The Joy of Family Photography

Family photography has made me a better person.

A strong statement to be sure.

As my photographic journey has evolved, there was a time where I had hoped to be a moody portrait and landscape photographer and the thought of making a living shooting family sessions was the last thing I thought I would be doing.

After many more rotations around the sun I have come to realize that I absolutely love the fact that I have become more of a generalist than a specific genre style photographer. I need to say it again. Family sessions HAVE made me a better person. Shooting families requires patience and a different skillset than normal portrait work. It has to be genuine to be effective. I strongly feel you can’t fake it…you have to be invested in what you are shooting. The need to get to know a group of people in a very short time…put them at ease in order to get a great family image is a skill I never knew I had. This is a skill that wasn’t necessarily there when I started but grew quickly as I evolved.

I envy other photographers that do many sessions a day…volume is profit and I know bills must be paid but as of yet I haven’t been able to achieve the volume based approach. I seldom plan for more than two sessions a day unless I have no choice. I enjoy getting to know the family as much as I can before the shoot so that I can make the actual shoot as easy for them as possible. It’s just as much about who I am as it is who they are. The number of families I have shot are in the hundreds and the one aspect that started to jump out at me was the better images were based on better investment. I wasn’t always engaged as I am now…but it was a learning curve that I quickly understood that if I didn’t invest my effort in…the output was obviously not as good.

Over time two individuals have inspired me to be a better family photographer. I have had the wonderful opportunity to get to know both of them. If I had chosen a different path I don’t think I would have every crossed paths. Fate strikes again.

The first is a New Brunswick photographer by the name of Joni Burt. Having been lucky enough to meet her in person and even shoot alongside her has left its mark on my outlook. Her style is unique and honest but what struck me the most was her ability to be genuine and kind when she works with her clients. This lady has mad skills. Her enthusiasm for what she does is contagious and if you aren’t a better person for knowing her, well, you should be. After watching her work, listening to her speak and looking at her results, it help me move forward to better embrace what I want to be as a person and a photographer. It again showed investment bares results. You can see her amazing work here: https://www.facebook.com/JoniBurttPhotography

The second individual might not be as obvious as to why I would be influenced. She is one of Chicago’s best wedding photographers and has a style very unique and creative. Elena Bazini shoots from her heart and even when she is overcome by the sheer volume of her work she finds a way to make each experience special for her clients. Elena has an infectious enthusiasm as well…she teaches by doing and if you have the time to listen and watch you will become better yourself. Elena’s work can be found here: http://elenabaziniphotography.com/

This past year has been a struggle for everyone. I don’t need to elaborate details but trying to be a photographer in the middle of a pandemic is a challenge to say the least. I personally have  had more clients cancel sessions than show up but the ones that have shown up seem to have one thing in common…a true appreciation of what family is. A very common thread of discussion at the sessions this past 9 months, have been around how much more folks simply appreciate family time.

Social distancing and isolation have left families torn apart and when the opportunity is there to get together safely, family images are more appreciated now than ever and I enjoy being part of that.

After my arrival in Halifax and the wonderful support we received, I decided that I needed to give something back to this wonderful community. I asked my followers on Facebook to nominate families that might not be able to afford sessions for what ever reason. I was blown away by the response and as a result I chose five families from the list of many and set up complimentary sessions for them. The families nominated were an incredible cross section of society and made it quite difficult to choose. The families were comprised of strong single parents, young families struggling to make ends meet or families that were dealing with health issues or great personal loss.

After each of the complimentary sessions I was left with some level of astonishment. One mother working hard to protect her two daughters from the dark side of relationships, one family struggling with the loss of a loved one or a family preparing to be without a loved one or a family struggling to be young parents and making it work. I found myself parked on the side of the road after one session. The emotion of the day had caught up to me. I knew at that moment that fate had caused the afternoon to happen and despite the emotion of the moment, I would be better off for having been there.

I am better for knowing each and everyone of them and I do hope I get to see or photograph them again as their story evolves.

So…family sessions are now the mainstay of my journey.

