*Sigh*

It's just what I needed. A relief. A pleasure, really. I got to photograph F. and her new little L., today. She's just a month old, but look at all that hair. Thanks a bunch for a fun time making pictures, F.

Nikon D800, 105mm f/2.8 VR Macro lens, f/8, 1/200s, ISO 100.

Technical stuff. We made this picture on the side while making portraits for the Portland Urgent Care clinic where F. works. Effectively, that means I had the lights setup in a specific manner that helps ensure the portraits are all similar, which means I couldn't easily move it to make a piece of art for mother and daughter. 

I had a black backdrop, a small octabox up front, and a barebulb strobe with a reflector in the back. Without changing my light settings, I brought F. a little closer to the octa to wrap her and baby in a softer light (the closer, the softer). We made several frames here, but this was my favorite, shot with me on a chair so I could see from a little above.

Reminder: Mother's Day

It's Mother's Day this weekend, guys. Yeah, it's sneaks up on you. Here's a little something a couple of guys could give their lady love for the holiday.

Nikon D800, 105mm f/2.8 Micro VR lens, f/20, 1/160s, ISO 100.

A Little Sunshine for the Eye Guy

I made this last night. Matt Hammond is a terrific doctor. You've probably seen his ads in the HomeTown Values Magazine each month: he's the Eye Guy. And he's really a terrific fellow; I love working for him and his family. 

Nikon D800, 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII lens @

Last night we made some new head shots for Dr. Hammond, and as well as senior pictures for his son (those to come). I just couldn't pass up this picture, though, as he held his littlest girl in his arm.

These are some you may have seen in the HTV Mag. We made these last Summer. Let me tell you: Dr. Hammond's family is great to work with...but Big Blue is a riot!

Nikon D800, 28-300mm VR lens @250mm, f/8, 1/250s, ISO 100.

Nikon D800, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @62mm, f/9, 1/160s, ISO 100.

Nikon D800, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @250mm, f/9, 1/160s, ISO 100.

Nikon D800, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @96mm, f/9, 1/160s, ISO 100.

Cuteness

There's not much to say, really. She's cute. Adorable, even.

Nikon D800, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 62mm, f/8, 1/250s, ISO 160.

This one is made with an SB-800 and an SB-900 fired through a five-in-one reflector with the cover removed, revealing the diffusion panel. The diffusion fabric enlarges the tiny speedlights and makes a very soft light. The fabric is just out of the frame on the right, and the two flashes are shining through on both ends. Also, this is black and white made in the camera using the red filter in the monochrome settings. Try it on your camera--I think you'll like it.

Madonna and Child

Nikon D800, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 36mm, f/8, 1/320s, ISO 640, Nik Color Efex 4.

New Brother

This is Turbo. He's having trouble saying his C's, but it's cute 'cause he's two. The littler one is C., and she's 6...days old. Turbo is still adjusting to the situation, I think. In another picture he was supposed to give her a kiss, and he put his mouth right close to her head and then looked like he was about to bite into it like an apple...

He'll adjust.

Nikon D800, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @100mm, f/8, 1/160s, ISO 800, Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

Harbinger

If you look through this blog, you won't see newborn babies in pea pods dangling from a snagly branch over the raging surf during a beautiful sunset. It's not that I don't think that wouldn't be a beautiful (if insanely dangerous) picture...it's just not my style.

My style is usually mom and dad with their little kiddo, brother and sister with the new sibling--these pictures I love, and I can interact with and make a more real picture. There's only so much emotion I can elicit from a crocheted owl touque.

But I do enjoy making pictures with meaningful objects, stuff from the family, stuff that might be with the kid for a while. Grandma's blanket, dad's christening clothes, mom's teddy bear, the blanket auntie made. These things have more meaning, and help tie an image to the past, to the family. I dig that.

And this little guy sure dug it, too, when we swaddled him in dad's high school football jersey. Something about all that old sweat and grass stains must be comforting.

Nikon D800, 70-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 98mm, f/5.6, 1/160s, ISO 640, Nik Color Efex Pro 4.

A New One...

This is little A.; she's just a couple of months old, and makes a room light up with her little smile.

Nikon D7000, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II lens @70mm, f/4, 1/500s, ISO 640.

Fortunate Meeting

I was just thinking to myself, "I need a baby to try this look on..." and low and behold, W. & W. were introduced to me with their little J. Sure had fun making pictures with them in a hurry this morning!

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 110mm, f/5.6, 1/250s, ISO 640.

New Mom

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 155mm, f/10, 1/250s, ISO 200.

Finally!

Nikon D700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR ens @ 65mm, f/8, 1/200s, ISO 200, Paul C. Buff PLM.

First of all, let me just say that this guy, despite this image, is seriously adorable. I like this picture very much, though, and so did N and J, because it shows an expression that is uniquely him. All babies look cute in a basket, and they all look very similar. Only little Q. looks like this in a basket!

Shooting with N and J was really  pleasure all it's own. Their love for both each other and Q was right on the surface, and for me has truly shown through in these images. They are some of my favorite images I have ever made. I hope you like them, too.

Nikon d700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 90mm, f/11, 1/200s, ISO 800, Paul C. Buff PLM.

Nikon D700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR ens @ 135mm, f/8, 1/200s, ISO 200, Paul C. Buff PLM. 

