I want to spend the next few months focusing on the art of Storytelling.  Regardless of technical know-how, storytelling images are what impacts people.  One could argue that storytelling images are the “only” ones that impact wedding and portrait clients.  As photographers, we often think clients are focused on how good our Composition is.  But the truth, the only thing our clients see is Content.  You may have taken a horrible photo during the wedding of two grandmas frowning, but your bride LOVES it because that is Aunt Betsy and Aunt Ruthie who NEVER smile but also haven’t seen each other in 40 years.  When thinking about how to market to clientele, you can’t ever lose sight of how important Content is.

Whether you are a newbie with a Point-and-Shoot or an Aspiring Pro, you can get storytelling image on Auto Mode with a little direction.  BUT, if you have a 50mm lenses or macro lens, I want to encourage you to try those lenses and shoot at low apertures/f-stops (f/1.4, f/1.8, f/2.0, up to f/3.5).

If you are working with a POINT and SHOOT camera, I encourage you to set your shooting mode to the Flower Icon.  Or you can try the Portrait Icon.  Both of these Shooting Modes automatically sets your camera to it’s lowest possible Aperture to give you that buttery, blurry effect.

If you have a DSLR camera but don’t have the 50mm or Macro Lens, try putting your camera in Aperture Priority Mode.  Scroll down to the lowest Aperture your lens is capable of.  And try to put as much distance between you and any objects in your background.  The cleaner your background, the more blur type effects you’ll get.

If you are comfortable with shooting in Manual feel free!

February’s assignment:  Storytelling with DEFINING DETAILS

You are going to need to pick two different people.  One could be one of your kids or a niece, nephew, friend’s child, even baby.  The second pick will be an elderly person (grandparent, great grandparent, etc.).  If you don’t have access to an elderly person, than your husband can work.

I want you to shoot five Details that matter to “this” season of their life.  Experiment with your macro lens, 50mm lens or low aperture.  Experience going super low in your f-stop and figure out what f-stop you like the best and why.  Be prepared to post 3-4 of those baby/child details and elderly details on the SOARORITY Forum.

We are going to take two diverse age groups because of how much we can gain from the comparisons and contrast.  I want you to pick one of your kids b/c you are living in their life.  In that sense, it will be challenging and easy for you.  I want you to pick an elderly person because it is most likely someone who isn’t living in your house, and an interview with them to start may be helpful.

Make notes on the following;  How did the interview go?  What did you learn to ask?  What did you ask them that you wish you didn’t ask?

Was it easier doing your baby/child’s details or easier doing an elderly person’s details?  Were the details bigger in size for one than the other?  Were the details momentary loves or timeless loves?  What do these Details tell us about your subjects, about humanity?

And if you are really loving this exercise (one of my favorites to do!), photograph the five DETAILS in your life.  How do they compare between the two subjects?  Are you surprised by what your DETAILS ended up being?

When I walk into doing a photoshoot, I’m aiming to capture several types of photos.  One type is DEFINING DETAILS.  Before I walk out, I want to know that I’ve captured the story of their life, and DEFINING DETAILS tell a significant part of that story.  And most likely, they will be surprised at how the things they see every day, hold more timely significance than they realized.

Meet Baby Henry!

I took these photos when Henry was no more three hours old!  I had to get the above photo of him with the little newborn cap because it’s a Defining Detail that all hospitals give to newborns.  But what about the detail of all his newborn hair! (Isn’t he just heavenly?!)

The nurse had stamped his footprints right before I got there.  I couldn’t resist when I saw the ink on his feet!

That ink is a detail that will be gone in the first week, if not the first few days!  And mom is so overwhelmed, she may not even remember the moment without a photo to recall it.  It’s amazing how we, as photographers, get to play a role of memory keeping.

And then there was the tucked in sweetness that he had with his mom.  This type of shot may even be more of a Setting photo (another Story Telling Element that we will be revisiting).  The detail for me was his little ear.  I focused on his little ear as an experiment.  I wondered if it would draw more attention to the detail of his tiny fingers and precious profile.  Sometimes we can draw peoples’ attention to a certain point by NOT focusing on it, but letting the detail be a subtlety.

Defining details is one of my favorite Story Telling Elements to consider when doing a photo shoot–no matter how young or old my subject is!

Feel free to do this exercise with a few different people!  Try a newborn if you have access to one of those little miracles!  You may find yourself doing all of these shots in one sitting.  Or you may go back to the subjects a couple times.  But in the end, you want 4-5 images total for every example of each subject.  So that will be 10 images.

Be prepared to post 3-4 of those child details and elderly details on the SOARORITY forum this week and next week!  Yes, I didn’t stutter!  🙂   This is where the learning becomes wonderfully rich, as we learn from each other!

xoxo,

Me Ra

p.s.  I’m headed to NY this morning (unexpectedly!  Got the call Friday evening!) for a favorite NY setting to talk about a certain book of mine! I’m bursting with excitement at this unexpected invitation!  More details, maybe even Defining Details, to come!  🙂