Tips for Capturing Vibrant Spring Photoshoots with Allyson Jane
Allyson Jane is a talented young photographer based in Canberra, Australia. Her vibrant and colourful spring-inspired photoshoot immediately captured our attention, and we just couldn't pass up the chance to have Allyson share her photography tips and tricks with you today.
When it comes to what inspires the creative, Allyson explains: "I've been involved in the creative arts since I was quite young, and always been fascinated by photography. I'm completely self taught and extremely influenced by the stunning landscapes and natural beauty we're so lucky to be surrounded by in Australia. My style is always evolving depending on where I'm drawing my inspiration from at the time. I like to utilise natural light, and prefer outdoor settings. I aim to produce colourful, whimsical, eclectic photos that capture something genuine about the subject or convey a story."
Without further ado, here's a Q&A with the photographer about how to capture vibrant spring photoshoots!
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Q: When planning a floral photoshoot such as this stunning one, what things must be taken into consideration?
A: There are many factors that come into play when planning bright floral shoots such as this - the key elements are the team, location and weather conditions. I like to network through online platforms such as Facebook and Model Mayhem to find like-minded creatives. I utilise collaborative tools such as Pinterest to easily share ideas and develop concepts and looks.
In regards to location planning, I'm constantly on the lookout for new places that inspire me or grab my attention, and am always adding to my mental list of locations that would make great backdrops for shoots. As far as weather conditions for outdoor shooting is concerned, many photographers will tell you that an overcast day is best, as it provides a soft, even light. However, I completely disagree (for the style I'm after, at least)! For my style I prefer bright sunlight as it allows for beautiful glowy backlight, creating dreamy halos in the models hair, and interesting highlights in the photograph. I look for a day that will be fine and sunny with minimal clouds. I also find the best time to shoot is in the afternoon close to sunset, when the sun is lower and generally giving a warmer, ethereal sort of quality of light.
Q: What are your tips for finding the perfect floral location?
A: I'm lucky enough to be based in Canberra, which is home to a seemingly endless supply of beautiful floral outdoor locations. My biggest tip for finding the perfect floral location is to get out and look around! I'm always subconsciously evaluating whether or not a particular place would make a good background for a shoot - it almost becomes second nature after a while. Outdoor floral locations are constantly in flux depending on the season. Be on the lookout around local parks, bushland, public gardens or even a local backyard . Locations change depending on the time of year, day of the week or even time of day - so it's always important to scout out a potential spot close to the time of the shoot to ensure everything is as expected.
Q: Is there a particular setting you prefer to use on your camera when using floral backdrops?
A: When doing shoots such as this bright, floral series, I generally swap between my trusty 50mm f1.8 lens and my 24-70mm f2.8 lens. Both of these are able to capture stunning portrait and editorial sceneries. I generally shoot at quite a wide aperture - which is why I love these two lenses - as it allows me to capture the stunning colours of the backdrop, but still draw focus to the model as the subject of the image. My 50mm also creates some great in-camera effects, such as rainbows and interesting lens-flares - which you can see in a few images from this shoot.
Q: What are your favourite ways of styling a model for a floral photoshoot such as this one?
A: When preparing for shoots I like to create mood boards to ensure that the whole team is on the same page so far as the mood, look and overall aims for the shoot are concerned. I like to give my models and stylists creative freedom in putting together the look that they believe best complements the atmosphere of the image. For floral shoots like this I give general directions for styling - something feminine/girly, light, flowing, whimsical - but apart from that, once we've all communicated what we're aiming for, I trust the team to come up with a look that works and haven't been disappointed yet!
Q: What other advice would you suggest in order to achieve such vibrant and colourful floral shoots?
A: Study images that you like, create mood boards and colour schemes that you'd like to emulate. Don't be afraid to break standard conventions - shoot on a bright day, in direct sunlight. Experiment with in-camera effects - such as adding bright and colourful vignettes by shooting through flowers or translucent material. Let your scenery inspire you and embrace colour! And if something is working that you didn't plan, don't be afraid to go with the flow and keep pushing until you're as happy as you can be with the result.
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We want to thank Allyson for taking the time to not only share her helpful advice with us, but for also sharing these gorgeous images. You can view more of Allyson's photography by visiting her website or following on Instagram. Enjoy!
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Full credits: Photography: Allyson Jane | Models: Lucy and Michelle