31 EPIC SUMMER SESSIONS

31 EPIC SUMMER SESSIONS, BE INSPIRED, PHOTOGRAPHY

27/31 epic summer session| feature by Desra Ramey

July 28, 2017July 28, 2017by hellodearphotographerLeave a Comment

Is this session personal work or client work?

This is personal work, my 4 girls.

Tell us a bit about the magic of summer +the connection to your lens?

Documenting my girls has always been one of my passions, and always will be. I don’t have a ton of childhood images with my family so this has always been my goal when my husband and I started a family. Vacations are also very important. I remember reading an article not to long ago about the importance of family vacations and how it reboots your soul, so to speak. So my husband and I try our hardest to vaca when we can and try and make it an important event each year. The bonus is my camera, getting to document our days while we are away.

What about this session makes it an Epic summer session?

This was a very special trip. It was our first time camping, EVER! When I say it ended up being the best trip we haven taken to date, it was!! Camping on the beach we will try and do as often as we are able. I documented each day. I feel very blessed to be able to have these and share with my girls when they are older. What makes it an epic summer session to me is of course the memories we will have forever. The early morning breakfast out on the picnic table, the late night sitting outside together laughing and making jokes while the girls ran around and played hide and seek, this is my reasons its the most epic summer session to date for me.

What else is on your summer bucket list to photograph this summer?

On my bucket list this year is to have a client session when we are on our yearly Hilton Head trip. And it will happen. By luck, I have a client/friend that will be vacationing the same week as we are, so we have arranged a sunrise session for her, her husband and her 1 year old daughter. I’m beyond excited!

What gear was used to achieve these?

I used my 35mm lens, and my Nikon d7000. This is my gear, this is what I love.

Any summer tips or photographer advice?

My advise and tips I would share would be to PULL OUT that camera!!!! If your going on a family vacation, please take it. document the stories, the memories, the laughs, the joy of your family vacation. Your children will thank you one day.

ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER :

My name is Desra, and I am the owner of Desra Ramey Photography. My style above all else is to capture like, in the moment, documenting clients so that years from now they will still appreciate the images that I’ve given them.

I have 4 children, all girls under the age of 11. I’m married to the most amazing man of almost 11 years, and we live in a small town in TN. I’m big on documenting my girls, walking, playing outside with them, and most importantly my faith. God has given me eyes to photograph. I’ll not let him down!

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31 EPIC SUMMER SESSIONS, BE INSPIRED, PHOTOGRAPHY

26/31 Epic Summer session| Feature by Andrea Brooke photography

July 26, 2017July 26, 2017by hellodearphotographer1 Comment

Is this session personal work or client work?

Client work. I had the best time with this lovely woman. Nothing is more satisfying than capturing the best parts of someone. Helping them to celebrate themselves, their personality, their beauty. For part of the photoshoot, we photographed her in the wedding dress her father bought her mother; which was a very special thing, for her and for me, a privilege really. She wrote the following afterward which is a reminder of why I do what I do.
“Growing up I had big glasses and even bigger eyebrows. I had my gawky teen years followed by pregnant years. Thinking back I’ve never had a time where I felt confidently beautiful. Going into this session I hid behind my goofiness and made ridiculous faces and felt very awkward “posing”. However, between the silly faces and insecurities, Andrea was able to capture moments that make me feel absolutely beautiful. She was able to help me relax and have fun IN FRONT of the camera, Something I usually hide behind.”

Tell us a bit about the magic of summer +the connection to your lens?

What is not magic about summer? Sunshine, vitamin d, good moods, pools, lakes, water, late nights, patios, barbecues, picnics. Summer brings out happy in people, it for sure brings out the happy in me. I love that we can photograph late into the evening, that we don’t have to instruct anyone to try to look
less cold, try jumping jacks, no rushing due to weather. Summer is beautiful and wants to be photographed, and I am here to oblige.

What about this session makes it an Epic summer session?

Beautiful scenery, beautiful light, beautiful girl. I would be a happy woman if I had to do sessions like this all the time.

What else is on your summer bucket list to photograph this summer?

I am planning on photographing underwater which I am very excited about. A couple of outdoor weddings, and lots of my children soaking up the summer.

What gear was used to achieve these?

5D Mark iii & Sigma 35mm 1.4 , reflector

Any summer tips or photographer advice?

My summer tip is getting outside and shoot. Where I am from summer doesn’t last too long and I am always sorry to see it go. So take advantage!!

ABOUT THE ARTIST :
I am a mother to three superheroes of varying sizes. They are my pride and truly, my joy. I redecorate homes instead of counting sheep to put myself to sleep. I love my family and our Thanksgiving football games. I love my friends and I love making new ones. I sometimes engage in games of synchronized golf and enjoy other random silliness. My dreams are full of hot air balloons and European or tropical traveling adventures. I love ideas and spend large amounts of time thinking about them. I love people, and I love capturing the raw, quirky, interesting, imperfect and beautiful things about them.

