A couple of nights ago, we tiptoed down to the almost completed studio. I wanted to test lens length in the space, so asked kids to stand in. Didn't have a single light set up, no backdrop: just my new space, natural light in the evening in the rain. This is the result. Back of camera, as unedited as it comes.
I am Corona Woman!
Hear me roar. Or cry. Or call out in gratitude. Or fear.
I wear all the hats and I want to cast them to the ground. Sometimes I do, and hide in the closet. Sometimes the hats stack nicely.
I am so proud of myself. And ashamed.
All these people are me.
I am Corona Woman. A self portrait dedicated to all those who are doing all the things all the time at the same time right now.
About the portrait: this is 6 separate images taken over the course of one morning in my dining room. I had one speedlight behind the camera and one bare-bulb strobe off right, both bouncing from the ceiling. I tethered my camera on a tripod to my computer, and set it to automatically take 15 shots of each story. I inched myself around the space so that I would have a variety of positions to assist with overlap. Then I spliced them together in Photoshop . I edited the now singular image with a heavy hand of dodge and burning to make it pop. Yes, my little one was actually fighting during the session (he rescinded his protest and requested to take part after he saw big sis was excited.) I desperately wanted to tidy, but didn’t permit myself to move a single item, so this is life during Covid-19 in all its glory.
Creating art requires a tremendous amount of control.
Something you totally lose when you decide to not only capture an image, but simultaneously jump to the other side of the camera, try to look good, and wrangle your kids. I admit it: every year, I struggle taking my own family portrait for our walls. And then every year, I say, I’m another year wiser, they are another year older, let’s give it a go!
This year, rather than going epic, like I enjoy doing for my clients, I said, let’s keep it really streamlined. Just us, in the new studio. Not my usual style, but a greater likelihood for less stress.
HAHHHAAAAAAHHAHAHAHA! It was a terrible experience! But we got this gem at the end:
Which works for me, since these were some of our other images:
Next year, I will once again say, “I’m another year wiser, they’re another year older, why not?”
LOLOLOL! (*cry)
We moved! One by one, we’re tearing through the boxes, putting things in their new spot, and figuring out what has yet to be found. Settling in. For me, what transitions my new house into my new home is putting the family art up on the walls. So while I have much more to go, tonight we decided to begin to make our mark on our space.
These are images printed on matte standout metals, and assembled from two different family sessions.
The perfect wall.
Centered and designed.
TA-DA!
Just a hundred pictures left to go!
Another step closer. The transformation is incredible.
Hi! Have we met yet? Even though I'm frequently called "Shayna," it's actually my daughter's middle name. I'm Rachel! I'm a native of the Atlanta area, where I currently live with my husband, daughter, and son. I'm a rollercoaster junkie, sushi addict, advanced scuba diver, and list maker.
That thing you think photographers do? Nope, I'm doing something different.
Receiving a bunch of digitals? That's like paying a baker, and having them hand you the ingredients and telling you to "finish it yourself."
I put custom finished art on your walls. Because your grandchildren aren't going to dig through your dropbox for the moments that matter.
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