Point Roadknight Beach - Family Lifestyle Session
I put a post up on my two social media sites, Sally McCann Photography Facebook page and @smp_sallymccannphotography Instagram page stating that I had come to the decision that I was no longer going to photograph families outdoors, but with the intention on focusing on more studio portraits of children, families and more glamorous portraits for the everyday woman and man. I asked my lovely social followers a question of which I received quite a good response from...
"If you were given a choice to have photos taken of your family - what would your preference be? Outdoor family lifestyle or indoor styled... what would work best for your family?"
I received about 30+ responses from both Facebook and Instagram pages all with pretty much the same answer... families, especially those with younger children, would be more likely to have an outdoor session where the photographer can capture more of a 'lifestyle feel' and not 'staged portraits. Which after photographing this last lifestyle session - I totally get!
I have an almost 2 year old little girl, and I know that at some point I'm going to want to have photos captured as a family and I will want them taken in an outdoors location. I can take portraits of my daughter and our family, which I have successfully done myself, but I cannot capture a lifestyle session for my own family, it's impossible.
I'm saying it now crew - YOU WERE RIGHT AND I WAS WRONG!!! So because of you, my followers, the beautiful people that keep me going, and keep supporting me through every post, I am going to continue on with capturing my families in a lifestyle setting.
I will be creating packages for those that are interested... All packages will include a web-based stills video, like the one below, of your session that you will be able to share on Facebook with all of your friends and family. It's not something that can be 'downloaded' at this stage, it's purely there for your enjoyment on social media.
If you would like to finally make some memories with your family and more information on having a session, now is the time to enquire while the weather is still on our side!
Big love
Sal x
Family of Three to become Family of Four
I feel so blessed to have have this beauty in front of my camera again!!! This is Simone and gorgeous her daughter of 2.5 years, Layla! I first started photographing Simone when she married her love Jonathan in Skenes Creek, 3 years ago... fast forward 10 months, and there I was photographing her baby bump... then a couple of months later came beautiful little Layla and an awesome newborn shoot! Fast forward again, 2.5 half years and here Simone is looking as beautiful as ever, ready to meet her second child in a couple of weeks time.
Such a special time for any woman, whether it be your first, second, third or forth child... It's amazing how much the body changes and to think there is a little baby in that belly! Amazing! I always get this warm fuzzy feeling when I get the opportunity to photograph a lady and her bump... it's such a huge milestone in any woman's life! For some women it's not an easy task to fall pregnant nowadays, so when you do, take full advantage of how beautiful you look and what you have created :)
If you're thinking of having some pregnancy photos taken, please get in touch! I'd love to hear from you!
Big Love
Sal xx
First Time Parents
This topic is something very close to my heart having just experienced it 14 months ago...
I had a rush of chills come over me when I walked into their hospital room... I have a rush of chills right now as I begin to remember my own experience and this beautiful couples.
New parents, Fleur and Brad welcomed their little baby boy Louis (pronounced Louie for all of us Australians) into our big wide world May 30th, 2016. To say these two parents are so proud of their little creation is an understatement. Fleur and Brad have had their fair share of trials and tribulations. To those who say that falling pregnant is 'easy' can almost be laughed at... but not laughed at for long! It's a ridiculous thing to say, especially around our generation of women. But they got there in the end and did they deliver a beauty!?
The 'in hospital' photography sessions are up there with one of my most favorite sessions to photograph, even more-so if you are first-time parents. There is a total mix of raw emotions that come over you when you meet your child for the first time... excitement, nervousness, anxiety, happiness, exhaustion, overwhelmed, utterly in love, tired, adrenaline rush.... the list can go on and on...but you get my point - it's an experience that totally messes with your emotions in every way possible. And all of these emotions can happen in a very short space of time! It's insane! BUT, nevertheless, the best experience anyone will ever experience in their life. The In hospital sessions are shot with more of a documentary approach, rather than posed portraits. They tell a story in hope that the person viewing them will have an idea of just how these two were feeling on day 3 of becoming new parents.
It's crazy... one day you are a couple who depend on each other, and then, the next day you are a couple who has a child that now depends on them. What a responsibility! So much to learn. But the best advice does not come from a text book or blog, it comes from you - the parents - learning about your new baby. Being able to trust in your own instincts more than ever before. It takes time. Some days are great days where you want to sing to the world and show off your newborn to everyone and be social... and yet some days are so bad, you want to curl up into a ball and hideaway from the world. Welcome to parenthood. But as the days go on, you get better at it, you are more comfortable with it, you become stronger, and you embrace it!
I'm wishing Fleur and Brad and little Louis all the happiness in the world! You have taken on parenthood with guns blazing you two and I absolutely admire you both! Fleur, you are a warrior 👊 and that is how I will finish! Big Love, Sal xxx
Bath Time Fun
Bath time is always fun in our house hold! This photo was taken using the new 50mm 1.2 lens. It would be fair to say, I absolutely love it! Why has it taken me so long to add this bad boy into my photography kit?!
The Big Upgrade in Gear
It has been about 6 years since I last bought any camera equipment, and although I keep all of my equipment in very good condition, I was lacking a few special items. I am currently shooting only with zoom lenses. Mind you, my Canon 24-70 & 70-200 L-series lenses are nothing to sneeze at... it's any photographers dream to own such quality lenses... but I felt like my photography was lacking something and needed a little bit of a boost, creative change if you will...
So after much research and searching for quotes, I decided on purchasing some prime lenses. Which ones? I went for Canon 50mm 1.2 and a Canon 85mm 1.2. Why? For many reasons... but the two main ones were to create better quality, more crisp photographs for newborn & portraits (50mm) and to be further enough away from guests at a wedding to be able to capture those great candid/documentary style photos without having a massive lens in their face (85mm) and while I was at it, I decided to upgrade to the 5D Mark III from the 5D Mark II.
I've only played around with the 50mm and I love it! It will take me a little getting used to by not being able to quickly zoom in and out by a twist of the wrist, but to start stepping in and out from the subject. Sounds like an easy task... not so easy... but I am enjoying learning and getting used to the prime as I get to photograph our little munchkin Tasma!