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31 EPIC SUMMER SESSIONS, BE INSPIRED, PHOTOGRAPHY

25/31 EPIC SUMMER SESSIONS | FEATURE BY Chloe Lodge

July 25, 2017by hellodearphotographerLeave a Comment

Is this session personal work or client work?

This session was instigated by me as I was new to the Seychelles and eager to explore the landscape, light and colours with a family who lived there.

Tell us a bit about the magic of summer + the connection to your lens?

We’ve lived in sunny climes for six years now so sunshine and warmth has become part and parcel of our daily lives. From SE Asia, the Middle East and here in the Seychelles, just off the coast of Africa. There is something truly uplifting about that summer feeling even when you live it every day. It seeps into your bones and frees the expression within, not only for those in front of the lens but those behind it too.

What about this session makes it an Epic summer session?

This was an epic summer session for me as it was one of my first sessions captured in this tropical paradise, we chose a beach they visit often and was really close to their home and heart. The Seychelles is a picture perfect world of blues and greens but as I shot it I yearned to translate many of the shots into black and white as I was so attracted to the light and textures. The opening capture will remain one of my all time favourites – a small boy adventuring on his journey and yet the parents watching over him in the shadows, it speaks to me on so many levels.

What else is on your summer bucket list to photograph this summer?

I’m planning on investing in an underwater housing for my DSLR. I absolutely adore shooting in, on and near water. It draws me in and I can’t wait to explore it to greater depths.

What gear was used to achieve these?

D750, Sigma Art 35mm

Any summer tips or photographer advice?

Living in certain environments it’s easy to get precious about your gear but I’ve learnt in recent years if you’re paranoid about every grain of sand or droplet of water it can hold you back creatively. Free yourself of the worry, be careful of course but otherwise go for it. Your best shots are almost always on the edge of your comfort zone.

ABOUT THE ARTIST :
Chloe Lodge is a lifestyle photographer currently based in Dubai. Chloe’s work exudes a sense of the adventurous unknown, a feeling of coming home and the deepest love we feel within. Chloe is currently taking time out from client work to nurture her art and her soon-to-be-born baby girl. As a Brit married to a New Zealander with their Malaysia-born dual nationality son their family has a truly International flavour. Over the past six years they’ve lived in Paris, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai and the Seychelles.

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31 EPIC SUMMER SESSIONS, BE INSPIRED, PHOTOGRAPHY

24/31 EPIC SUMMER SESSIONS | Feature by Sandy Fales of Wild Prairie Photography

July 24, 2017July 24, 2017by hellodearphotographerLeave a Comment

Is this session personal work or client work?

This session is personal work. My mother came to visit us from Iowa and we decided last minute to visit the Great Sand Dunes National Park. My son Ellis had just had his birthday and he really wanted to go somewhere so he could dig in the sand. I killed two birds with one stone. Kid happy, mom happy. I win.

Tell us a bit about the magic of summer + the connection to your lens?

Summer is this hot, sticky mess of months that I love. I have pretty white skin, so I burn easily but with a little bit of sunscreen, I can get out and enjoy the summer breeze with my kids. I love rolled up sleeves on button up t-shirts paired with shorts and sandals. Everyone is happy because its lovely outside and beautiful. I usually just capture what is happening around me when I photography my family so the magic that summer lends makes doing that much sweeter.

What about this session makes it an Epic summer session?

The vast emptiness of the sand dunes made for this amazing backdrop of beauty. Sometimes, the beauty of Colorado overwhelms me. The variety of landscape is wonderful and I could never get enough of what it has to offer. My children had the most amazing time visiting the dunes and that is what makes this session epic to me. Anything that makes my tiny people happy, makes me happy. Babes laughing? Nothing else like it.

What else is on your summer bucket list to photograph this summer?

I want to photograph every day with my son. My daughter is visiting her dad for the summer and so I want to take the time to show who he really is inside. That is the overall goal. Just to spend more time with him and capture the raw moments of the everyday.

What gear was used to achieve these?

Nikkon D750 50mm 1.8

Any summer tips or photographer advice?

Do not be afraid of hard light! Just make sure you expose for your highlights! <3

ABOUT THE ARTIST :

Hello. My name is Sandy Fales and I am the face behind the camera at Wild Prairie Photography! I am a recent transplant to beautiful Colorado Springs. I Love it here. The mountains, the air, the people… everything. It truly where my heart lays.

I moved here from a cattle ranch in Nebraska where I lived for five years. I started my life over and made my new home in a place where I felt welcomed and happy. My journey has not been easy and I am thank ful for everyday I have with my two sweet babes. Never let yesterday fill up today and always be the change you wish to see in the world , those are two things that I try to live by.

