I love the low angle, use of flash off camera, and great expressions

Today is one of those days that you have got to get outside in Atlanta. Clear skies and most of the day in the 80s. During the morning, before it got warmer, I enjoyed capturing these moments at a local college.

We didn’t have to go and find students and bring them outside for us to photograph them; no, they were everywhere today. Laptops were out in the sun, which isn’t easy to see in, to enjoy this weather.

I believe that the reason we were getting great shots is the weather brings out the best in folks. When it rains, I don’t see bright smiles but gloomy expressions. They match the weather to me. People bundle up and cover their faces with scarves when snow is on the ground.

Clothing can make or break a shot. The dental school students look great in their bright blue outfits with all the green landscaping around them.

I cannot take the type of photos you see here without a photo assistant. I call them “voice-activated light stands.”  They know where to point the lights and help them move along with the subjects, as in these photos of people walking toward me.

Clayton State University found out this year that research shows they primarily compete with Georgia State University for their students. Georgia State University is an inner city school so Clayton State University will play up its beautiful green lush campus. When high school seniors look at those college brochures, they want them to see how they are different.

With cooler days of the fall starting to creep up on us, get outside on these days and take photos. Better yet, give me a call, and I will make them for you.

I put these two photos to show how when you don’t use a flash on a sunny day at about noon; you will make people become like a number rather than a person; because they are most often in shadows. Compare these two photos. Both are strong visually, but they say something different.