Client #00001
These professional images were taken at Edgewater Park, where Theresa’s confidence and personality were showcased against the breathtaking backdrop of Lake Erie and the Cleveland skyline.
I was super thankful for the opportunity one of my colleagues presented to me to my first official client (hence the post's title). Theresa was unique in that she was familiar with the photo process. She came prepared with ideas and presented me with a mood board with specific keywords/phrases that informed my creative process.
We lucked out on a beautiful evening at Edgewater Park in Cleveland, beating out the thunderstorm that would come 10 minutes after our session. I used a mixture of natural light and a single strobe to evenly light her. My goal was to make sure I got the eyelights.
My post-production process was very minimal. I slightly changed the exposure and colors to make the image light and airy. I also wanted her photos to feel warm and inviting while showcasing her professionalism. I used a few masks (subject, background, and gradient) to highlight a few features in her shots.
The biggest compliment I can pay to Theresa is her fearlessness. She is consistently networking with folks in our office and building relationships. I hope that these new headshots serve her well as she continues her career in marketing.
Beach Day
I spent a Saturday afternoon at the lake with the Gannons.
It felt like the first actual beach day. I met the Gannons down near Huntington Beach in Bay Village, Ohio. Here, I let the kids be kids and tried to capture genuine, candid moments of them being a family. It was about 86 and Sunny, so I tried my best to backlight them to avoid the harsh shadows over the eyes.
The sun was still pretty high in the sky even around 4pm. Tried my best to make sure they were lit evenly and it was flattering.
I have done this set up with families before, it is so much easier when the children are closer in age.
I start with basic corrections, and I try a light touch. If I do anything more than that, I feel that my photo isn’t natural anymore. My goal is to get as much as I can right in camera. My post-work shouldn’t be where the real work comes into play. I should be happy enough to go, “That was a great shot” on set.
For my more creative edits (black and whites). I took some liberty to exaggerate a few features more. I used masked to adjust the subject’s exposure and the background . I even tweaked some colors to make a few things pop more. I boosted the clarity and grain to give it more of a rough editorial feel.
“Who’s fastest?”
For this last shot that I will share from this shoot. It was one of the first that we took. It came off so great naturally, I wanted to preserve as much as that as possible. Made it black and white, because it felt right. Overall, tho this photo had a light touch.
