Headshot Photography

Capturing the Spotlight: Headshot Photography for An Aspiring Young Actor.

The world of acting is full of big dreams and even bigger personalities. As a photographer, I have the chance to play a key role in an aspiring young actor's journey by capturing their unique essence in a headshot. But photographing headshots for young actors goes beyond just getting a good picture. It's about creating a powerful first impression that showcases their talent and potential.

Here are some tips to help you capture the perfect headshot for the aspiring young actor in your lens:

Preparation is Key:

  • Discuss the Look: Before the shoot, chat with the young actor and their parents (or guardian) about the types of roles they're aiming for. This will help guide clothing choices, hairstyle, and overall mood of the headshot.

  • Wardrobe Choices: Solid colors and classic styles photograph best. Avoid busy patterns, distracting logos, and anything that might overshadow the actor's face. Opt for clothes that make them feel confident and comfortable.

  • Natural Beauty: Encourage minimal makeup for young actors. You want to capture their natural features and youthful energy. A touch of concealer and lip balm is usually sufficient.

Creating a Welcoming Environment:

  • Breaking the Ice: Young actors, especially new ones, can feel nervous in front of the camera. Start with some warm-up poses and conversation to put them at ease.

  • Building Confidence: Positive reinforcement goes a long way. Acknowledge their strengths, offer suggestions, and celebrate their natural expressions.

  • Fun is Fundamental: Keep the atmosphere light and playful. Let the young actor experiment with different poses and expressions to find what feels most natural.

Capturing the Performance:

  • Lighting for Success: Soft, diffused lighting is ideal for headshots. It eliminates harsh shadows and creates a flattering, natural look.

  • Eye Contact is Key: Encourage the young actor to make eye contact with the camera. This creates a sense of connection and engagement with the viewer.

  • Variety is Spice: Capture a range of expressions, from friendly smiles to a more serious look. This will give casting directors a better idea of the young actor's range.

Remember:

  • Be Patient: It may take some time for the young actor to feel comfortable and relaxed. Be patient and allow them to find their groove.

  • Feedback is a Gift: Offer constructive feedback throughout the shoot to help them refine their poses and expressions.

  • Post-Processing Power: Light retouching can enhance the final image, but avoid heavy editing that removes the young actor's natural features.

By following these tips, you can create headshots that capture the spark and potential of your young actor, helping them shine a light on their talent and land that dream role.

Westmonmouth School Presents Matilda The Musical.

Capturing the Magic: Photographing WestMon School's Production of Matilda

The lights dim, the music swells, and a whirlwind of energy takes center stage. This wasn't your typical night at the theater; it was opening night of WestMon School's production of Matilda, and I was there to capture the magic.

Photographing a school play presents unique challenges and incredible rewards. The young actors bring a contagious enthusiasm and raw talent to the stage, and it's the photographer's job to translate that energy into lasting images. Here's a glimpse into my experience photographing WestMon School's production of Matilda:

Setting the Stage:

  • Location Scouting: Before the curtain rose, I familiarized myself with the performance space. This included noting lighting setups, set design elements, and potential sightlines for capturing key scenes.

  • Lens Choice: I opted for a versatile zoom lens that would allow me to capture close-up expressions from various vantage points without disrupting the performance.

  • Capturing the Mood: During rehearsals, I worked with the director to understand the tone and style of the production. This helped me determine the best shutter speeds and apertures to create a sense of movement or stillness, depending on the scene.

Showtime!

  • Focus on the Story: While capturing individual performances is important, I prioritized moments that conveyed the narrative of the play. This meant staying alert for key scenes and emotional exchanges between characters.

  • Respecting the Performance: Using a silent shutter mode and avoiding flash photography ensured minimal disruption to the actors and the audience's experience.

  • Capturing the Energy: Matilda is a story brimming with humor and rebellion. I aimed to capture this energy through dynamic angles and creative composition.

After the Applause:

  • Cast Portraits: With the permission of the director and parents, I captured individual portraits of the cast in costume. These candid shots offered a chance to document each young actor's transformation into their character.

  • Capturing the Crew: The magic onstage is only part of the story. I also took some time to photograph the backstage crew, set designers, and everyone who contributed to the production.

Photographing WestMon School's production of Matilda was a truly rewarding experience. It was a night filled with laughter, and the sheer joy of theater. The resulting images are a testament to the dedication of the young actors, directors, and crew, and a lasting memory of their theatrical triumph.

Amici D'Italia

On Sunday night I had the very great honour of photographing Pontypools beloved Amici D’Italia in there new restaurant in Penarth.

Nestled along the Esplanade this new restaurant promises an authentic Italian experience that tantalises tastebuds and warms hearts.

Amici D’Italia in Penarth captures all the magic of Italy in Wales with a front row seat to the beautiful sea view.

Before gracing Penarth, Amici D’Italia won hearts in Pontypool. Their success story is a testament to passion, dedication and of course delicious food.

The Pontypool location continues to thrive serving up its Italian goodness.

As the sun dips below the horizon, raise your glass of Chianti and savour the flavours.

Tips for choosing your Wedding Photographer.

