Hey y'all! So I'm sitting here tonight half-watching/half-listening to American Idol, and I've been completely preoccupied with what to do this year with the portrait side of my business. You see, I think it's extremely important to have a specialty in this business. Most of us have two - weddings and portraits. In a smaller area like Bozeman, which isn't exactly small anymore but there isn't anything a whole ton bigger within a six hour drive, quite a few photographers offer it all . . . newborn and family portraits, high school seniors, pet photography, and weddings.
I have elected not to have a studio for the time being and do all of my photography on-location. At this time, I prefer it this way, and if I ever do get a studio, it will be a natural-light studio. I absolutely know that will never change. I am not a fan of fake fruit in the hands of a 1-year-old, or angel wings attached to a four-day-old baby, and I never will be. Thankfully, I have a wonderful referral network for both weddings and portraits based on what I've produced in 2008. But I can't help but feel like something is missing in the portrait-area of the biz.
My style is to show up, make babies and children laugh, and take photographs of them doing so. I encourage a lot of family interaction to make the laughter happen, and I also do quite a bit of posing for a more modern, yet natural, look whenever I can. Where are you going with this blog post, Mo? you might be asking. Well, here's an example.
This is baby Oliver. His family called me a few months ago to take photographs of him with the purpose of getting a nice close-up, black-and-white photo to give to little Ollie's grandmother for Christmas. Within minutes of posting the slideshow, his parents left me a voicemail telling me they had tears streaming down their face and that the photos were everything they wanted. 
While I did my job well and this beautiful family was thrilled with my photographs, I wonder how I could have done it differently. Should I have placed Ollie in a giant-sized terra cotta flower pot? Wrapped him in Christmas lights? Swaddled him and placed him in a basket?
Here are a few photos taken last summer back in NY of my girlfriend, Erika, and her completely stunning family. One thing I try and use as much as possible is backlight and flare. I love this look and feel it truly helps define my style of photography. 
But again, I ask myself . . . should I have done this shoot in a junkyard? On their boat? In the lake while the girls were swimming? Even though they wanted it at their camp, is that too cliche? Do these photographs set me apart from other photographers? Are the photos as important as they are unique? What should I have done differently?
If any of you are still awake and not sound asleep drooling into your coffee cups by now, I think the point of this post has just come to me, and I'd rather share it with you than delete everything I just wrote, because that's just me. It's the absolute equivalent of having coarse, brown, curly hair, and wishing it were straight and blonde and shiny. I see such amazing work out there and constantly wonder . . . should I be doing that?
1.27.2009
2009 portraits . . . thoughts?
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6 comments:
Personally I think you are doing exactly what you should be doing. If people wanted their babies wrapped up in a flower pot then they would take them to Walmart or Sears. The beauty of your photography is that it comes from the heart and your feelings at the moment. We tell you what we want and you know exactly how to "get us there". The natural light and the personal settings make your photography something to be treasured. I loved the fact that you came to our house last summer and we had our photos done at our most precious place--our home. How many photographers do that?? Any other professional photos we have ever had done were at a studio. I think you have nailed this business right on the head with your approach. I love the fact that you are always looking to improve--every motivated and amazing photographer can continue to grow. I just can't think of anything you should change at this moment!!
I have to second the first comment....I think that what you do is capture the emotion and love of your subjects, your photography is filled with dynamic compostions, beautiful depth and lots of action. Like you said you want to be set apart and I think you are.
I think that we should always be growing in our skills and I love that you want to challenge yourself, the only thing I can think of is start shooting at some angles that might be a little odd. Sometimes you can get some really cool shots and once you get comfortable you can come up with different compostions that you love. I don't think you need to do this but I wanted to share what I've been doing myself.
Briony
there's a reason your 1st year has been so successful :) Silly Mo.
How lucky am I that my favorite photographer just happens to be my daughter and that she takes absolutely beautiful pictures of all my grandchildren?? You do an amazing job Morgan. I see the passion you have for this job in your work and I am so happy for you that this has all come together for you.
Continue doing as you have been Morgan. I think your success speaks for itself. I am very proud of you!!
You are absolutely crazy...your pictures are beautiul and amazing the way they are. I do get what you are doing though, you are being a professional and wanting to always find ways to improve and that is why you have so much success and that is why we all love you so much! Keep doing what you love, you definitely have a gift. Miss you-Carrie
I don't know if there is anything that you can possibly be doing better or different. I just LOVE your work & how unique it is. I think it's great that you like to work with natural light & natural beauty. It's the best moments to capture in a portrait. I can not wait for our engagement & wedding pictures with you because I just KNOW they are going to be better then great!!!
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