Pink for Girl, My first labor & delivery shoot, the story & images

"Isn't she lovely, Isn't she wonderful? 
Isn't she precious, less than one minute old." ~~ Stevie Wonder, Isn't She Lovely

     I had been put on alert by my friend that I was going to be her hospital call when she went into labor, so needless to say when the day came I swear I was more ready and hyper than she was. I went to her house to grab her, helped her out along with her Mary Poppins bag that was no kidding at least 30 pounds, and we were off like a shot to the hospital. We of course argued over which way was the correct entrance and drop off, and she got all checked in while I went to park and bring her bag up.
     I personally have had two C Sections, so I have never seen anyone in labor, let alone been present for a birth. Now I have of course seen some loud 'n crazy hollering during labor in movies and what not, but my friend was doing none of this. Long story short, she was a trooper and although I had been warned that natural births can sometimes take hours upon hours, I was only at the hospital for almost 2 hours before baby arrived. During those two hours her husband came down to the hospital, her parents. I pretty much just hung back and kept quiet, 50% of me just 'being there' for my friend yet giving her and her family the privacy and space I felt they should have, and 50% of me getting ready to be photographer - sizing up the room, the mirrors, the light, mentally going through my lenses, deciding where would be the best spot to shoot from so I wouldn't be in the way, etc.
     I am not a photographer who loves using flash or flash photography. So light was an important factor here and even though it was daylight out, I knew I would be at a low F stop and my ISO would be jacked a bit. I didn't mind that because I would rather have a little bit of character-making grain than harsh, false light. (However, if I didn't have the cam I have with it's low-light capabilities and I absolutely had to use flash, I would always ceiling bounce it. Flash directly aimed at baby always felt a bit unsettling to me.)
     I already knew I wanted to make a slideshow for my friend so I started documenting the day right away, mostly with my 70-200mm 2.8 IS, so I could move in a semi-circle around the foot of the bed and the people surrounding it, zooming in for tight face shots when needed, without crowding with something like a prime lens. I just knew I wanted to be a fly on the wall, not annoying the doctors, not crowding my friend and her husband, not being a distraction, just a silent witness pretty much.
One of the first things I did was utilize the mirror on the other side of the room. It gave a different perspective and I didn't even have to move from my seated spot in the back corner.

Parents at bed-side

The epidural! At this shot I was completely behind everyone and not close to them at all, so always be aware of your mirrors in the room and how they can help with perspectives.

Once I let the doctors take their place and get everything set up, then I was able to move around the room more knowing where I was going and would be ok. To get more of these types of detailed 'little moments' shots, some of the most important ones. A birthing shoot isn't just about the momentous seconds of when baby is delivered, it's everything leading up to it and around it. A squeeze of the hand, a kiss on the forehead, a smile of thanks or courage, etc. 

The light provided for the birth by the doctors was a great backlight for baby, she looked like a little angel! My vantage point was good, up and to the left of mom, back against the wall. Nothing is better than a fantastic zoom lens! ISO can be brought down at this point because of the additional doctor's light. 

  

And again, don't forget the details! Look at those little wrinkled new footsies!

I moved to the other side of the room again and stood on one of the waiting chairs that was way back against the wall, giving a decent overview for some first moment images. My F Stop was 2.8 and ISO at around 8000. 

Once things settled down a bit and doctors cleared out, I was able to move a bit more freely around the room from a view point of the foot of the bed for those moments after, that are just as important, but I was still pretty far back. It's definitely family time and as the photographer, you're there to be respectful, invisible and quiet, yet efficient.  

 Gramma getting her first kiss in

And I just felt it was important to include photos captured of the people who helped, the doctors who were there, this nurse in particular who had been with my friend since she'd been admitted. They may see many births a day but they go through the process with you, too, they're your friends for that period of time. I looked through these photos later and you can almost tell that the nurse is sharing in the anticipation and slight anxiety of the moment, to quietly and fondly enjoying the new family she's been there to witness, on the same emotional trip we all were! 

  

So IMO, don't forget to document the special people who were there that day and helped your client (or friend ;) through the tough time and sooth them along the way.

All in all, it was a very memorable shoot, I learned a lot, fast, had to be fast, think fast, do fast! It is an experience I look forward to reliving again with clients down the road, with a bit more knowledge the next time. 

All images © carrie hampton photography

and have been approved for publication by subject.

