This week I was reviewing some shoots I did last summer and decided that I could surely make a better job of the editing since I have learned so much more about Lightroom and digital editing.

One shoot in particular stood out as deserving a re-work, it was one I did last June with Alix and Nikkie in our local church-yard (scene of so many of my shoots, but ever changing and full of potential).

First to get the new treatment was Nikkie, she had long blonde hair and a certain enigmatic look

Nikkie

The previous edit I had done was a little flat, now she has a ‘glow’ about her and coupled with a subtle vignette really lifts her from the background.

I also had some shots of her surrounded by deep green foliage to accent her green eyes – and again the early edit was just flat, but now we have :

Nikkie in the Ivy

And lastly I had a full face shot, again high sun and a little shade – and I wanted that glow with a softened skin texture, so we ended up with

Nikkie on the kissing gate

But I wasn’t just shooting with Nikkie, I also had the good fortune to be working with her older sister Alix – and I don’t think I could have got a bigger contrast unless I’d deliberately cast 2 models. Where Nikkie is blonde with green eyes, Alix had dark hair and brown eyes and a completely different look.

Unfortunately for me, none of the pictures of the two girls together really came off – individually they showed real promise but I couldn’t bring that out in the shoot as a pair, but here’s Alix

Alix under the arch

Again I’ve gone for the ethereal look and it works differently with Alix as she has a more pointed chin and looks more ‘fairy’ with her make-up and clothing.

And when I put her fully into the sun her hair really shows off it’s colour

Alix in the sun

And then how does she look in the deeper foliage ?

Alix under the trees

So what next for these old shoots ? – Well I’m shooting Alix again tomorrow to see how I can work with her now almost a year later, and I’m hoping to shoot Nikkie again during the Easter school holidays – so watch the blog so the new story.

And finally, I have to say thanks to Sean Shimmel, a photographer in Chicago who inspired me to go back over this old shoot after I saw a recent set of pictures he produced of an old student visitor to us here in Owston Ferry – so thanks to Sean and Kristine over in Chicago, hope to work with you soon

You can see Sean’s blog here  http://www.lifeascinema.blogspot.com/ it’s worth a look

Last Sunday I had the opportunity to photograph a little girl that I had been meaning to work with for quite a while. Kristie is the daughter of a friend, and my own Daughter (and assistant) Abbie had been on at me for ages to photograph her, reminding me how gorgeous she was.

Anyway, a chance encounter in the street led to me arranging the shoot at very short notice – but the weather was good and off we went.

We started of in the local park

Kristie in the park

but it soon became apparent that although Kristie was happy to play she didn’t really want me to take her photograph – and as the park is a familiar place to her she knew where to go to avoid the camera !!.

So I suggested we walk to the local churchyard instead, an area I know is good for lifestyle images, and one that Krisye was unfamiliar with so curiosity would hopefully distract her so I could get my pictures.

Kristie red door

On the way up the street to church we passed a house with a bright red door, too good an opportunity to miss as Kristie was wearing a white dress and white coat – up on the step and a few quick shots – then off to church.

In the churchyard

In the churchyard we really were spoiled for choice of shooting possibilities, we had trees and daffodils and the lych gate – so many options. Unfortunately we were pretty limited with time so it really was a quick run round to see how each area worked out – we especially liked the daffodils

Kristie in the daffodils

That evening I was able to edit down the shoot and also produce a DVD movie in Pro Show Gold so that Grandma could see the pictures on her TV, and all was presented to Kristie’s Mum on Monday evening (the day after the shoot).

And was it successful – I guess it must have been because the same evening Kristie’s Dad rang to say how much he enjoyed the pictures – and did I mind if he sent some off to a few model agencies !! – I’d call that a result.

Kristie