When I’m not getting down in nature, I love chasing my two tiny people around and catching those those little moments we have together on film. Photography is in my soul.

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31 EPIC SUMMER SESSIONS, BE INSPIRED, PHOTOGRAPHY

23/31 EPIC SUMMER SESSIONS| Feature by Meshea Shaffer of Olive Gray photography

July 23, 2017July 23, 2017by hellodearphotographerLeave a Comment

Is this session personal work or client work?

client work

Tell us a bit about the magic of summer + the connection to your lens?

I love summer, I live on the beach so the majority of my sessions are shot on the beach. It doesn’t get any better than The warm sunshine, sand on your toes, and the salty ocean air

What about this session makes it an Epic summer session?

The light! Oh goodness, the light this night was unbelievable, so golden and warm

What else is on your summer bucket list to photograph this summer?

Families are my specialty

What gear was used to achieve these?

35mm 1.14

ABOUT THE ARTIST :

I’m Meshea

I am a Family, Maternity, Child and Newborn photographer located in Destin, Florida and surrounding areas.

I am a wife to my wonderful husband of 11 years, and a mother to my beautiful daughter. I started my photography journey in 2011, at the time I only did photography as a hobby, but after the birth of my daughter, I closed my eyes and took the leap into a full-time photographer.

I have never looked back……

I love so much meeting the wonderful families that I do. Connecting with them and telling their story. Being able to capture their memories is priceless to me

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31 EPIC SUMMER SESSIONS, BE INSPIRED, PHOTOGRAPHY

22/31 EPIC SUMMER SESSIONS // Feature by Leah Moore

July 22, 2017July 22, 2017by hellodearphotographerLeave a Comment

Is this session personal work or client work?

This was a client session for a fabulous couple who I know from our small coastal town & who also used my husband David, as their wedding photographer. Kareen was about 30 weeks pregnant at the time of the shoot & has since gone on to have a beautiful little boy that she & her hubby Adrian, have named Leopold.

Tell us a bit about the magic of summer + the connection to your lens?.

Ahhhhh Summer!! I live on the east coast of Australia in a little town on the NSW north coast & many people complain that we don’t really have seasons because it never gets that cold. I am NOT complaining. It could literally be Summer all year & I would be happy. The light here is pretty harsh right up until two hours before sundown so this lovely forested spot was the perfect place to escape the Summer heat.

What about this session makes it an Epic summer session?

For me personally it was epic because Kareen & Adrian said that they were up for whatever I wanted to do & they were happy to go anywhere. They are super cruisy people & nothing felt rushed or forced. It’s also always a nice change to work with a couple WITHOUT kids. Do not get me wrong, I love the guts out of children (I have four of my own to vouch for that fact) buuuuuut it’s a completely different flow when there are no rugrats present.

What else is on your summer bucket list to photograph this summer?

For me it’s more about the medium at the moment. I am currently trying to shoot most of my personal work on film & it’s so awesome to do that in Summer as it copes so much better with the harsh light (in my opinion). Kodak Ektar100 & Summer are like best mates!
As for the WHAT though I am dying to shoot in New Zealand & really hope to do it next Southern Summer (in January, all being well). Winnebago + family 🙂

What gear was used to achieve these?

I am a Nikon shooter & shoot primes. 85, 50 & 35. I’m not a big gear hoarder & I’m a big believer that it’s how you use your gear rather than what gear you have? The best camera is always the one you have with you.

Any summer tips or photographer advice?

Boring advice but– insect repellent is a great addition to your bag over Summer. It’s highly likely your clients won’t think to bring it & you know what it’s like as soon as the sun starts to dip, especially near the beach.
I don’t really feel qualified to give photographer advice as I think so much of the beauty of the art is that we are all so wonderfully diverse. The only thing I have to say that’s worth passing on is to not be afraid to say NO when you feel like a client is not a good fit for you, is trying to lead you in a direction you don’t want to go or you are not confident that you can deliver. There’s nothing more soul destroying than editing your way through a session that makes you cringe or jumping in too deep before you are ready & not meeting client expectation.

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Mother to three little men & one teeny lady, wife of photographer DAVID MOORE, teacher of high school History & photographer of families & small people. Lover of music, wine, jewellery, fabulous frocks & the stuff that other people throw away (I live for Council Clean-up)!

Despite being heavily involved in the photography business of my husband, for about a decade I did not seriously pick up the camera until about three years ago. Tired of my over-the-shoulder critiques & too time-poor to capture our own family’s story, Dave handed me the camera & told me, “do it yourself then” & so I did. I’ve not looked back.

