April & May 2023

April:

Coachella x

Remi Wolf

I’ve had the idea for a few months to do something Coachella-inspired. It’s funny because I’ve never attended the festival, yet I get so excited to see the lineup every year. My FAVORITE artist this year was Remi Wolf. She reminds me a lot of Billie Eilish in the sense that her fashion and stage presence don’t match the voice. Vocally, I describe Remi Wolf as being a modern Amy Winehouse with a stunning range and a soulful sound.

I knew I needed to step out of the box for this shoot and I had been itching to work in Photoshop for a while. I’d describe Remi’s style as very random. Like if you gave a 5-year-old $20 to spend at a thrift store, they’d probably come out with stuff she’s wearing. I threw together a few outfits that I thought would suit Remi’s and got to work.

 Let me tell you, one thing that hasn’t changed since starting this challenge is my lack of planning but I think this worked in my favor this month. Again, Remi has an interesting sense of style so I thought being more experimental with my photos might go a long way. I took a few photos around my backyard as well as some in my makeshift bedroom studio. The con behind not having a plan though, is I had no clue how to go about in post-production so I sat with these photos for at least 2 weeks before sharing them. I took inspiration from a graphic design class I took in college and randomly, The Austin Powers movie posters.

I’m still extremely self-conscious about posting these portraits every month; I really get in my head thinking it needs to look perfect. I mean you never know who could be looking at your photos. But, I started this challenge to learn more about photography and to feel more at ease in front of the camera. It’d be great to get things right on the first try, but what would be the fun of a challenge?



A Few Tips:

  1. Timing is KEY especially if you plan on working outside. Be aware of where the sun is, even when it’s cloudy. Remember that just because there’s an overcast, doesn’t mean the sun isn’t still around. How do you think it’s bright outside?
  2. Think out loud! If something doesn’t look right, tell yourself and keep it pushing.
  3. If you shoot in RAW, a lot of things can be changed in post-production! As I learned, I tend to think of my end result without recognizing there's a lot of work to be done on the way there. This can really discourage me from even looking at my photos sometimes but, remember you have to start somewhere!! Every gorgeous photo you see on social media has probably been fixed in post in some way! It takes a lot of time, practice, and patience to be able to get those results.



Camera Settings

photo 1, 2 & 4 : f 5.6, ss 1/50, ISO 800

photo 3: f 7.1, ss 1/125, ISO 160



June:

Playing with My Shadow

My parents are in the process of remodeling our living room and had to get rid of our couch. It took up a big chunk of space so it was pretty bare for a few weeks. I was editing at the dining room table one evening when I looked over to the living room to see a gorgeous wave of light come through the blinds. I’d never taken the time to admire it before, probably due to the couch being there, and it immediately got me thinking about how I could incorporate it into my portrait.

At that moment, I was down to spring into action but knowing me, I tend to move like a snail during setup. Instead, I took a mental note of what time the sun would hit my living room and how long it’d be there (approximately 15 minutes).  

In hindsight, I wish I had taken the time to figure out where I’d stand because the day of, I had my camera set up and then I blanked. There’s not a bunch of time to think about anything when the sun is going down and I really underestimated the importance of prep time. 15 minutes goes by so much faster when you’re not fully organized. Over-prepare, over-prepare, over-prepare.

Let this also be a note that not every portrait is going to be a winner and that’s okay! Every portrait brings a new lesson, challenge, and potential ideas. I’m not disappointed in how these turned out, but I know I am capable of creating something much more captivating. 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Camera Settings

 f/4, ss 1/80 , ISO 640