My wife (Instagram: @koetiquemade) did a quick restyle of a button up shirt into a bomber jacket the other day. Of course, that meant that we needed to get a quick photo shoot in before the sun went down! These quick photo sessions are a great challenge. I like the idea of making beautiful shots from just outside our home, without going somewhere further away to take photos. So many times we see these beautiful photos in gorgeous locations, but with these quick sessions we just go out on the road and start taking photos, using the location as a creative constraint. We work with the weather, lighting, and what’s going on in the neighborhood at the moment.

It does help to have an 85mm f 1.4 lens on hand. This is a great portrait lens! You can get a nice creamy bokeh in the background with your subject in sharp focus if you frame your shot right. You still have to be aware of shapes in the background that may be distracting from the subject of the photo, but there’s time to play with things if you’re staying close to home. Lighting is also essential to consider, as it is with any situation. But when you’re making the most of what you have, and you don’t have any epic places nearby, you can find ways to make the most of what’s immediately available.

I really enjoy getting out and doing mini-sessions like this. They’re a great creative challenge. They’re also low-key and usually driven by a particular need. If you or anybody you know would like to book a session, and you live in the Mesa, AZ area, let me know. I’m always up for an outdoor, appropriately socially-distanced at the moment of course, photo session!