I am COMPELLED to use my camera & will always find something to shoot. I want to document the everyday activities & interactions between people that make them a family. My true desire is to capture individuals the way their loved ones see them. I want to hang out at your house & watch you all cook or go to the beach with you & the dog & have a swim. I want your kids to show me their special little treasures, most likely they will be the things you want to throw out! If you’ve got a baby belly I’m probably going to want to touch it & make completely random guesses about the gender! I don’t however, want to put your baby in a basket, a flower pot or a tiny suit! If that’s what you’re into then that’s cool, it simply means I’m not the right person to photograph your family.

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31 EPIC SUMMER SESSIONS, DEAR PHOTOGRAPHER, PHOTOGRAPHY

21/31 epic summer sessions

July 21, 2017by hellodearphotographerLeave a Comment

Is this session personal work or client work?

This session was personal. I shot these while we were on vacation.

Tell us a bit about the magic of summer + the connection to your lens?

Summer really is magical for me. I take so many photographs over the summer, I’m usually still editing them during the long nights of winter. I am always immensely inspired when I travel or when am exploring the outdoors. I love to hike and discover new places, and am very fortunate that my daughters and husband also share that love of adventure. While it is hard finding time to fit work in while my girls are off from school, just being able to spend so much more precious time caught up in their wonder makes me see the world with new eyes. I find that because of my photography, I allow myself to slow down with my girls. Any other time I’m in a rush for one reason or another. Because of my camera, I let them take off their shoes and splash in the stream longer, I let them get extra muddy, I let them take the long way home, I let them pick extra flowers, I’m the one who is lagging behind and slowing up the walk because I’m taking pictures. I’m thankful everyday for that kind of magic.

What about this session makes it an Epic summer session?

I love this location. We’ve been coming here for a few years. Its on the bay which gets way less crowded than the beach side (most of the time we have the entire place ourselves) and at low tide the water pulls back so far I can really capture the vastness of it all. I love huge horizons and tiny subjects. When we are lucky, the laughing gulls are also here taking a break from the crowds.
There really is no way of directing two nine year olds over the din of the gulls, and there really, really is no way of directing the birds. Lensbaby lenses are manual focus. Can you see where I’m headed? I had to just shoot hundreds of images and hope for the best. It is never fun culling through that many images at one time, but when you start finding the gems, it makes it all worth it. I love the movement that the gulls bring into the frame, the frozen chaos. My girls are always sure that this will be the time that they will catch one. So they sneak, they run, they try surprise attacks, and each of their failures ends in hysterical giggling as birds wings are ruffling their hair while they lazily take wing and land a few yards away…where the whole capture attempt begins anew.

What else is on your summer bucket list to photograph this summer?

My bucket list is pretty much bottomless so I will save you from all of my grand dreams of travel and adventure! My girls and I have just started planning a road trip across the country, from coast to coast. It is something that I have wanted to do my entire life. It’s not going to happen this summer, but for now, we are having fun planning and researching.
Realistically this summer I just want to photograph with all of my heart. I’m taking a little hiatus from client work this year so my focus is solely on my family and my own whims. I’m exploring new techniques and ideas, being open to inspiration as it comes. We are taking advantage of some of the closer to home wonders that we have overlooked for the grander. I want to shoot more of the sea, I’ve always had a fierce connection to the ocean. I want to shoot more car trips, I love photographing from the passenger seat. I want to shoot more hiking, I love capturing my girls discovering new things in the wilds. I want to shoot more street photography…I have inane fear of photographing strangers but I see such beautiful and magnificent stories all around me.

What gear was used to achieve these?

I shot these with my Canon 6d and my Lensbaby Edge50 lens. I love the Lensbaby Edge lenses (I use both the 50 and the 80) for the freenlensed look I can achieve with them while having the security of the lens affixed to the camera. Because of that reason, I use them almost exclusively when I’m out in the elements, like at the beach or doing any hiking.

Any summer tips or photographer advice?

The only thing I can say is just have fun. Use your photography as a way to get into the moment…with your children, family, friends, significant other, or even just yourself. Just go with the flow and don’t give into the urge to amend and direct the scene. Try and use your photography as a way of slowing down and really taking note and enjoying the things that capture your heart and imagination. Make the most of the longest days of the year. Don’t even stress about perfect lighting, perfect composure, etc…if you feel it, shoot it! What you shoot with your heart will always mean more to you than what you shot with your head.

ABOUT THE ARTIST :
I crave the sun and I’m happiest when I’m barefoot. I am inexplicably drawn to the ocean and I love epic long car trips, finding new places, and museums. I collect vintage photographs and old books. My girls and I look for treasure everywhere we go, which almost always is found in the form of pretty rocks, funny pine cones, and gnarled feathers….most of which end up going through the wash at the end of the day. We live in a small town in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Pennsylvania.
I am moved by gritty, emotive, and real photography. I tend to shoot the way I dream, blurred, surreal, and a bit dark. I love my Lensbabies and am quickly amassing a collection of vintage film lenses.

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