train spotting and roll up doors are a perfect background! Great job Maggie, check out her image!
We had a great working lunch and as I mentioned, seeing she is now my friend (ahhh) we talked a TON! Probably more than we should have, a little gossip, a little about our pets, our jobs….We just got carried away in conversation and I couldn’t ask for anything more! I mean, it was great and I can’t wait to get together again….. For Maggie and anyone who believes in me enough to want to learn from me, our day never ends when your workshop does. As much as I possibly can I will continue to help you out!
Our final shoot was a family in what I call my secret spot. So fun that Maggie and I both shoot Canon and we also have the same camera body (Canon Mark II 5D), it was great! She borrowed and used some of my lenses and was able to use the 50mm 1.2 and the 70-200 2.8. How great it was for her to be able to see why I use these lenses and how they help me with the ultimate outcome in my portrait shoots!
Ending the day we went to my house to finish up with Photoshop. Photoshop is like a fingerprint. We all have different ways to get a similar outcome, but we all also have a different eye to what we want an image to look like. Remember to make things your own and have your own style, shooting and editing should be what makes you, you! Once you are comfortable with what you so in photoshop, you’ll figure this all out. But in the meantime, it is a good idea to find out what others, whom you like, are doing, to get you an idea of where to start!
Thank you Maggie! I had SUCH a FABULOUS day! I truly loved working with you and I know for so many reasons you are going to do wonderful! You images you took this weekend are AMAZING and truly I can see your love for photography……we have that and much more in common! XXOO
