If I Can’t Find A Location, I’ll Create One

This year, my goal is to familiarize myself with compositions. I think these are so neat and can show exactly the kind of emotions we are unable to speak of. I first took notice of this style of photography, during covid. People were making some funky and downright scary composites, which intrigued me to look more into how to do this myself. I’m becoming a big fan of compositions now because I’ve found a way of expressing myself by allowing you to see what would otherwise stay locked in my mind. Especially if the scene is something so unrealistic, making a real photograph impossible.

Here is the first fun composite I worked on for my daughter. The original photo of her, was at Bonaventure cemetery, laying on a bench. She’s already outgrown the nightgown, so I knew I couldn’t get her back in it to create an image I wanted. At the time of writing this blog, I couldn’t find the original photo of Jenna sitting up on this bench, so I’m using what I have, taken just seconds before. I love the way this turned out!

This round of composites were used from the Christmas minis I offered. I think they turned out cute. If you missed my Polar Express blog, you can read it here https://christysutherlandphotography.com/2023/12/06/polar-express-minis/. You’ll notice all Christmas themes, here, because I was slow during December which allowed me to dabble in this new skill.

Below are photos used from my daughter’s Santa mini session. I snapped a photo of her walking towards Santa but looking back at me. So in this composite, I trimmed out her body and stuck her outside of an outdoor train station, running in the snow. I love this! There are so many ways to be creative with compositions. I can’t wait to jump further in and learn more about this style. I need more work on lighting the body and putting shadows in the images too. There’s so much to learn, at every corner, no matter what kind of photography you’re doing. I could sit at the screen for hours doing this. It is tiring but so much fun and so worth it when you’ve finished your photo.

Last year my clients, who signed up for my Christmas minis, received a few surprise photos back in their gallery. These were a few of the firsts as well. I took my favorite photo from their session and made this.

Here’s a few more I made of my daughter. I love these!

This one at the window was taken from my mom’s phone, while I was at work. This was during Christmas break and she was staying the week away from home. I wanted to work on this composite to surprise her for the next time I saw her. Jenna was upset because I made her pause the tv and put this nightgown on and take a picture in front of mom’s kitchen window. I told my mom how Jenna should sit and how to pose her arm. Between Jenna’s crying and my mom’s threats of how much I owe her for this, it was quiet the scene. I was glad to be at work when we hung up. yikes! Sorry, not sorry though. lol. Once I showed this photo to Jenna, she was so excited and couldn’t believe I made this, much less that this was her. Her first question was, “Mommy, do you think Santa saw me pitching a fit.”

For Valentine’s Day, I wanted to create a mini session different from what other photographers in my area were offering. I suppose this location would’ve been possible if I knew someone with land who would let me set up a mailbox and kept a garden of roses but in real life, I don’t know people like that. Plus I’m lazy, so making anything, requiring physical work is out of the question. I saw these composites on Etsy and fell in love with them. I found it a little challenging than my previous composites because I need more artificial light on her face. I’m still unsure how to add light and shadows. I’m always a day late and a dollar short but I’ll learn it eventually.

I hope you stick with me, through this journey of new exploration. Send me any ideas you have or would like to see me try. I’m a beginner, so keep it simple.

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