Choosing a photographer for your wedding day can be a daunting experience as this person will be responsible for capturing the special moments of your big day. They will be the one to immortalise your memories and create keepsakes that you will cherish for years to come.

We have a few tips to help you with this momentous task.

  1. Know your budget: It’s important to know your budget before looking for a wedding photographer. Make sure you ask for quotes and look for deals. A good photographer will be able to give you a set price up front.

  2. Decide on your vision: Consider what style of Photography you prefer and what kind of shots you want to capture. Do you want candid shots or posed ones? Do you want a traditional or modern style?

  3. Research photographers: Look for photographers who specialise in wedding Photography and have experience in shooting weddings similar to your style and vision.

  4. Meet with the photographer: Schedule a meeting with the photographer to discuss your vision and see if you feel comfortable working with them. This is also a good opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

  5. Ask about their equipment: Make sure the photographer has professional grade equipment and back up equipment in case of malfunctions.

  6. Discuss the contract: Make sure you understand the terms of the contract including the number of hours the photographer will work, the number of photos approximately you will receive and the timeline for receiving the photos.

  7. Get a written agreement: Once you’ve decided on a photographer, make sure you get a written agreement that outlines all the details of the contract.

  8. Trust your instincts: Ultimately you want to choose a photographer who you feel comfortable with and who you trust to capture your special day.

Here at emotion picture photography we have a range of upfront tiered competitively priced packages that will suit any wedding day.

Our ethos at Emotion Picture Photography is to capture beautiful memories that don’t cost the earth.

10 good reasons to print your photographs.

In this digital age we are taking more photographs than ever before. It is estimated that on our smart phones we will take around 1.2 trillion pictures. Many of these photos will be shared on social media but many more will simply be forgotten. A few good selfies will flash before your eyes as you swipe through them late on a Friday night. However very few will make the transition into the physical world, into an image on a piece of paper, canvas, wood or metal.

Here are 10 reasons to print your photographs:

  1. Preservation - Printed photos can last for generations, I love looking through my grandparents photos some of which they believe I won’t find interesting yet I find the most interesting. Digital photos can be lost due to hardware or technical issues.

    2. `Tangible - Printed photos are tangible and can be held, framed, and displayed in your home or office.

    3. Artistic - Printing your photos can turn them into works of art that can be appreciated by everyone.

    4. Personalisation - Printed photos can be customised any way you like with different sizes, frames and finishes.

    5. Sharing - Printed photos can be shared with friends and family, and can be used as personalised gifts.

    6. Nostalgia - Printed photos can evoke memories and emotions.

    7. Quality - Printing your photos ensures the highest quality with a accurate colours and shapes detail.

    8. Accessibility - Printed photos do not require any special equipment to view.

    9. Organization - Priniting photos can help you organise them and make them easier to find.

    10. Fun - Printing your photoscan be a fun and rewarding experience, especially when you see the final product.

Printing your photos is an ever present reminder of what is important in life. Family , Friends, Happy times. Unlike the fleeting excitement as we scroll through countless images, a printed picture is always there to view and invoke warmth.

Please contact us for beautiful printed photographs in all shapes and sizes, on paper, acrylic, canvas, phonebooks and albums.

Christmas is coming .....

Well here we are in November and our annual famous Christmas shoots are already underway.

And at still just £35 WITH ALL THE IMAGES they are the best value in town

South Wales has never had a better deal

We have been doing the Christmas shoots for several years now and it is such a joy to see regular faces year after year seeing families grow and share their Christmas joy with us.

Its also so wonderful to meet new people and start new Christmas traditions.

Our Christmas studio is fun, happy and safe for you and your loved ones wether they are human, canine, feline, bird, lizard or anything else to enjoy this festive time of the year and capture the memories forever.

A beautiful summer wedding with a fantastic fun fair.

Last weekend we had the pleasure of photographing a wedding at Brinsop Court Manor House in Hereford.

Well where can I start, this wedding was magical from start to finish set on a beautiful summer day in the beautiful grounds of Brinsop Court Manor.

The wedding ceremony was in the library surrounded by family, friends and literary classics from times of old.

Followed by beautiful food in a romantic setting.

Then there was the funfair with Merry go rounds, hook a duck, bouncy castle and candy floss. A day loved and enjoyed by all ages.

A Beautiful Winter Wedding at the Pier

Last week we had the pleasure of photographing a beautiful wedding in Swansea.

From Lego button holes to dinosaur ties it was a wonderful day.

The day began with a beautiful ceremony followed by afternoon tea at Cwtch Cafe Swansea and then onto Mumbles pier for Fish and Chips and arcade games.

We were really lucky to be able to take some beautiful photos on the beach and some truly outstanding drone photography.

St Cadocs Church Christmas photos and Craft Fair in Pontypool

This past weekend we had the pleasure of taking our Christmas studio to St Cadocs Church Christmas Fair in Pontypool

What fun it was to get onto the Christmas spirit, we were even lucky enough to be joined by the Grinch and the man himself Father Christmas!

There were stalls selling all sorts of things from wooden toys to bath bombs. So much fun and we definitely bought some lovely christmas presents.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in raising much needed funds for the church and local community.