Yes…I still shoot moody portraits and as much landscape as I can find but getting to know a crazy family of five or a quiet family of three makes the challenge of being a family photographer that much more rewarding. I am finally at the point that I can say honestly, that I am a Family Photographer and proud to be one.

We all need family at times like this and I am more than grateful that I can help by giving a family a lasting image of who they are.

2020 .... We did our best....

2021… New Year, new outlook…new hope.

Looking back…

If there was one thing that 2020 taught me is that I had to start shooting things that mattered to me. Things and subjects that I wanted to shoot…not that I needed to photograph.

I feel strongly that seeking your own path is the most important component to being creative. The lone trail that you and you only travel gathering new snippets of creative energy as you go.

2020 caused me to take a very intense look at whether or not I still wanted to own a camera never mind attempt to carve out a living using it. I had so much peripheral noise in my life…early retirement, planning the move east complicated of course by the ever annoying pandemic, that photography seemed all but a distant dream.

A couple things happened that help keep me on the rails. As I knew I was retiring in April, the drilling project I was working on as a farewell tour allowed me access  to a part of me that I had all but buried. My career. I started documenting the final months of the project and quickly compiled a very detailed body of work I have grown to be quite satisfied with. It wasn’t as creative as I wanted my photography to be but it kept me engaged.

The second was a short but important conversation I had with a close friend and fellow photographer. He reassured me that my photography was worth continuing and not to give up. Eric was the reason I discovered photography in the first place as he convinced me to become a High School year book photographer capturing candid images of our senior year in a Montreal High School in 1973. Eric and I didn’t see much of each other after we left Montreal but have always kept in touch and he has been a large supporter of my work. I trust his opinion…no sugar coating just honesty that can only come from a good friend.

So I completed the docu-series for the company I was working for, and quietly left the industry that had paid the rent for 42 years. No tearful goodbyes, no parties…the company just closed up due to COVID and I became a hostage to the first lockdown. The last 13 days of my career were spent sitting on my front steps watching the world go by. There was a Zoom meeting that was held so folks could say a few words but it just wasn’t the same.

So next up was the move to Halifax. In the middle of the pandemic. Needless to say that despite having to drive in a small RV across the country with my wife and her prize asthmatic and diabetic cat we made it to our new home in Halifax only to have wait in isolation for our furniture to show up some ten days later. As soon as we emerged from our quarantine time I began to walk as often as I could. The walking started in Calgary before we left but only manifested itself as true therapy after our arrival in Halifax. My camera became a regular companion at that point and the newness of the city and it’s amazing pathways and trails offered up what seems like endless compositions. 

It was on one of those walks that I came to the realization that I had to give myself permission to shoot for myself selfishly. I had read blog after blog and watched/listened to countless pod casts from other photographers speaking to their own journeys and how they embraced their own visions but only after coming to terms to shoot for themselves and not for what IG or FB said they should be doing. I had finally seen that light…

I can remember the exact moment the clarity hit me. It was early morning and I had snuck out hoping to create some image associated with the amazing sunrise that day. I found a new path that lead to a new lake, absolutely no wind, perfect reflections and the most amazing sense of peace overcame me. The images I created that morning will be some of the most satisfying images I have ever taken. There were no restrictions on my time, no phone ringing every 5 minutes with problems to solve and most importantly a very distinct lack of stress. That pressure in my chest that had been there for nearly 18 months…was gone. I couldn’t stop smiling and luckily I don’t think anyone else witnessed my embarrassing moment of self joy.

The moment I started over….

Since that day my camera and I have been together almost every day. To pay the bills I need to use my enjoyment of Family Photography and headshots to get by but it has benefited greatly from my sense of peace of shooting freely again. The weight of chasing “likes” and “favs” had all but disappeared. 

Having a true identity as a photographer has ruined many talented shooters. The endless argument of having to classified as photographer of some set genre was resolved for me that July morning. When asked what I shoot now my response is simply…”I’m a generalist…I’ll shoot just about anything now.”

