Epic, Part 2

This post (Part 2) is dedicated to Photography / Styling tips.

Examples from Epic, Part 1 and Part 2 will demonstrate how telling a visual story through photos can have endless possibilities. 

Photography / Styling Tips

1.           Determine the mood of your location:

·         It is important feel out the mood of where you are.  Is it funny, quirky, pretty, urban or natural?

·         After you determine the mood then decide if you should capture the mood in the photographs or contrast it.

·         For me, in Part 1 there was a deeply magical and epic mood where we stopped. No people were around, the wind was blazing, mist was rolling through the hills down to the beach and the sun was only casting light on one tiny part of the ocean.

·         I felt serene.  I felt like I was inside of an Impressionist painting.  I wanted the wind to dance around me and lift my spirits.  Danielle captured that mood!  (example here, and here)

·         In contrast, Part 2 has blazing sunlight, open hills and a random white house plopped in the middle of nowhere.  A feeling of freedom and journey influenced a free spirit mood.

2.           Capture the mood of your location:

·         There was so much to explore in both locations that the best pictures were the ones that were natural shots of me moving around and twirling with the wind.

·         In Part 1, the photos would have been more contrived and less intimate if I was just doing static poses for the camera. I frolicked in through the paths and really let the wind play with the length of my skirt. (example here)

·         In contrast, Part 2 called for more static poses along the house to capture a more editorial feeling.  Even though we were in nature, the mood felt like what you would see in an Urban Outfitters catalog--city outfit against a natural setting.

3.           Make sure the subject feels comfortable

·         It is important to capture the true character of the subject you are photographing.

·         Andy brought his guitar/harmonica, so he was playing and singing while I danced in the wind and my sister snapped some photos.

·         This made it so much fun for all of us.  My sister forgot she was taking photos and I forgot I was having my picture taken while I was dancing around.

·         The best photos are when you feel like you know the person or want to know more.

4.           Be consistent

·         Keep the style/mood consistent throughout each photo. 

·         Use the photos to tell a story--but make it your own personal story.

And most of all have fun! 
Hope you all have an EPIC day!

xoxo