JAMES HODGINS PHOTOGRAPHY

We have been so busy lately that I just haven’t had a chance to keep up with my blogging, it’s a good thing, but a bad thing as well as I love sharing our images and stories with you all.  I pretty well summed up the Geraldton wedding of Julie & Derek with their sneak peak blog post and I will say it again it was a blast.  So without much further a due, here are some more images for your viewing pleasure.

Having discussions on Natural light photography on our NoBs Blog and Forum I am always reminded just how beautiful natural light can be.  Off Camera Flash is fine and dandy for “some” photographs if the type of portrait created can benefit from OCF (this is something I see too many photographers using just for the sake of using it, and the photographs are not what they could be).

I headed back out to my cottage yesterday to photograph my other cousins little one Sadie.  We photographed Sadie last August in our Studio using lights and softboxes but yesterday I did not have that equipment with me, all I had was my camera and lens and therefore opted to use natural light.  Now with natural light you can’t just expect to place your subject anywhere and have flattering light.  You need to “find” the light, know the quality, the direction and where to put your subject so that the subject can benefit from that light.

The below image was created using some open shade that was created with a bank of trees behind Sadie.  Lighting was coming across the tops of the trees but giving a soft even light in the spot where I wanted to photograph.  She was sitting on the side of a small fountain which had a very light bottom, reflecting light back up into my subject acting as a natural reflector.    Sometimes Natural light is the easiest light to use, but it does require some technical thought to get the most out of it.

The last time I photographed Piper was February (Click here to see Blog Post)

My cousin Krista along with her husband Craig and their son  Christopher showed up shortly after.  This was the first meeting of the baby cousins.

I photographed Christopher almost one year ago on my way home from NSI.
(Click here to see blog post)

THEY GROW UP FAST!

Laurie……………Sadie’s next.

Don’t forget.  A new store is opening in Downtown Sudbury  this weekend called Sixty-Six (check them out here) located at 66 Cedar St.  Their official site will be located at www.liv66.ca.  Sixty-Six will be carrying designer brands with the likes of Big Buddha, Sondra Roberts, BGMAXAZR, Miz Mooz, Cole Haan Dolce Vita, Toms, e.vil and much much more.  Shoes, clothing, accessories this store will have it all.  Make sure you drop on by and check it out and tell them I said hello.  Fortunately but unfortunately I have an amazing wedding to photograph tomorrow so I can’t be there to welcome the grand opening in person.

It was amazing how her eyes opened wide when she was in dads arms.  When we photograph babies we like to photograph mom with baby, dad with baby, baby alone, and hopefully the whole family together.   This opens up the possibility of Wall Clusters or Wall Panels for the clients home.  Lighting on this image was very very simple using a 2 light system.  1 light about 135 degrees to my left (behind the subjects) and another softbox about 45 degrees to my left as well.  I then used a large reflector to open up the shadows on dad & baby.

So as you know we moved to a newer house from our small little comfy home of 10 years.  Joce and I fell in love with our new house the minute we walked in the front door.  Here is a quick snapshot of our kitchen/dinning area.  Sorry I couldn’t use OCF but Joce wouldn’t let me put any stands down on our hardwood floors.  Can’t blame her though.   Have a great long weekend everyone.

We also appreciate your emails and phone calls with your feedback on your photography session and finished products.  Photographing everyday we tend to get into “robot” mode and these phone calls and emails really snap us back into “creative” mode and put smiles on our faces.  Thank you SO MUCH!

That got you thinking right?  Well as most of you know we are in the middle of shooting this years Sudbury Fire Fighters Calendar  (www.sudburyfirefighters.com) and let me tell you this one is going to rival them all.  There will be a new addition to this years calendar and hopefully more in the future as I REALLY enjoy photographing THESE firefighters.    I cannot show you the final image for the calendar (it ROCKS) but I can give you a sneak peak at some of the other images from the shoots .   Keep a close eye  on the firefighter site and the facebook group as we will be adding behind the scene video and photos of the shoots.

Later this summer Vanja & Anthony will become husband & wife but today they were just as happy being engaged for their engagement session with us.  Now we hear this a lot…….”We don’t really photograph that well” and it always makes Joce and I laugh.  Let’s be honest, how many of you have gone and had Professional Portraits done before?  As a couple?  Not to many I am sure.  Most of your couple pics would be from family snapshots on special occasions or friends snapshot while partying.   In the end however our couples quickly realize that they DO photograph amazingly.   Especially when it’s with someone you love.  When your in love, you are always at your best, and the camera captures it exactly how we see it.  Thanks again you two, it was  great time with an amazing location.  Looking forward to posting more.

Halfway through the session Anthony mentions that he has his guitar, and it really means a lot to him and is a big part of his life.  Vanja has a good laugh while I roll my eyes and say “you tell me this NOW?  Why not say something before, OF COURSE we will do images with the guitar!!”  hahaha.  And of course we did.

While I was on my commercial shoot today a bunch of us where going through my phone looking at the various images I have uploaded to it.  We had a good laugh over my “Mining Maniac” image that I believe I took somewhere in Utah (It was somewhere in the States) years ago.    I remember finishing the actual image we needed for the project and while taking a break I asked “Miner Moe” to make a crazy face like he was playing an Xbox, because the controls he was using was controlling some heavy equipment, it reminded me of a video game.  Anyways, I think that was the birth of my first Hodgy Humor image.