I love shooting simple things other people don’t see in everyday life. It’s been the underlying consistent theme since I first owned a camera. Be it film or digital I have always thrived by simply walking with my camera trying with all my being to translate what I see with my eyes into an image that my camera captures and allows me to create a pleasing photograph to no one else but me.

August brought me to yet another creative portrait workshop hosted by the amazing Dave Brosha. I arrived at the workshop fresh with creative ideas and intent. I have culled my portrait talents from emulating the works of Wayne Simpson, Joel Grimes and Dave himself. The workshop was a complete success for me….I created images that I was proud of for no other reason than they came as a result of ideas I had before I arrived at the workshop and with some intent…executed on the vision. 

As fall rolled by, my Family Sessions dominated my shoot time but as opposed to past years I never lost the desire to shoot for myself. Walking helped bridge the gap once again and I even managed to squeeze in a couple of personal sessions to keep the juices flowing. Photography was fun again. 

Another milestone for me this past year came when had a brief conversation with a young man in a park after I was finished a session with another great family. When asked if I was a “real” photographer. I responded with confidence….yes…I am a real photographer. We chatted…and he hired me on the spot to do a session with his own family. I have trouble telling people I am a professional photographer but it is getting easier and it slides of my tongue without caveats now.

One highlight this summer was the shear pleasure I derived from offering families that were struggling…complimentary sessions. I asked for people to nominate families that were worthy in their eyes for a session they might not be able to afford. The response was overwhelming and I had to limit the sessions to 5…which meant I was able to meet 5 amazing families that were and absolute joy to work with!

COVID resulted in more of my clients cancelling sessions than clients that showed up but the ones that did were fabulous. By November new restrictions all but made it impossible to shoot in studio but it only acted as an incentive to chase my personal work. I spend a great deal of time in the dark chasing  a new project of long exposures and light trails. Walking still creates new translations and my eye feels sharper now…more willing to try new things…cross more boundaries and share more of my work.

2021 stands to start out as badly as 2020 ended but there is hope. My plan to push my business to new levels will continue. Vaccines and raw determination should bring the sessions back and my walks will only get longer and more productive.

Happy New Year everyone…lets do this together!

The Journey East....Boy oh Boy.....

People keep asking us how we arrived in Halifax in the middle of a pandemic……

Note to self….never try and plan your life more than 6 months ahead….the world will punish you for trying….

Over a year ago this past May in 2019…my wife and I hatched a plan that when executed, would allow us to spend a couple years working together in Calgary before I retired and after she graduated with her Bachelor Degree in Interior Design. The plan had merit…we had time to pack a few pennies away to allow for an easier transition into our role reversed life…choose which coast to live on and simply move when the time was right.

The first curve came just weeks after the plan was devised when the employer I worked for, decided that I would have ten months of “transition” into a forced retirement. Okay…we can do this…hopeful for a good retirement package and the possible need for a part time job…we forged ahead.

More scotch and more planning/research.

After deciding on Halifax, the next step was lining up movers and setting up the dates. We booked plane tickets and started looking into safe ways to get our asthmatic cat to Halifax in one piece.

Cue the ominous music….

Coronavirus …sounds like it might be an issue but no worries…we live in Canada….what could possibly go wrong?

First hurdle…movers notified us they weren’t available on our dates but could help us out in about 30 days…so the late April move now became late May.

Westjet decided that they weren’t going to fly direct to Halifax and cancelled our flight. Again…no issue and we booked for a later date…direct.

Our cat….our beloved fur ball already diagnosed with asthma…becomes diabetic. Now we have no choice but to fly direct as the vet wasn’t optimistic that we could keep the cat alive even sedated for more than 6-7 hours in a small carrier. No problem…confirmed with Westjet…all good.

Back to the movers…..yep….can’t make the date we wanted but gave us an absolute, positively maybe for June 3….good to go.

Cue Westjet ….ooops…did we say direct…we meant a connecting flight thru Toronto with a 5 hour layover….with a small asthmatic, diabetic cat……..in a carrier……..now for close to 15 hours……yeah no.

Plan B, C and D were quickly escaping us.

