How I Shot This: Creative Vision

​Creative vision is something I strive for with every shoot - I don't just want to take a photograph of what's in front of me. I want to find the best place to stand to tell the story I want to tell. I want to create genuine connection from my subjects. I want to use the light in a way that is complimentary and effective. I want to create a portrait that looks pleasing to the viewer even if they can't explain exactly why.

​If you spend much time with me you may see me stop and stare at random locations, or hear me proclaiming things like "Oh that light!" as we're driving down the road. Since becoming a photographer it seems my eyes are always drawn to beautiful light, even when I don't have a camera to my face.

​I will also often be heard quoting that I will choose beautiful light any day over location. And you can make a photograph in the most unlikely places. This image of Gemma & Luke was taken on the side of the road. In fact the road is directly behind them here, but by being strategic with where I place my subjects and where I stand you'd never guess they were by the main road.

On a recent shoot, I positioned my subjects with the sun behind them & someone standing next to me with their phone proclaimed, "shooting with the sun behind them doesn't make a good photo", to which I cheekily replied "it does if you've got the right equipment'. And while that is partly true, it's not really fair to compare a phone camera to the hunk of Canon gear I was holding. I guess what I really meant was that I knew exactly how I wanted the photograph to look and how to achieve that look. I love shooting backlit, you just have to find the right conditions to achieve it. And that's creative vision; being able to pre-visualise the photograph you want to capture and then setting everything up to achieve it.

This photograph of Ariel & her puppy was taken in the backyard, the sun was behind her and the wall of the house was reflecting that sunlight back into their faces so they weren't in shadow. The subjects are super cute & the light is complimentary.

Every time I pick up my camera I am striving for creative vision. To not just take the photo, but to truly create it. It's an ever-evolving part of my photography & I love trying to challenge myself everyday to create with vision, rather just picking up my camera & shooting.

For Josh & Aleisha's snowy engagement shoot I was a little strategic with my location. It hadn't snowed as much as we'd hoped for but by choosing a location that was untouched we got a beautiful snowy backdrop. And sometimes all the stars align & you get given the perfect conditions; during their shoot the sun came out AND it started snowing again which created magic!

If you love taking photographs but find you're not capturing what you envisioned, don't despair...because firstly you have vision which is important! Creating what you envision is then a matter of persistent practice and studying. Look at what the photograph is missing, is the lighting not complimentary? Are your settings stopping you from achieving the look you want? Is there a lack of connection or emotion? Then work out how to bring these things to life in your photographs.

Do you own a fancy camera but never get it out because you don't really know how to use it? Would you love to learn how to take better photographs? I'd love to have you along to one of my photography workshops for beginners & enthusiasts! You can be the first to hear about my next workshop here: http://www.heidihorton.com/register