My Angel in The Storm

I love this photo. It was during a storm like I've never seen before in Ottawa and the light was so amazing! For some strange reason the sky turned a brilliant orange and was casting such a soft and beautiful light through the window. 

As a photographer it's great to have an artist for a girlfriend. This was a fleeting moment... The light was just right and it took a little bit of running around to get the shot. I love the way it turned out though. Thankfully Loukia didn't mind capitalizing on the moment. She's a wonderful muse and an incredible artist and photographer. Check out her art here loukiamerdanos.com

Here are a few of her buttons available for purchase here on Etsy:

https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/LoukiaMerdanos?ref=pr_shop_more

Photographing Family Members

It was great getting to photograph my Aunt, Arlie Mierins. It's always interesting trying to photograph someone that you know so well...

You have to make sure that the photo really shows who they are and you can't let the comfort level get in the way of the capture or the way they are represented. After all, they know you so well the conversation and humor is quite standard and they may not react the way another subject or client might. In addition, as the photographer you cannot allow your perspective of them be what is captured, since the way you view them may not be the same as the perspective the rest of the world has of them!

During most portrait shoots I have a shot I'm really happy with about 20 minutes into the shoot. I keep it going to get the most out of the shoot and the subject, but within 20 minutes I know I have something that represents the client well and that they will be happy with. 

When shooting family though, it often takes a little longer because you have to break through the familiarity to get something truly great.