More late night scotch induced planning….why don’t we rent a small RV?….We can stay isolated and take our time?….cat should be good right? Google to the rescue and the momentum again shifted to the great Canadian Road Trip….sigh.

I planned the trip with military precision…camp sites booked…routes itemized out and even spoke to a couple of my trucker friends who were already driving the route so we knew where the best spots were to stop if we needed to. Now the good news was I planned this all out…but the bad news was that I had sold this idea to my beautiful wife as a leisurely drive across the country in our self contained home on wheels.

Needless to say once we started out and the anxiety of traveling in a pandemic set in, the leisure component went out the window and my eyes were fixed on nothing more than the Nova Scotia border. We had planned on sharing the driving but the cat was not as calm as we had hoped to start out so Jenn spent most of the journey sitting in the back holding onto the carrier keeping the cat company.

When we hit the Ontario border we knew things were just a little different than anywhere else and we had to question whether or not these folks even knew there was a pandemic on the go. Social distancing was non-existent and our anxiety began to climb even further. As we pulled into our campsite on day three, the manager from the campsite for Day 4 fired off an email to me stating that our reservation was no longer valid as he did not interpret the “transient” camping guidelines in the same way the other campgrounds had and we left Sturgeon Falls the next day with no where to stop that night.

In hind site it was at this point that I should have noticed that my wife was starting to look at me funny…not in a sense of admiration or caring….she was indeed plotting my demise. She had enough of my military planning but did not say anything at that point….not sure why.

So onward we pushed …driving across Quebec like we stole the RV and made it to the New Brunswick border just before 10 pm…………yes…….a lot of miles….in a not so leisurely fashion. After a 45 minute interrogation we finally convinced the border patrol to let us carry on and off we went into a moonlit night.

Ah the romance……..yeah……no.

I now noticed that my wife was truly agitated by my desire to move on so I started looking for a safe haven to park and rest a bit…she did not share my enthusiasm when I did discover a truck stop…pulled in and went to bed hoping for 2-3 hours of sleep. It was made very clear to us by the border patrol that we were not supposed to stop…but we needed to rest. Two hours later after a quick nap (and by nap I mean I slept but Jenn did not) we are on the road again…me feeling recharged and energized…my beautiful wife feeling trapped and homicidal. After my wife began to tell me she saw large rabbits running alongside the RV…I was instructed once again to stop. We pulled into Fredericton about 4 in the morning….I have now been instructed that if we don’t find a safe place to rest, my retirement might come to a swift and bitter end. So after a couple failed attempts we settled on the Regent Mall parking lot and crashed there until 6am.

After waking and back in daylight we realized that we were parked directly across from a MacDonalds and a Tim Hortons ….score! My wife has a gluten allergy and loves MacDonalds hash browns….I could get back in her good books with a coffee and some deep fried yumminess. Nope….they weren’t open even thought we could see staff coming in and out of the store….so we drove around the parking lot and tried to shame them into feeding us with no success. Off to Timmies we go!

So…back on the road knowing we are in the home stretch and I can sense the excitement. We power on not stopping for anything other than gas and the odd bathroom break …oh…did I forget to mention the military precision thing….yeah …I’m part camel it appears and can go for very long stretches without stopping….my bride……oh not so much.

Finally we see the big Nova Scotia welcome sign and line up expecting to be grilled again as we were in New Brunswick.

“Good morning sir…where you headed?”

“Halifax”, I replied… (At this point we fully expected to have to produce all the paperwork that the New Brunswick folks had requested but….)

“Here are your isolation guidelines…have a safe drive.”

The look of disbelief on my face must have been hilarious. I quizzed the officer on if they needed to see anything from us…but his response was simple…if you made it through New Brunswick you are good to go here.

Happy dancing in my seat and the journey continued.

So…we arrive at our new apartment and get all settled in as best we can. Two lawn chairs and a couple air mattresses were all we had….furniture was still 7-10 days out…but we were here, safe with the cat.

