on sunday, my loyal assistant and great friend, becca, came on out to the house for an early morning session. we lucked out and still had that crisp winter frost on the ground which gave everything in the shaded parts of the field a cool tone and beautiful glisten. this is one of my favorite times of the day to shoot because of the amazing blue, green and gold tones not to mention the priceless morning light that streams in through and eventually over the large growth trees of the forest.
to be honest, i'm quite amazed i look as awake as i do in these images. the night before i was up til 4:30 in the morning unable to sleep then got up at 5:30 to take the dogs out and officially awoke at 8 am to welcome becca. in some of the images that were cut from the session my hair is so badly tossed that it does look like i just rolled out of bed - which in fact, was the reality but no one wants to see that. hahaa. these will serve as a good reminder to at least run a real comb through my hair before stepping in front of the camera.
when photographing people i feel it's best to shoot in series. this means that you're constantly on the shutter gathering as many reactions as possible. this increases the likelihood that you'll capture those moments of the unexpected like when your doodle dane puppy take a large dump right next to the spot you're trying to shoot at. ohhh there's nothing quite like the fresh scent of poo when trying to capture intimate, contemplative photos of a expecting mother. thanks wilson.
you may be wondering - where is christy's husband in all of these? it makes sense that the spouse would be included in the maternity images - he was the last time around but as mentioned above, we're coming down to the wire with time. shaun was on his last snowmobiling trip of the season, off exploring the mountains of eastern oregon and wasn't going to be home until late that night. we're planning to get a few family and belly shots later this week but just in case the lil' one decides to come early, i wanted to at least get a few.
these photos are very casual and truly represent what i look like and feel during this point in the pregnancy. they also depict the season which is that of chilly mornings covered in the last bits of winter frost that give way to sunny, 'spring's-on-it's-way' afternoons. in these types of situations there's no way i'm taking off one bit of this clothing - it's freaking cold! sure, maternity shots are all about showcasing that belly but really? when it's still in the low 40s are you going to walk around outside with a bare stomach - i don't think so.
choosing the right clothing during your pregnancy becomes a fine art - for most of this one people haven't been able to tell i'm expecting. dark, loose fitting clothing in dimensional layers becomes your closest alli because it tends to hide many things. of course, that's no secret to women but when thinking of what you want to showcase and what you want to de-emphasize it becomes ever so important. also picking colors that make your features pop - for instance, i have blue green eyes and know that with the right shades of blue and green in close vicinity to my face those babies are going to really shine. those tones also bring out the auburn tones in my hair too.
the most important aspect i like to focus on when shooting maternity images is to capture the mood of the expecting mother. there is so much wonder, love and hope that fills you're heart before having a child and that sentiment should be completely apparent in the images. of course, there is room for joyful smiles and bursts of laughter because those moments also show who you are at that point in your life but those quiet moments between are what truly define that period. it makes be recall the serene times you spend alone, dreaming of what this new life will bring and how it will challenge, encourage and bring new dimension to your life.
hahaa okay from this angle you can really tell i didn't brush my hair! nice! hahaaa.
i can't emphasize enough the importance of knowing how it feels to be in front of a camera. as a photographer, i'm much more comfortable behind the camera - coaching, observing and moving a session along but knowing how my clients feel on the other side is just as important. it makes truly enjoying the person photographing you that much more apparent. becca is an amazing person who brings any sole to ease - you can tell in these images that i'm relaxed in the environment, comfortable with her and therefore am able to let my true self come through in the images. that's the feeling you should have with your photographer - well, at least that's my opinion. hehee.
in the next post we'll head inside for a few more intimate portraits of your truly and the ever growing belly. thanks for the patience and stay tuned my friends.
