Learning, learning, and more learning.....

In my quest to be the very best wedding and portrait photographer I can be, I recently attended a workshop in Scarborough, Maine, sponsored by the Professional Photographers of America and hosted by the Studio of Nadra Edgerley. The workshop was entitled "Portrait of a Bride and Groom." Nadra and I met briefly a couple of years ago at a bridal show. Since then I have been a huge admirer of Nadra's work, so I jumped at the opportunity to take a workshop hosted by her.

As it turns out, we had an intimate group of five very talented photographers, all with unique perspectives and personalities. We started off with introductions, followed by why we attended and what we wanted to learn from this workshop.  I was pleased to learn that several other people were attending the workshop for the same reasons that I was. We were looking for tips on directing our happy couples to capture the best possible portraits of them To help us with this area, Nadra openly shared her vast experience and knowledge with us. She also spoke quite a bit about finding and perfecting our own unique style.  So, to combine our own style and Nadra's great advice, we went out into Nadra’s backyard to work with a “bride and groom”.

While in the backyard, we each had one on one time to photograph the happy couple and work with Nadra. She again spoke about personal vision and encouraged us to ask ourselves what we wanted to say about this couple through our imagery. She also reminded us to pursue every possible angle. What did I discover? I need to purchase a very fancy piece of equipment…a footstool!

While Nadra worked with each of us individually, the rest of the group was employing Nadra's advice by photographing each other. We did this because Nadra feels that it is important for us to experience what it feels like to be on the other end of the camera. I have to admit, this was a fairly un-nerving experience. I rarely find myself being 'shot' and I found that I craved direction from the photographer. This was a very helpful learning experience as it reinforced how important it is to make one’s subject feel comfortable and open to being gently directed.

We had the opportunity to immediately put this lesson to use.. Nadra’s 15-year-old niece, Lindsay, came out and allowed us to practice on her. She was such a good sport, and we each took some wonderful images of her. After we were done with our shooting exercises, we had lunch and downloaded our images for critique. We were instructed to choose 10-15 of our favorite images. It was a difficult task for me because I took over 400 images. Thus, I learned another lesson about the importance of editing.  In other words, I need to narrow my selection of images that are truly outstanding. Editing images that are just OK is a real time bandit.

Everyone’s images were amazing and incredibly inspiring! Nadra again focused on how each of us captured the same subject with our own unique perspective and personal style. Nadra stated that she feels my style is capturing emotive moments with a fine art vision. It reminded me of a comment a dear friend made to me long ago who stated my work exuded a kind of quiet grace. That comment helped shape my personal vision as a photographer. It was a nice reminder to continue to create work that is authentic and true to who I am.

All in all, it was a great workshop filled with inspiration and growth. I learned a lot and I met some wonderful photographers.

Here are a few images from the day’s bounty.

Blessings,
Sara

Finding The Light

Prologue:
As a person, I am an intuitive creative extrovert who loves to engage with people. As a photographer, I am what you would call passively creative. Meaning, I tend to take photographs of subjects that naturally present themselves to me and inspire me to capture them. However, there are a few subject matters that truly inspire me. If you know me personally then you know one area of inspiration is weddings. I truly come alive and I take such delight in capturing those precious moments that are ever present at such an event. Also, as a photographer in Maine and New England, I have a bounty of gorgeous subject matter that is here calling me to capture it.

Losing the light:

Taking advantage of our early spring, I took some images the other day and while looking at them in through the camera lens, I was fairly pleased.  However, back at the studio, I found the images to be just okay.  Why?  The light was flat. They lacked impact. To say the least, I was puzzled. I truly thought these images were going to be something great. This was a humbling moment indeed.
Finding the Light:

The first “Ah ha!” moment I had with photography was based on light. As a young photography student, I was required to do light subject/study exercises.  I learned that a slight shift in the angle or direction of light would dramatically change the look of a subject matter.  So, as I sat wondering how my beautiful shots were not, I realized it was time for me for me to re-visit basic light exercises that I learned many years ago. Without delay, I put together a makeshift studio in my living space and got to work.  What I discovered? I instantly reconnected with the young aspiring student photographer that I once was.  I started to remember my love for light.

Finding the message:

I think as artists (and as human beings) it is easy to get a little bit lazy with our growth. We have a tendency to get comfortable with our efforts and rest on our accolades. For me, it took a humbling experience to push me to improve. I want to continue to learn and expand as a photographer and as a human being. Here’s to being actively creating and pushing ourselves to improve…..enjoy!

Blessings,
Sara

Melanie & Kevin April 4, 2010 - Union Bluff Meeting House, York Maine

This was the first wedding I had the pleasure of capturing in 2010.
After a Friday of rain I was a little nervous for Melanie and Kevin but as luck would have it, we had beautiful weather full of sunshine and laughter.
The day was absolutely gorgeous and everything flowed flawlessly. Even their bulldog Zeke cooperated in lovely fashion donning a vest and bow tie and to prance proudly down the isle.
Melanie and Kevin, I wish you both so much happiness. It is clear how much in love you are. Congratulations!!!
It was a true honor to be part of such a genuinely heartfelt union and celebration.
Here are a few of my favorite images from the day.
Blessings,
Sara

Rain Rain, Go Away!

We've been drenched in rain for the last three days (if you live in New England you know what I'm talking about) This was no spring shower. This was a deluge of wetness and wind. Who knew Maine had a monsoon season? I was so happy to awake to sunshine this morning that I literally leapt out of bed. Stuck inside for the last couple of days, and needing a creative break from the computer, I decided not to be hindered with the constraints of my environment. I focused my attention on my newest member of my household; my cyclamen plant. It's amazing what inspiration one can find in a plant. With rain comes new life, new growth, and transformation. Here's to spring!

Blessings,

Sara

A deeper sense of appreciation...

It has taken me a awhile to get on the blogging band wagon. So here I am, officially blogging.

Mom would be so proud. If she actually knew what blogging was.....

So now one would think that the most logical first post on a wedding photographer's blog would be wedding related or at least a gorgeous photograph of a baby or a flower. Patience friends. I will post plenty of weddings, babies, and even a few flowers. However, my first wedding is April 1o. So this opens the door to share personal work. Upon moving recently to South Portland I began to volunteer for The Telling Room. Their mission is something I whole heartedly support. They are dedicated to nurturing creative expression in young adults by providing workshops in storytelling, utilizing writing, photography, music, theatre, and film. They had such a workshop at Portland High School for a English Language Learning class. This was a storytelling workshop expressed through writing. I was asked to come to the second half of the workshop and photograph the kids reading their stories. I am not sure why I find myself so utterly surprised at how compelling and inspiring these kid's stories were. The young persons in this class were from all over the world and have already seen their fair share of war, tragedy, and heart break. Yet so many of their stories were about gratitude. They wrote about the simple joy helping prepare a meal with their parents or enjoying the food that their mother had prepared for them. I noticed a genuine sense of appreciation from these teenagers and I was immediately humbled. How blessed am I. I have so much to be thankful for. Not only do I have amazingly supportive friends and family, but I have a career of which I am passionate about. I have a roof over my head, good food to eat, and I don't have to be worried about speaking my mind and fear that I will be tortured or killed for my beliefs. I do my due diligence not to not take what I have for granted, but I get busy with life and before I know it, I find myself complaining about this, that, and the other. It is good to be reminded to give thanks and be grateful. So it is with that thought I end this post.

Blessings upon you,

Sara