Gear used: Canon 5D Mark III

70-200mm 2.8 IS, 85mm 1.8

   

Color, glorious color. Don't be afraid of it!

In post process editing, no matter how many times I tell myself to desaturate an image in order to try something different, or make yet another black and white, I can hardly ever bring myself to do it! I am just naturally drawn to splashing, vivid color. And there's so many ways you can apply it to your image when you edit. Whether it be deepening the blue of a sky, bringing out the greens in a landscape shot, painting some pink on a girl's lips in a portrait, I love it all. It doesnt even have to be anything outrageous, it can be so much as popping the color of a flag or a piece of fruit that changes the draw of your entire image.
With today's software, and wherever your creativity and imagination can take you, photographers are able to colorize anything in the most dramatic ways. There's no limit. And if you want a subject's hair electric pink, you do it! If you want to create a fall look when it's not even fall, now it's easier than ever. The CS6 color replace tool will be your best friend!
I've chosen several of my own works to showcase here, just to urge anyone on as to how fun, different, magical and quirky working with colors can be. What MORE can you do with that one photo by getting crazy with color?

Gear used: Canon EOS 60D, Canon 5D Mark III 

85mm 1.8, 70-200mm 2.8 IS, 10-22mm wide angle

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...trees dont always have to be green, do they?

Add caption

Fall, nothing like it. I didn't alter color here at all, just amped it up a bit.

By texturing in some bokeh color, 3 birds on a wire against a stark gray sky looks much cooler after.

Other images that whisper, speak and scream

There is no shortage of pictures that can be viewed by anyone and everyone, so many photographers contribute from all over the world to make up such an eclectic, creative palate; photo journalists with their real life captures, wedding photographers who share romantic moments, wildlife photographers who venture where many of us never will, celebrity and high fashion photographers who display clothes and people in the public eye in very opulent and glamorous showcases, and so on. Then there's the random everyday photographer like me and many others, who simply like taking photos of different things, pushing the creative envelope, and expressing in a photo the image that was in our head.
We're all moved, inspired, provoked, drawn in, and touched by different images we see. I see so much greatness everywhere it's hard to not be floored by how talented some photographers are, whereas others just seem to keep regurgitating the same types of photos, never breaking new ground or challenging themselves. I love so many photographers but the late Herb Ritts, ever since I was a teenager, is by far a cut above the rest. His work is so absolutely his and identifiable as his, the style he created was ingenious.
I see so many cool new methods and styles I can't wait to learn and attempt, and I see my fair share of images that strike me, too. Not many do so much so that I remember them, but the ones here absolutely did, from many different genres, some of these photos I have admired for over 5 years. Whimsical to gritty to sexual to dark to glorious to endearing and personal. I wanted to share them here to display such a great creative array of works and to demonstrate how fun and introspective various styles can be. Names/Links to the actual photographer are captioned.
What single image did you see today that made you take pause?

Hunter Leone, Three Nails Photography
http://www.threenailsphotography.com/

David & Victoria Beckham
Photographed by Steven Klein for W Magazine (this whole series is hotnessss, I LOVE it)
http://www.wmagazine.com/people/celebrities/2007/08/beckhams_steven_klein_s/photos 

"End of the Line" by Chris Sista
https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrissista/6027727871/in/faves-carriehamptonphotography/

Bob Marley picture and child. Photo credit unknown

Maybe Sparrows Place Etsy Shop
https://www.etsy.com/listing/104359225/new-york-city-8x10-photograph-balloons?ref=favs_view_11

Herb Ritts.
Rest in Peace you amazing visionary. Often imitated, never duplicated.
http://www.herbritts.com/images/

This image of Robert Peraza who lost his son on 9/11 and just found his name at the meorial, became the symbol image of the Twin Tower attack anniversary.
Photography, Justin Lane for Getty Images
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/12/911-robert-peraza-photo-anniversary_n_958204.html

This screams spring! I just love it. Simplicity at it's best.
Aimee Pool Photography https://www.flickr.com/photos/aimeepool/6977419765/in/faves-carriehamptonphotography/

Seeing this photo and seeing this on TV in action were two separate experiences, lol, but all hail Brandi, basically.
Brandi Chastain famously celebrates after scoring the winning shootout goal against China during the 1999 World Cup. Photo credit unknown.