Now…if any of you ever meet my wife…please ask her for her version of the trip…it may be slightly more accurate and a great deal more humorous than mine….and I thank my lucky stars every night that she allowed me to live….kinda like it here….

Just when I thought I Had Shot My Last Wedding...

A number of years ago I told myself that my days of shooting weddings had to come to an end. Weddings are truly a young photographers game and as a photographer in his 60’s, I was running shy on enthusiasm. But this summer I had the fortunate experience to be part of two totally different weddings that has re-energized my enjoyment of wedding photography.

The weddings were very different, not only in size but style. One was a small, intimate gathering in Kananaskis Country and the other a much larger big city affair in Calgary.

The Kananaskis event was for a good friend and fellow photographer which adds a different layer of anxiety and stress. Photographers usually make the worst subjects as we tend to feel safer on the other side of the camera but Neil and Mary rocked the afternoon!

Neil and Mary wanted a very small intimate wedding with just family and close friends and chose the appropriate venue to allow that to happen.

When shooting in the mountains weather can be a very fleeting participant…it’s always risky no matter what the forecast states but on Neil and Mary’s day Mother Nature was extremely cooperative. The sun shined brightly on their ceremony and then clouded over just enough to offer some lovely diffused light for the photos.

The Kananaskis Lodge offers up a multitude of photo ops and as long as the tourists oblige your efforts (they tend to unintentionally photo bomb the odd shot) the day can have some very pleasing results.

Neil and Mary wanted a very simple but intimate day and as an observer and photographer I think they succeeded. A great couple to work with and even more satisfying to be able to capture the moments for a good friend!

The last wedding of the season brought me back into the heart of Calgary and was a much larger affair. Shawna and Cameron had chosen the amazing venue offered up by the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology or SAIT as it is known by all folks from Cow Town.

This day was much different from what Neil and Mary had undertaken but no less wonderful. A larger wedding party and a bride that was as organized almost in military style planning (a photographers dream) caused me to require a second shooter and I was lucky enough to be able to secure the talented Christopher LeBlanc to help me out.

The day began early with Chris and I following the the bride and groom as they prepped for the day. The couple took advantage of the penthouse suites that the SAIT residences offered and that resulted in all the events of the day to be held at one venue…very solid planning!

Shawna and Cameron had decided to do the formal photography prior to the ceremony and once everyone was ready we set off to the SAIT parking garage….yes garage …to start the image collection for the day. The SAIT parking garage is or has become a wedding photo iconic location due to the architecture and amazing light.

From the formal photography session we then quickly headed into the Atrium for the ceremony. The Atrium is another amazing venue on the SAIT campus and offers up a unique area for couples to state their vows and become united in marriage.

So after the group shot was taken we quickly moved thru the required family photo’s and then then seamlessly into the reception. The schedule that Shawna and Cameron had put together had to be one of the most well organized and well executed I have ever been part of. Very little dead time and no obstacles got in their way.

So my vow of “no more weddings”…..well ….it might just have to be tempered a bit. I know all the weddings I have been part of over the years have not gone this smoothly but these two couples have given me a refreshed outlook and I may just try and take on a few more for next season!

To Neil and Mary, Shawna and Cameron …all the best for the future and thank you for allowing me to be part of your day!

Creative Courage Part 5

This will be the last in my series of Creative Courage and I think I couldn’t think of a better way to finish!

Elena Bazini …this young lady is one of the happiest, up beat people I have come across in recent years. I met Elena in a landscape workshop in Banff Alberta of all places….why is that worth mentioning you ask? Elena is an award winning Wedding Photographer from Chicago….so yeah….wasn’t expecting to meet someone with her credentials at a landscape workshop.

Since our chance encounter I have been ever so fortunate to participate in a number of other workshops where she has either been a participant or a presenter. Of all the people I will focus on here on Spirit of the Image, Elena is the one individual I have had some in-depth conversations about photography and facing ones fears to move ahead.

