The most challenging part of any family or child portrait session is the child.  This little guy was not all that interested in the photo session, but he loved throwing oranges.  So, guess what he did throughout the session… that’s right, he gathered and threw oranges.  And that is perfectly fine.  A happy child, makes for a great portrait.  I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to allow children to enjoy themselves during a portrait session.  Try to control them and they will always win that battle.  Want to win the battles?  Don’t fight them.  Go with the flow and great things happen in a portrait session.

PS, I do not advocate letting children call the shots in raising children, just in photographing them.

The real key to this photo shoot was scouting.  We were on a time schedule: so we needed a location near the family’s home in Mesa, AZ, and it needed to look good in the morning light.  I had only one afternoon free for scouting locations, which meant that I had to use my experience, guided by my iPhone compass and sunrise calculator to calculate where the sun would rise and where and how it would strike the various locations.  Finally, this location won out because of the ease of access for the family, protection from direct sunlight and beauty.  You certainly wouldn’t think you were in the middle of a city.

And of course, the props were perfect.  Crates, baskets, benches, oranges and a red flyer wagon helped pull the whole thing together.

LIGHTS ON!

Continued from Megan and Brandon in Disneyland

While we shot this set of images in Disneyland, I was not thrilled that the lights behind Megan and Brandon were dark.  Comparing the two final shots, there is no question that when the lights are out, the image suffers, and while you may never have noticed it, if I had never shown you the alternative, there is now doubt that turn them on, was a must.  Now, I didn’t have an option ast Disneyland to pester someone until they turned on the lights.  In fact, they are probably timed to turn on only a dusk.  So, I was obliged to fix this in post-production.  But as many of you know, I am loathed to open Photoshop if I do not absolutely have to do so.  So I will show you how to take care of this in Adobe Lightroom.

By the way, I don’t hate Photoshop.  I love it, but it is only used in my studio for very serious work that ca be done nowhere else.  Most of the time, we can get almost everything we need to do, done in Lightroom.  We only use photoshop to finish our Artist Edited Images.

LIGHTS OFF!

See the Lightroom tutorial video below.

Adobe Ligtroom – Magic with the Adjustment Brush from Jared Platt on Vimeo.

I spent a day with Megan and Brandon in Disneyland.  There is nothing more entertaining than to spend a day photographing in Disneyland.  I have never been one for the rides and such, but I have always enjoyed watching people in the magical kingdom and this time I was invited to do so.  Megan (like her family) is a Disneyland expert.  She has been to the park too many times to count.  They knew all the ins and outs.  I was traveling with the experts.

While we got a lot of photographs that have iconic disney elements in them, I was much more drawn to the less obviously Disney elements and more toward the opportunities for beautiful backdrops.  And who doesn’t love the visual of a carousel in the background?

Also, you might notice that I typically look for shade as much as I possibly can.  Especially when I am trying to keep a low profile and so not have the option of reflectors and flashes, I am going to look for open shade opportunities to get the very best light.

And of course, how can you go to disneyland without getting poked in the forehead by Goofy, or one of the gang?

The New Orleans section of Disneyland was my favorite place to photograph.  It is very well designed and feels very like the real place, except that there are a million people with Mickey balloons and mouse ears, rather than beers and beads.  We found this little nook and staircase that was perfect for shooting, but as it was daytime, no one bothered to turn on the lamps hanging on the wall in the background.  So I turned them on myself.  (more on that in tomorrow’s post)

Watch the Engagement slideshow below.

Megan and Brandon’s Engagement Portrait Session from Jared Platt on Vimeo.

My Lightroom Workflow Workshop in New Orleans on November 8th, 2010 is now part of the Pictage Partner Conference and is now FREE to all attending the conference.  I am thrilled to be able to work with Pictage to provide such a valuable day of training in post production workflow to so many photographers.

The Lightroom Workflow Workshop Tour 2010 from Jared Platt on Vimeo.

Pictage’s goal with Partner Conference has always been to educate photographers and elivate their business and their vission and craft.  There is no greater comunity in the portrait and wedding industry than the Pictage community.  And Partner Conference is open to anyone, not just Pictage users.  It is a fantastic learning expereience.  Anyone who is in the industry, beginner or seasoned pro, can learn a great deal and have a blast at Partner Conference.

The early bird special ends this Firday, Spet 10.  So sign up for Partner Con, come to New Orleans and make sure you get there on Sunday night so you can take my workshop on Monday to kick of your week of learning right.

Reserve your seat for the Lightroom Workflow Workshop in New Orleans Now! It is FREE to anyone attending the Pictage Partner Conference.