Shooting it Right
Six professional photographers choose a favourite recent photo and tell us what makes it special.
Tell us about the photo.
This is a shot of my sons, taken the day before my younger boy started primary school. I’d passed by this tree a few times before, when we cycled as a family there, and I knew I wanted a shot of my boys with it. What I didn’t expect was the beautiful sunset that evening! It was a mad scramble to get my boys to run up the hill before the sun went down.
Describe the work that went into perfecting the shot.
To accentuate the glorious sunset sky, I shot the boys and the tree as silhouettes. With silhouette shots, you have to carefully position your human subjects. I made sure the boys were facing each other so I could get a clear shape of their side profiles and their holding hands. In Lightroom and Photoshop, I enhanced the colours slightly and increased the contrast.
Why is it your favourite?
When I saw them talking to each other, I asked them to face each other and continue their conversation. The hand-holding just came naturally, and it was so sweet that my heart almost burst! It looked as though big brother was reassuring his younger brother about his upcoming milestone, letting him know that he will be there for him.
Is this image typical of the work that you do?
In my personal work, I’m leaning towards a more natural, unposed, storytelling approach. This has worked well for shots of my own kids over the years – so much so that they have gotten sick of smiling for Mummy’s camera!
Tell us about the photo.
This family photograph was taken for a client during one of the new “Black On White” sessions that I introduced this year. I’ve always loved the high-contrast look you get when photographing people wearing dark clothes against a pure white backdrop, especially when you convert the photos into black and white. Clients who book this session must wear predominantly black clothes, and all of the edited photos shown will be in black and white only.
Tell us about the photo.
Our client wanted a photo session to welcome the newest member of the family. It’s an exciting journey for everyone, and they wanted to capture the earliest moments of a new beginning.
Describe the work that went into perfecting the shot.
We strive to make our work unique for every client, and this photo is no exception. I saw that they had a very interesting- looking carpet, which would create a great background with its strong tonal contrast and shapes. After we’d placed the sleeping newborn on the carpet, where he was nice and comfortable, his big sister lay down beside him and cuddled up to him.
Is this image typical of the work that you do?
We strive to capture the expressions of life that are real, natural and reflect our subjects. The photos we take create an impact because they carry with them an emotion that is open, fun and real. The White Room Studio is located in a shophouse and is itself full of nostalgic character. We can shoot with both studio lighting and natural light courtesy of the large windows, and we also have atmosphere and emotion to play with.
Tell us about this photo.
Tomato Photo is big on natural expression. A picture speaks more than a thousand words, and this is a perfect example of a straightforward, easy-to-understand image of my client’s son.
Describe the work that went into perfecting the shot.
Simple, natural and beautiful are the concepts we live and breathe when we’re creating images of children and families. Most images taken at our studio, including this piece, have not gone through any manipulation in Photoshop. Although we have more than 10 years of professional experience in digital manipulation, I believe that capturing it right on the camera is a testament to the skill of the image-maker.
Why is it your favourite?
Through my gift in photography, what I love the most is that I’m able to constantly offer people happiness and smiles. This image naturally fits this description – it brightens my day whenever I look at it! Others have also commented that this photo melts their heart.
Is this image typical of the work that you do?
My work typically revolves around the idea of preserving memories for parents – so it’s different every time a client walks in. I love to make the experience a simple one for people to enjoy.
Tell us about this photo.
This was taken in my studio for Kim at 32 weeks pregnant. I’ve been looking for new outfits, accessories and backgrounds for pregnancy and baby photography for months and now have lots of exciting new props in my studio.
Describe the work that went into perfecting the shot.
The image was taken using two Elinchrom lights at a 45-degree angle from both sides and a pecan-coloured seamless paper background. I used my Nikon D3S camera and a Nikon 24-120mm lens. I also needed a fan to make the back of the gown fly nicely, and a pair of helping hands behind the model to throw the gown into the air just before I took the shot. In postprocessing, I did some colour and light adjustments and made the background look smoother.
Why is it your favourite?
I love the combination of the colours, the way the back of the gown flies and the expression on the expectant mum’s face. This is what pregnancy photography means to me: showing the love and excitement about the arrival of the baby.
Is this image typical of the work that you do?
The image absolutely reflects my style and what I do. I mostly meet my clients when they are expecting. After their pre-shoot consultation, they come for a maternity photo shoot, and then I look forward to meet them again when they come back with the baby – some of them return several times during the baby’s first year. I love showing how the little ones and their families grow.