The creative courage that Elena exhibits is based on a past of continual renewal. In her own words:

“ Any time I look back on my photographic journey I’m landed right back where I am now, reflecting on the walls I’ve put up around myself and trying to see how I can break them back down. These walls are also known as fears, rules, limits, and basically just getting right in your own damn way. For me, photographic growth and the seemingly much grander idea of ‘spiritual growth’ go hand in hand because, in both cases, I find myself limited to my own clouded and imperfect vision.

It takes a unique brand of courage to re-invent and re-task your existence but Elena seems to have nailed the process. Her smile is infectious and I cant’ recall knowing someone so transparent and ready to share stories and experience. You can’t help but learn from this young lady…just watch and listen.

The bottom line for me can be summed up by visiting her website … the first thing you read is this:

Hi there, I’m Elena.

 Wedding photographer. Music lover.

And your official calm amidst the wedding storm.

Kinda sums her up in a nutshell.

So creative courage doesn’t always have to borne from life changing events or moments. It can simply come from a place of self acknowledgement …knowing you need to challenge yourself and start over without fear of failure or regression. Elena has embarked on a book project co-authored with Dave and Erin Brosha and speaks to how it has been something way out of her comfort zone …but she refuses not to accept the challenge.

Elena’s work speaks for itself …to know this human is a privilege and I do feel privileged to have met her and call her a friend.

Follow her work here: . http://elenabaziniphotography.com/

Creative Courage Part 4

Wayne Simpson is a photographer I have admired, followed and now emulate. Plain and simple, Wayne’s photography speaks to me like few others. In some ways it is difficult for me to admit but if ever there was a man crush photography wise… well…Wayne is it for me.

Wayne is an award winning Canadian photographer from Elora Ontario. While his early career was more landscaped based in nature, Wayne has evolved into one of North America’s best portrait photographers. His images are dark, moody and grab your attention. But like others he has questioned if he was on the right path…

So how does creative courage enter Wayne’s world? Wayne has a unique approach to his portrait work that involves in most cases seeking out diverse subjects that he see’s in everyday life. He is drawn to faces that tell a story. These people may be seen by normal society as weird or quirky but it doesn’t stop Wayne from befriending these people when others might shy away.. The courage comes from forcing himself to get to know his subjects as best he can so he can best capture the true essence of the individual. His images are a story all to themselves and can only be accomplished by the unique bond he creates with the people he meets and photographs. Wayne self admits that he has not always “nailed it” on the first portrait/visit and has doubled back on most of his subjects to gain more truth…that takes courage.

Wayne is currently working on a book that will highlight the incredible series of images he has captured so far as well as a written component to further advance the story his images create.

In my opinion photographically, Wayne is a true technician. His problem solving skills are borne out of his admiration of the likes of Joel Grimes and Joe McNally. He is a quiet man at first glance but as you get to know him his genuine nature becomes more and more apparent. He has traits very similar to others I have discussed here…focused, transparent and a true educator.

I have attended a handful of Wayne’s workshops and have always walked away learning something new, and feeling like I have improved as a photographer because of the experience.

Wayne has a quiet confidence that I feel is a result of his ability to be courageous creatively. It rubs off on you. Without courage, Wayne would not be able to create at the level he does and without knowing it, he passes that on to any one that truly is watching him create.

To best get a sense of Wayne and his photography please watch the short film that Kyle McDougall (who I have featured here previously) has made about Wayne entitled “Legacy”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTZk3pK0Y5c

Follow his Wayne’s work here : https://www.waynesimpsonphotography.com/index

Next week … Elena Bazini, award winning wedding photographer.

Creative Courage Part 3

There is only one word I can use to describe Kyle McDougall....genuine. A soft spoken man Kyle has a smile that wins you over instantly and his passion for all things photography becomes quickly evident. To hear Kyle tell it however...  it wasn’t always that way. 

Kyle is a self proclaimed contemporary landscape photographer from Ontario. In 2017 he spent 256 days to be exact…traveling across the American South West exploring the back roads and abandoned spaces, creating a body of work he has entitled “An American Mile”.

