Layers

D. doing yoga, because she wanted some great images of her doing yoga. It’s not boudoir, but it is a cool image.

I talk a lot about what I want to capture when I shoot: motion, emotion, character.

Or: outdoor boudoir, where the epic and the intimate meet.

Or simply: you.

And, that’s true.

But….

But that’s not all I want to capture when I shoot. I want to capture great light. I want to capture interesting people. I want to capture nice butts and plunging décolletage and smiles and laughs and falling water and epic views. Sometimes I want to capture the way your hair blows in the wind, I want to capture the way your freckles look in the fading summer light. I care too much about the way light reflects in the eye.

One of the things I love about photography is there’s no one thing to take pictures of. No one way to take pictures. The other day I was shooting someone with UV paint and Christmas lights and glowing mushrooms and fairy wings. Because why not?

And yes, I try and keep “on brand” as they call it, but I just love taking pictures, typically, but not always, of people. I also really like taking picture of glass bottles, because it’s hard to do well. It’s a challenge. It stretches me as a photographer.

Basically, what I’m saying here is I’m like an Ogre. I have layers. And just because I lead with “wanna shoot outdoors at -35 because the frost looks so great right now?” Doesn’t mean that’s the end of the ideas. Wanna shoot indoors in a tub full of bubbles? Wanna do an adult birthday cake smash? Wanna get all cuddly with your SO? Wanna shoot shibari? Wanna shoot with dramatic light and look like a superhero? Wanna dance on a mountaintop in a fancy dress? The ideas are endless.

And more than that, I am always and ever open to ideas. “Hey,” you might say. “I’ve seen these really cool shots of people painted with UV paint and fairy wings and glowing mushrooms. Do you do that?” I do. Indeed. Or maybe you’re wondering: “Hey, I need some headshots for my business, do you think you could shoot some professional shots?” Yes indeed.

There are only a few things I won’t shoot. Things that denigrate or humiliate the person I am taking pictures of is a big one. Things that put you into a box and don’t celebrate who you are as a person. Walking along a railway track (both dangerous and cliche). You don’t have to get naked if you don’t want to. You don’t have to dress a certain way or act a certain way if you don’t want to, or pose just so. Each session is crafted specifically for you.

Because just like an ogre, you’ve got layers, too.