Canon 5D Mark IV with 70-200 mm lens (With Lightroom Edits)
This was a beautiful day in Webster MA when I decided to turn my sister into a model and shoot a few images in a nearby park. Also, this was a great opportunity to test my 70-200mm lens that I recently got my hands on.
This photo session turned out really unique due to the time of the day I usually don't shoot between 3-4 pm, but this was an exclusion from the rules since we were constrained by time. The light was too high, but we found some shade eventually. If you want to create beautiful shots, you must catch the golden hour, it is around 5:30-7 pm during spring/summer. That is the most flattering light you could find. Or you can start early at around 8-9 am when the sun didn't reach its peak hour, that is 12 pm. At 12 pm the light will be harsh and will create shadows under the eyes and accentuate every wrinkle and blemish on the face. Not to mention blown-out highlights, dark shadows, etc.
The power of editing. I decided to make this shot much brighter than the first one you saw in this blog post, just to change up the mood and play with colors.
While working with your models professional or amateur, you have to make sure they feel comfortable with you in order for them to open up and show a variety of emotions. Some photographers overlook this important point by being caught up with the technical aspects of photography such as lighting, camera settings, composition, etc. However, if you could focus and direct your model during the shoot, it will make a world of difference in your photography.
Shooting with natural light could be tricky when for example sun goes in and out of clouds. You will find yourself constantly changing settings in your camera. That being said, however, finding shade or using a defuser during bright light situations can rectify the quality of your photos.
I have a couple of cameras that I use for my photoshoots, my main camera is Canon 5D Mark IV. My second body is Canon 6D and lastly, my cropped sensor camera that I use for travels, 4K video shooting, and overall on-the-go work is Lumix GH4. One of my favorite lenses is Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L, this one is great for portraits, sports, wildlife, and more. My other favorite is Canon EF 85mm f/1.8, amazing for portraits with its wide aperture of 1.8 it creates a beautiful shallow depth of field that isolates the subject from its background, something all photographers love! And lastly, my wide-angle lens is Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L, this one I use primarily for Real Estate shots and landscapes, but this lens is also amazing for environmental portraits.