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Austin & Melanie | Engaged

Some engagement shoots just come together. The birds are singing, the sun is shining, the clouds are parting...None of that was going on when this shoot began. Hahaaa. But the three of us started having so much fun and were pretty much just giving the middle finger to the VERY strong wind and cold, that maybe 20 minutes into the shoot, the weather did exactly that, and we certainly took advantage. 
I chose Eagle Island State Park for this completely cute couple's engagement shoot. They wanted a rustic, summer country feel to their photos, and honestly there were so many cool spots to get a shot of, I could have kept going for hours and not run out of new points of background view. The props they brought (which are always fun) were Mr. & Mrs. customized baseball caps, a thick western rope, cowboy boots, and a vintage looking sign with a funny message and the date of their wedding. 
I love it when couples have their own ideas, too, about shots they want, angles, etc. but it's even more of a treat when you get a couple who is seriously having fun during the shoot and are naturals at really just going with the flow and 'acting' as you go. Aside from this couple having the most gorgeous eyes, they were pretty involved the whole shoot, but way easy to give direction to. We all jumped in my husband's Ford F250 diesel and started tooling around the park, jumping in and out of the truck, leaving doors open, roaming the field and abandoned shacks, climbing on things, owning the place! Yeeeah! 

Gear used: Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 70-200mm 2.8 IS, Canon 17-40 wide angle EF,Canon 85mm 1.8 EF, Promaster variable ND filter
© carrie hampton 2014

Brenizer Method used here 23 photos stitched together (Because I HAD to have the old,
cool ceiling in the pic, with all its criss-crossing architecture)

Tying the knot!

She said yes..

Old paper frame texture can give this type of photo a country chic feel, IMO.
I love applying texture frames

Shigemi the spirit & graveyard angel, and editing the macabre & otherworldy

My husband who's a fighter pilot in the military had to go to Texas for a month of training, so the kids and I went with and I was looking forward to it because I have family that lives in Texas and what a great opportunity to spread the inventive wings and document some new places in photos, along with being able to add my family to them. My sister Shigemi is one of the coolest, most down to earth, open-minded women, so when I suggested a graveyard shoot, she fully agreed. She also has an affinity for graveyards, she got married on the grounds of one, Valley of the Temples back home in Hawaii.

Down the street from my brother's house there is a historic graveyard, with towering statues, tombstones the size of a dinner tables and massive crypts. Walking through the graveyard was A TRIP because when I started walking through and looking at some of the graves, all cracked and grated away and worn, some of the dates on them went as far as as 1820 or so. I.e., John Smith, 1850-1910. Jane Doe, 1899-1935. There were dates that even read the meager span of only 1830-1835, :(   Some of those graves had angels carved into them that had started chipping away long ago. The trees in the cemetery seemed to mirror the lifetime of the graves they shaded, they were just as gnarled and old looking. So overall, the place was so fascinating and humbling and had SUCH a deep aura, I didn't even know where to start. 

And of course, statement to myself being; Can I capture the essence and feel and history of this place? Do it justice? Do right by it and the people that had lain here since for so long? I didn't want to make the place look dark, or seedy, or kitschy/cartoonish Halloween creepy. And I didn't want to make my sister look like a demon or a witch. I just wanted...different. Glowing. Otherworldly. Spiritual. Macabre in an ethereal way. Whether I accomplished that I don't know (you the viewer of this blog can tell me with feedback and spill your guts with your own opinion on anything you see on this thing) but I do know that once I had the photos done and some of the panoramas pieced together, I knew exactly how I wanted to edit them to complete the overall look of how the place made me feel. 

Gear used: Canon EOS 60D, 18-135mm 5.6 EF, 10-22mm Wide Angle, 

Canon 85mm EFS. Edited with various uses of textures (grain & canvas), borders and photoshop brushes.

"Visiting". I wanted to make this one look as though she was doing exactly that, walking out of her tombstone.

I liked this one because it almost looks, to me, as if she is saying goodbye and going back to her 'home'. She could disappear as she walked away any second.

A "dark angel" B&W version of first image

I wanted a porcelain, pasty, lifeless look for her here.
Edited with grain on the tombstone and a canvas texture on the background

This was my first attempt ever at Brenizer method. It kiiiinda worked out, it created a pretty good 3D effect with her, but the trees in background are in focus rather than bokeh blur. This is a good example of the cool shit you can really do in Photoshop, from borders to stars, to flares to adding contrast for a bit more of an ominous effect.