See this picture?
If you have followed me for long, hopefully you'll recognize this photo. It's one of my all-time favorite pictures I've ever taken. I love it for so many reasons. I'll get to that a little later.
Last weekend, at the Sierra Vista Open House, someone stopped and pointed out that this couple was standing in a soybean field. On his or her first glance, one might think that's an odd choice. Did I put them in some random field just to get some sort of "field-shot?" What's up with the soybeans?
I was glad this passer-by mentioned it because it gave me an opportunity to point out what makes my business so very me.
There's a little back-story, so hang in there!
A few years prior to this photo being taken, I was shooting an engagement session of another couple. I propped them down in the middle of a soybean field so I could get some sunset shots. Since the sun was so low in the sky, I needed an open space in order to capture it in a few shots during this session. This was one of two areas nearby where I could catch the sun, the other being on a pier. (Which we walked to soon after this was taken.)
After I posted the session, a person who shall remain unnamed (ahem, she's related to me and may or may not be my assistant) called me and teased me for using a soybean field. What was I thinking?! Soybeans aren't soft and flowy. They aren't pretty.
True, but, that's where the sun was. And the sun was what I was after. Which trumped the fact that it was just a soybean field. Besides, I liked the texture of the soybeans!
Fast forward a few years and Katie gets in touch with me. She booked me almost immediately and I drove out to her family's farm for her bridal portraits. She gave me an enthusiastic tour of her farm and pointed out the soybean field.
"I have to have pictures in the field, please." She said.
Suddenly, I'm experiencing flashbacks to the trauma I experienced when someone teased my art work in the past. No. But for real. Neck cramp. Another soybean field shot?? What will people think?!
"Oh. Um. Okay. You sure?" I responded.
"Yes. It was your picture of the couple in the soybean field that made me book you. That's what I want."
Well look at that.
However, her bridal session wasn't the time for the picture. :) As you can probably assume, we were not going to stomp all over those fresh greens.
Katie and Chris' wedding day came and it was perfect. We did their family portraits in the soybean field (much to her mama's dismay... we were walking all over their livelihood, you know).
The sun was setting perfectly so we walked directly towards it. I guided them to a spot in the field and just started shooting.
And then this happened.
I love this picture for so many reasons. You can see their passion and love for one another in this shot. You can see their home, their livelihood, in the background. You can see their story. This picture is an all-encompassing image of their wedding day. And I love it so much.
So... yes. A soybean field. Who would have thought it'd end up as the background of one of my favorite images ever? It may look unusual to the average passer-by, but there's a story behind it. There's a story behind all of my favorite images I've ever taken and that's what drives my photography passion.
My passion is getting to know my couples and telling their unique story.
Capturing these stories and giving them to others to hold onto forever is so fulfilling... so, so fulfilling. I am so grateful to my clients for supporting my business which allows me to do what I love!
