SS06022023 – How I shot This

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Photographed by Selina Schöberl

Before
the Shoot

Location Equipment

This was one of those photoshoots where I was pretty nervous before I met them and also during our Zoom call. It was a time between lockdowns and many, “Can I go on with my job, because the pandemic is finally over or are we all just waiting for the next wave?” So in 2021 I already was – from time to time – allowed to have photoshoots, but it was a very rare occasion. Not gonna lie that my insecurities affected me a lot and also made me doubt if I can still be a good photographer and have a fluent conversation, because I rarely had the chance to take photos for a year now and haven‘t spoken with strangers in… well… quite a while. I was nervous if I can give them what they expected from me and what my photography stands for. (Although in 2021 my photography- and editing language wasn‘t as coherent as it is today.)

During our Zoom Call we ended up choosing a location that is near to their home. It was a little lake and therefore a new location for me, since I never was there or had a lake-photoshoot before.

Location Name

Großer Viehofner See in St.Pölten

Location aDDRESS

Dr. Adolf Schärf-Straße 21, 3107 St. Pölten

Country

Austria

Location TYPE

Lake

Equipment

Camera

Nikon D750

Flash

None

Lens

AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G

Lens Filter

None

Other Equipment

No additional equipment was used.

During
the Shoot

Directions Composition Focus Light & Exposure

Oh, they made it so easy for me! Despite being nervous before the photoshoot, it took only 10 seconds to wash that away, because they were so friendly and loving and generous. We met at the lake and discussed their outfits since they brought almost their whole closet with them. Then we went for a walk around the lake, since I‘ve never seen the location before and stopped where I saw a “photogenic spot”. It‘s definitely one of my favorite things to do during a photoshoot: walking and talking. The walk helps us to find ideal spots (back in 2021 I haven‘t done as much research as I do today) and the talk for gaining their trust, which is essential for emotional photos. We ended up on a little sandbank where we spent most of the time. As I was looking for closer and intimate photos I sometimes asked them to lay on the ground (feet in different directions, head on same height looking at each other), or I played games like, “Who would rather…?” to make them laugh. Most of the time games help a lot to distract them from me being around.

Tone of Directions

Excited Funny

Action of Directions

Hand Movements Holding Hands

Description

The photo itself looks like silence, but my direction was actually excited and funny! While they played a game and answered my questions on, “Who would rather…?”, I never payed attention to their faces. They thought I capture their reactions and laughter, but I actually payed attention to their silent communication: Their hands.

Hands have their own love language. And while J & M concentrated on the questions, they haven‘t payed attention to their hands at all. So I captured the language and the natural movements of their hands. I tried to capture the silence within all the spoken words.

What was said

Can you come a little bit closer to each other and hold your hands? I would love to play a game with you, if that‘s okay? I‘ll start to ask questions beginning with ‘Who would rather…?‘ and I want you to answer this question with your own or your partners name. I will count “one, two three” and then give me your answer! So. Who would rather…

Why I composed the way I did

I cropped it to a little bit off center, because I love the space around it and how it gives you slightly more dynamic than a center-cropped photo.

Compositional Rules

Off Center

Compositional Framing

Close Up Intimate Framing

Focus

Focus mode

Autofocus

Focus Technology

Continuous

Focused on

the fingers

Focus description

The only troubles I had for focus, was when their hands disappeared behind their bodies. Since I haven‘t told them that I payed attention to their hands and not their faces, they sometimes lowered them or let them disappear behind their bodies. But patience was the key.

Shutter Speed

1/800

Aperture

f/2,5

ISO

640

White Balance

Manual

Other Light Sources

No additional light sources were used.

How the light was used

The light was very soft, so I had no difficulties with harsh shadows. But it was my first time shooting at a lake and I had to get to know what it means to have a reflecting surface in the background. Since we had no harsh sunlight it wasn‘t that bad but a surprise from how many directions it influenced the photo.

Type of light

Natural Light

Time of Day

Afternoon

Quality of LIght

Soft

Weather

Overcast

After
the Shoot

Editing & Presets

Editing &
Presets

Editing Software used

Adobe Lightroom CC

Preset Used

Personal Preset

How I edited this image

One single word: cropping. I spoke about the love language of hands, how they communicate so much without saying a word at all. To support this non-spoken and intimate language (and since I haven‘t told them that I photograph their hands, so I stand a bit further away from them) I cropped quite a lot. Don‘t be afraid to straighten and crop a photo. Cropping = magic. Cropping = intimacy.

Conclusion

Challenges Solutions Advice

Challenges & Solutions

Events that were challenging during the shoot

One challenge was to stand further away, distract them with questions/games and secretly capture their hands, although they sometimes lowered them or moved their bodies between the camera and their hands.

Solutions I found

Patience is the key. I went on with my questions/games as long as possible to get a few shots of their hands. To support my idea of this shot I cropped it quite a lot.

Advice

Don‘t be afraid to crop a photo! I repeat it: Don‘t be afraid to crop a photo! This can give your shot a completely different meaning and vibe. It often brings way more intimacy into a photo.

Photographed by

Selina Schöberl

Austria Nikon 85mm

When I was 16 I quit photography. I thought I‘d never be good enough. I thought people were laughing about my work. So I quit.

Eight years later I‘m proving my 16-year old self wrong! Here I am. A Couple- and weddingphotographer, playing with light and shadow while capturing love stories all over Europe.

Little me, I wish you could see me now.

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