I always get to my portrait sessions about half an hour early.  Even if it's a location that I've shot at frequently (like this one), I still want the chance to walk around and check out the light before my clients arrive.  Sometimes photographers are referred to as chasers of light, and I 100% think that's true for me.  I am obsessed with beautiful light and often actively seeking it as I walk around a portrait location.

 

It occurred to me that most people probably have no idea of the types of things that run through my head as I'm scoping out locations and shooting, so maybe I would walk you through it a little so next time we are at a photo session, it won't sound so weird to you if I ask you to hang out a few steps to the right, or whatever.  Chances are, I'm probably chasing light. 

 

Here is an I-phone picture I took last night as I was scoping out the spots I wanted to shoot. It doesn't look like much here, huh? That's because you aren't using your imagination.  I liked the tall grass, and the yellow flowers, and the big bush, but mostly I was drawn to this spot because of the sun. 

You have to use your imagination

 

It kind of takes a good imagination to scope out a session location.  That's because you have to look at what's there, and then imagine what it will look depending on how you yield the camera...which can vary depending on what settings I choose. For example, if there is sunlight peeking over the trees, I know I can turn that into a sun-flare or some beautiful haze.  Or if there is light shooting through the trees, I know that can result in beautiful Bokeh (that's a fancy photographer word for the really cool circles of light in the second picture below of the sweet girl smelling the flower).  

 

Then you have to use your imagination even more and think about what you could possibly do with photoshop. It's always best to get what you want in-camera, but it's also good to know what you can do after the fact.  For example, one of my favorite spots at this location is the bench where I often shoot family pictures.  Behind this bench is a really ugly cage containing an electrical something-or-other.  But I bet you've never noticed it in my pictures because I get rid of it.  I know it's there but I don't let it ruin a good spot because it's not too hard to deal with in photoshop. Plus I love the way the sun sets behind that bench. 

 

So as you have probably guessed by now, this is one of my favorite spots, primarily because of the light.  There are other good things about it...a pretty path, nice greenery, sometimes tall grass, and a playground to get candid shots.  But all these come together so nicely because the sun cooperates and sets in just the right direction to peek over and through the trees...to light up the path, and to set behind the playground. And what's also cool about chasing light, is even though I always know this is a spot that will give me nice light, it's never quite the same from one day to the next, so there is always something new to see and discover. 

Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location Seeing the potential in a portrait location

 

 

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