Nikon D700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR ens @ 135mm, f/8, 1/200s, ISO 200, Paul C. Buff PLM.

Can't Wait

I had the pleasure of shooting some family portraits for J & N's with their new little guy, Q. I'm really excited to show the images to them tomorrow. Since they haven't seen them yet, it's not fair to post a bunch here...but I just can't wait! 

Here's something to tide me over.

Nikon D700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 300mm, f/5.6, 1/200s, ISO 200, Paul C. Buff PLM.

Catching Up

Wow, what a great season for making pictures! The weather is warming and I think the tree outside my window is finally about to bud. And these little guys are smiling big--even they can tell Spring is in the air.

Here're just a few quick picks--lots of portraits in queue coming up soon...

Brand New (Newborn Photography)

Nikon D700, 55mm f/3.5 Micro lens, f/4.0, 1/50s, ISO 800.

K. was born just a few hours before I made these images with her and her parents. She was red. Not, like kinda pink, or blushing in spots--she was marinara red all over. Really pretty amazing to a guy who hasn't had kids of his own, yet. She was so soft and small.

This next image is a favorite from our few minutes in the hospital because of the caring gesture evident in Dad's working man hands.

Nikon D700, 55mm f/3.5 Micro lens, f/4.0, 1/50s, ISO 800.

I enjoyed this shoot immensely. Seeing the new love for this little girl was great, but for me the best part is recording her first day on Earth, her tininess, and her family's enjoyment of her. This job rocks.

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 110mm, f/4.0, 1/250s, ISO 800.

Nikon D700, 55mm f/3.5 Micro lens, f/4,  1/50s, ISO 800.

J. and Little S.

This is a quick peek at a fun session we had the other day. S. is just ten days old here.

Nikon D700, 85mm f/1.8 lens, f/5.6, 1/320s, ISO 400.

A Little Family Action

This little family was in the Studio a little while ago and I never got the chance to share these with you. The little guy is just a couple of months old, and barely holding his own melon up, but he sure was fun to have in the shop.

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 70mm, f/5.6, 1/125s, ISO 400.

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 190mm, f/4.0, 1/250s, ISO 400.

What a Week...

It's been a busy, busy week, culminating in some terrific photographs today. I can't even wrap my mind around how fortunate I was to work with two great families this afternoon, in addition to some other projects that are wrapping up. 

These are a few quick picks from J and S's little family, with C as the newest addition. 

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @110mm, f/6.3, 1/100s, ISO 400.

Nikon D700, 50mm f/1.4 lens, f/4.5, 1/200s, ISO 400.

Nikon D700, 50mm f/1.4 lens, f/2.8, 1/250s, ISO 400.

Nikon D700, 50mm f/1.4 lens, f/2.8, 1/250s, ISO 400.

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @110mm, f/64.5, 1/250s, ISO 400.

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @120mm, f/6.3, 1/100s, ISO 400.

Mother and Child

There's nothing better than capturing feelings in a photograph. This is the holy grail for photographers--to create an image showing emotion and moment and, most importantly, have it be natural looking. 

In this picture, K is nuzzling on little S who is just a handful of days old. K has been toting her around for the last forty weeks, of course, but it's awesome to watch them develop a relationship together that involves more than rough pokes in the tummy at all hours of the night.

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 125mm, f/8.0, 1/200s, ISO 400, SB-600 through Zumbrella.

When making this portrait I knew I wanted to show mother bundling daughter in close, both protectively and tenderly. K had brought along her beautiful pashmina and it's tones and texture really complimented the feel of this image. Next, the focus had to be clearly on the forms of the two of them wrapped up together, so I used my favorite red filtered monochrome settings in the camera to eliminate distractions from K's beautiful blond hair, the periwinkle blue pashmina, and, fortunately, the veins in little S's skin. Still, to further focus attention on their faces, I positioned my strobe high and slightly to to the right, fired through an umbrella to soften and sculpt the light (I use a Zumbrella, however, the exact same one is a much better value directly from Westcott--let me know if you want one 'cause I think I'll order another this week). I chose an umbrella in this case because it allows the light to fall off the edges of the pictures so nicely, giving a natural vignette. In post production, I gently increased the falloff of light with a little more vignette, softened the pashmina, brightened a little stripe of hair, and removed creases from the pashmina that were slightly distracting from the faces. It turned out just as I envisioned, and I hope K likes it.

Here's a little something we made on Christmas morning. Little S. is about six months old, and she and her mom wrote a poem for D. about their relationship and their hands. Mom used a stock photo to present the gift, but really wanted an actual picture of dad and daughter to keep with the poem.

Nikon D7000, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 140mm, f/5.6, 1/200s, ISO 400, SB-800 fired through 

a zumbrella at 1/64 power.

This sort of thing is really fun! When a client has an idea of what the picture should look like, and then I get to help realize that vision into a beautiful piece of art made of the family--so totally fulfilling. Thanks, K.!

Can't Win 'em All

Sometimes, you just don't get the smiley shot. Fortunately, it wasn't my shoot! I just snuck in a few shots while my students were renting The Studio for shooting their kids' portraits. What a fun bunch they were! I learned a lot about having five kids running amok in The Studio all at once; it can be done! they kept the energy high, anyway, and the smiles were flowing freely. This not-so-smiley one was the last image made that day, and mom already had some good ones.


Click through for a few more.