Playing with Light | North Texas Senior Photographer

So often in the photography world, we are told that the camera makes the photographer right? I cannot tell you how many times I hear “Your camera takes amazing pictures!”

But that isn’t the truth at all, and while yes, I do have amazing equipment, the truth is that the photographer makes the pictures. The camera is just a tool.

A painter’s paint doesn’t create the art, they have to have the vision and skill to execute their ideas. Just last night on the plane, I watched the people I was sitting with discuss how much photoshop was used on an image of a model and whether or not the light was real. It took all of my strength to not tell them exactly what was photoshopped and what was real. But it’s my job to know those things!

So mainly to prove a point to myself, I bought a disposable camera and took one of my favorite models, Beth out while I was visiting her in Waco and we played with it a bit.

So what does this all mean?

First, light is VITAL. Some of these images are underexposed (which comes from where we were shooting) but I did the best I could with our settings, I moved Beth to the areas with the best light and used my knowledge of how light works to create the images.  Secondly, having a plan and a vision helps tremendously and can make or break a session. The story that I create for my clients is what they want to remember and it is MY job, NOT my camera’s job to create that story.  

And some of these images were the result of spontaneous laughter from Beth at me, although it was refreshing to play with the disposable – I was definitely used to the digital and she found that hilarious.

So please go out and play, film is a great medium and can teach you so much about light and its complexities – give it a shot!

PS: I got the idea for trying this from the amazing Lora Grady who did her own disposable camera shoot here and it is to die for, check her out!