Claire Nicholls | Portrait Selections | MB Photography in Halton Hills

Claire came over a week ago and we shot in the mini-studio.  We went stripped down with a single 28" apollo softbox providing the light sometimes augmented by a 5:1 reflector to fill in shadow.

When I had first pictured the shoot I was completely sketching ideas around Claire wearing a tank top because when I first met her that's what she was wearing and she had a Starbuck vibe going on.  But then she had to show up with her awesome vest with the hood.  I love hoods so, though we shot the tank top, I really only wanted to stay on the hood.  

This shoot started and ended almost on time!  I like to jibber jabber and Claire indulged my every jibber. :)

My personal favourite image is the last in this series.

Marc LeBlanc | Portrait Selections | MB Photography in Halton Hills

"You kinda got a Nicolas Cage thing going on here, Marc."

"Is that good?"

"You're going to have to tell me, man."

Personally I love this first shot although it is not at all representative of who Marc is - There's no mega-watt smile or good natured crinkle in the eyes, but his eyes are clear and focused and that - to me - is Marc.

We had a mini-studio session last week and Marc brought his sweet guitar with him so we, of course shot that.  In fact, between chatting about guitars, setting up lights, moving lights, moving Marc, moving me we somehow ate up 2 hours and it was a mad dash home for Marc who had obligations to attend to.  Whoops :)  

Everything is shot in front of a white seamless and lit with Westcott's 28" Apollo and a sometime white reflector for fill.  

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Garrett Williams | Portrait Selections | MB Photography in Halton Hills

It's always great to get guys into the mini-studio - especially nice, down to earth guys like Garrett. 

 I've known 'Bud' for some years now, kind of surprising that this was the first real time spent shooting him!  

Knowing that we were going to be shooting in a relaxed, informal kind of way was great and afforded us a chance to play with some different lighting set ups and looks.  Garrett was quite at home in front of the camera and made it pretty easy to transition to different set ups.  

All shots are in front of a 4 foot wide grey seamless, lighting set up was usually two +Westcott Lighting 28" Apollos (main and fill) sometimes with a third speedlight, gridded and aimed at the background.  At the beginning of the shoot the fill was westcott's 7' parabolic umbrella but it was much easier to use the apollo's for the space I have.

I finally got to use my bankers chair in a portrait session!  It is a half finished restoration but it looks quite nice in the photos.  I think I'll pull it out again!

The last image of Garrett in my peacoat is one of my faves.  I was kind of stunned that it fit him so well as we're both different builds.  Fun Fact:  In this shot the second Apollo softbox is resting on my couch!  You can do a lot with a small space :)

Sharon N | Studio session selections | MB photography

"It smells like delicious baked goods in here!"

This, from my model, Sharon, while in the middle of setting up the lights.  It did smell good at the home studio - I enjoy baking bread and now I think whenever I have someone over I'm going to have to put make a loaf!

My home studio is tiny.  Like, two couches, large leather ottoman in a comfortable space before you put up the background and lights tiny.  But we have fun and you need to know that if you bring a friend that friend will be holding a reflector or a hair dryer or something related to the shoot.  No one gets to just sit there. :)

The bulk of this shoot was with two westcott 28" apollos on opposite sides of Sharon feathered away.  The latter part of the shoot was with a westcott 7' parabolic umbrella directly overhead and a single Apollo camera right.

Williams and Samson Wedding | Selections | MB photography

I don't do weddings. 

That's a pretty easy thing to say until one of the Williams' clan asks you to shoot their special day and right up until that point I've been pretty firm when pressed.

But Williams folk are special folk and when they ask you adjust the things you think you'll never do and find the time to "get 'er done".  So I did.

These are simply selections from an amazing day filled with amazing people.  I was very honoured to be included in their special day and I wish them all the very best for their future.