By doing this Kyle demonstrated yet another form of creative courage. The courage it takes to stop what was looking like an already successful career and stop...reevaluate where he was… and start down another road not knowing if it would lead anywhere. Changing direction is difficult at the best of times and yet despite the fear of failing Kyle chose to push on. Supported by his wife they sold all their worldly possessions and set out on an adventure that currently has Kyle creating on his terms and the results are proving to be extremely pleasing. Kyle exuded the courage to push himself out of the box of comfort he had created to start a new-ish career and create films that tell stories and connect with his audience on all the basic of levels. He is a true story teller. His still images offer up a story where you just want to know a little bit more of what was in the image and his films take you on journey into the lives of the people that some may see as misunderstood or forgotten. His cinematic approach sheds a warm light on a story well worth being told. 

As well Kyle is another true educator. Kyle created Analogue—a YouTube video series that focuses on both the craft and technique of film photography. As well, Kyle is a newer member of OFFBEAT and he joins the group of people surrounding Dave Brosha, that offer up transparent learning with no hidden agenda.

But without a moment of creative courage Kyle may never have found his current path. 

Kyle attests that there was no bright light that shone down on him to guide him...just a gnawing sense that he had to do something different. I really do feel that people that exhibit the sense of courage to change direction...make it a way of life... and once clarity strikes...the process to create becomes less cumbersome. 

Genuine. The only word that fits for me. Kyle is simply a true genuine, gentle man...his amazing story telling will always be founded in the truth of finding his own creative courage. 

Follow Kyle’s work here: https://www.kylemcdougallphoto.com

Next week I focus on Wayne Simpson one of Canada’s best portrait photographers

Creative Courage Part 2

Creative courage manifests itself in many ways …some less evident than others but no less important. Last week I spoke to Dave Brosha’s courage stemming from early childhood challenges that he overcame to move on as a world class photographer. Today I want to draw your attention to Erin Falkenham.

Erin is not a full time photographer and will tell you that very openly. Erin, however in my eyes is nothing short of an amazing human being and to earn that label of amazing means that someone has to leave me inspired, grateful to know them and wanting to know them even more. Erin is all of that.

Erin, in my opinion, is a dilemma to some ….she works in the Biotech Industry as a research technologist but yet can break away from the highly structured technical environment and create images not bound by borders or equations. Photography has been a part of Erin’s life for the past 12 years but she only she has only found her own “lane” over the past 5 years or so.

So what is creative courage in her eyes? Erin talks about the difficulty in putting herself “out there” and wrestles with a body of work that ranges in subject matter from capturing newborn life to documenting life as it ends. Erin can be defined by the statement that creative courage challenges you to step outside of your comfort zone and truly make an impact. Erin makes such an impact. Her soft voice is strong and unwavering. Her confidence is contagious and after spending time with her you have no choice but to follow her lead and be courageous as you create.

She is also as modest as modest can be…you’ll never know that her work has found the cover of magazines…I know it’s important to her on a personal level but she would never boast her success to a group or individual. As it goes….her non-full time photographer status is merely subject to interpretation. Her courage to create has been developed from her undying passion for life and all things in it. With both feet planted firmly on the ground she has found her creative courage and leads thru example.

She defines creative courage to me because she apologizes for nothing and creates despite all the other influences in her life...career, mother to great kids, wife, partner, and generally master of all trades required to take full advantage of what life has to offer. She has developed outwardly anyhow, the ability to create without excuses of time restrictions or blame on other influences in her life…I admire that.

Please follow her here : https://www.facebook.com/TwigHillPhoto

or here: https://www.instagram.com/twighillphoto/

But remember….she is not a full time photographer……….but she damn well should be!

Next week …Kyle McDougall, Ontario film maker and photographer.

Creative Courage Part 1

I recently attended a photography workshop hosted by Canadian photographer David Brosha and his wife Erin at their home in PEI. The annual workshop, entitled Land and See, is five days of creative learning, collaboration and transparent exchanges of experience. Every year Dave assembles a group of mentees that present to a group of 50 assembled participants eager to learn and experience the gift of knowledge with the ultimate hope to leave the conference a better photographer. But a strange thing happens to most people over the course of the five days…they not only leave the barn where the conference is held a better photographer…most leave with a better sense of purpose, better friends and some would argue …better people.

