Elevating Photography with Harmonic Backgrounds

Sometimes the perfect pose and lighting aren’t enough to say who the subject is. How do we turn what is subjective into subjective, to bring heaven down to earth? For Alexis, heaven could be found simply in the quiet pitter-patter of a rainy day beneath a grove of evergreens accompanied by a few frogs and silent bugs by the damp moss, but today it was found in being in harmony with her Grandmother’s cherished hydrangeas.

It was important to understand her connection to nature because we are connected to our environment, one way or another, and matching the two creates a deeper understanding of the individual and a better picture.

As a photographer, I always find ways for my clients to interact with their environment, and the result is often surprising as I find myself atop a tall tree or even waste deep in the Puget Sound.

To take it a step further, framing the subject with the natural shape of the overall background creates amazing composition and allows for creativity and fun. The result is a photo with no guessing of who the subject might be and an authentic natural smile.

Portrait photography is still photography, and a good photo directs focus. One summer day, I had the opportunity to collaborate and showcase the many styles and fashions of artist, Onika Styles. Her presence, energy, and drive were clearly magnified by this transcending photo opportunity. By framing one of the beautiful murals of Opera Alley in Tacoma, Washington, we were able to catch more than just her brand but also her spirit.

As a photographer, I know the balance between what should be natural and what elements I can shape, and understanding those possibilities allows for photos that say so much more than an Instagram caption, they say who we are.