A consistent  theme of a good number of the presentations this year was the constant struggle with creative courage. At some time in their lives…almost everyone that has achieved their personal level of success has had to deal with the obstacle of overcoming fear and finding the courage to carry on.

But what is creative courage?…much has been written but I feel that creative courage is really a way of life to those who overcome it. It becomes the fuel to move forward and take the required risk to create the art or images that they have visualized but never created.

Over the next few weeks/months I will be writing about creative courage. What is it? What does it mean to different folks and how has it affected ones chosen path. I will be writing about a group of very special people that have all struggled at some time to cope with or react to challenges that has forced them to demonstrate some level of creative courage.

First up is Dave himself …one of the most genuine individuals I have ever come across. Dave Brosha was born in northern Alberta and has spent a good part of his career north of the northern boundaries of most Canadian provinces. Currently Dave and his family reside in PEI where they exist in almost perfect harmony with the warm Maritime cultures and amazing landscapes.

Dave is more than anything…a true educator. His desire to share what he has learned with just about anyone who cares to listen is the cornerstone to his success. Dave has traveled the world and as a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society, photographed some of the most amazing places known to man. His love for portrait photography has left him face to face with an enormous group of people longing to have Dave capture their image in a way that few others can.

So to meet Dave now you might never think that he had to overcome any challenges that would impact his creative process but that just would not be true. Bullied as a young student, Dave had to overcome the feelings of neglect and abuse to push on with his life. Supported by his amazing partner and wife Erin, Dave has successfully created a community co-founded with Paul Zizka called OFFBEAT. The company and community is based on a transparent, collaborative approach to creating compelling photography. Sneaking in on 600 members, OFFBEAT offers up many different avenues to promote creatives at any level to improve, collaborate and create.

Dave has attained notoriety of not only being a creative photographer but as a warm, caring individual. He recognized early that compassion and caring lend far better results than ego and arrogance. Dave is an educator and a problem solver….nothing gets his creative juices flowing more than solving a photographic  puzzle that results in a compelling image. 

Dave has clearly shown me that creative courage comes in many shapes and sizes. His guidance and mentorship has played a large role in who I am as a photographer. His own creative courage is measured by his continued growth and success and his insatiable need to create. By sharing his experiences and offering the opportunity to learn as a community …it will pave a very smooth road to allow others to overcome obstacles and find their own creative courage.

Follow Dave’s work at https://davebrosha.com/

Creative Personal Shoots

Some professional photographers feel that shooting for free is just silly but more and more creative photographers feel, as I do, that in order to keep the creative juices flowing you need to take some time and just shoot something for yourself.

Creative Personal Shoots can help inspire and focus creativity as well as lend itself to helping promote your work so it might be seen by some who might not have seen it otherwise. Recently I asked a good friend (who happens to be a damn fine photographer in his own right) to sit for me for a creative shoot of my own.

Lee, as you can see has a very distinctive look about himself and I had a couple of looks I wanted to try and he was willing.

I wanted to keep this shoot moody and darkish and utilize the techniques I have been learning over the past few years from the likes of Wayne Simpson and Dave Brosha.

Lighting set up was simple …one Strobepro X600II strobe modified with a Strobepro 25" Rapid PRO Deep Beauty Dish. The backlight was a Strobepro X200 with a barn door kit with various gels.

Shooting for yourself can be very liberating. The pressure of client based demands and timelines disappear when you are just shooting for you. Since Lee and I are friends it made the session even easier because Lee is also a photographer.

Simple one light set up directly over Lee.

Being able to fine tune light set ups is obviously easier to do when there are no outside pressures but it allows you to get just that more comfortable for when you are shooting paid clients. I have used personal shoots on many occasions to actually practice for upcoming paid shoots …if you have the time …it pays off with happier clients and more effortless experiences which helps to reduce stress on shoot day… when it really counts. All in all the shoot went off smoothly and both Lee and myself benefitted from the experience.