Just a note to let you know that I will be out of the office for most of the rest of June through early July. It’s our annual family vacation time and down time and this year I feel like we need it more than ever! I’ll be checking email infrequently but keeping up as needed. If you’re a new inquiry it may take a little longer than normal to get back in touch.

Here are some older personal vacation (and assorted others in the slideshow) images as a parting gift for now. I hope you’re taking plenty of unwind time this summer to refresh your mind and body, too!

Earlier this year I had a light bulb moment. I realized that I was defining my photography work not only by the genres I love to photograph but by a larger mission and goal. I love working with and photographing women. I specialize in boudoir photography and high school senior portrait sessions and this year I’ve also had the opportunity to take maternity sessions to the next level, thanks to working with two amazing photographers who came to me for their maternity portrait sessions. I’ve realized that I don’t just love photographing women – I love making images that leave women feeling good about themselves. I want them to see their beauty – both inside and out. We need that boost at all ages and stages!

Dream Virgina Beach Maternity Photographer Session

Juliette is an amazing newborn photographer in the area and when she contacted me about a maternity session I couldn’t wait to collaborate with her. She and her husband brought so much charm and personality to this session. And he picked the flowers and organized her jewelry -  a keeper on so many levels! We started in my home studio to create soft, feminine boudoir-style maternity photos. For the outdoor part of the session, they wanted something colorful and natural and I love how the location came together with their wardrobe.

I’m thrilled to also tell you that after much excitement, their blond-haired cutie son arrived nearly a month early in good health and absolute cuteness. She not only delivered early but also had her appendix removed and handled some other complications like a champ at the same time – she’s a trooper! I can’t wait to see more of her beautiful photos of their sweet, sweet son.

I used both film and digital cameras to photograph this session. The image below is a favorite film image.

The next three are also favorite film images – taken with the Contax 645 and Fuji 400 film. Love the way film captures color.

They really are this cute – all I did was photograph their natural adorableness!

The image below is one of my favorite images. Ever.

My maternity portrait sessions are all about capturing your excited glow, the beauty of your growing baby bump and the anticipation that surrounds this time in your life. Husbands and other little family members are welcome to join your session for some of your photos, too. You can see other examples of maternity sessions in my portfolio site.

I also have a home studio if you’d like something a little more private for photos more focused on the beauty that is your body at this time. The studio is full of natural light and classic furnishings. Many of my maternity portrait clients like to combine time in the studio with time outside for their sessions. I know some great outdoor locations near my home where we can complete your session when you choose the home studio.

Maternity portrait sessions include multiple outfit changes.

Contact me using the form on this website or by email at amy@amysandovalphotography.com to request more information on a maternity portrait session in the Hampton Roads, Virginia Beach/Norfolk area today!

Evergreen
Contax 645 | Fuji 400 | developed & scanned by Photovision Prints

I added the Contax 645 film camera to my  collection back in December after studying Elizabeth Messina’s work for some time, along with several other photographers who use film as their primary medium (Kirk Mastin, Susanne Buehler). Messina’s “The Lumimous Portrait” inspired a lot of us to step back and re-evaluate what constitutes a good photograph – both artistically and technically.

Film Photography: Slow, Steady & Perfectly Imperfect

Digital photography creates crisp, sharp images. It gives us a chance to capture a larger volume of images. We can’t guarantee that if we miss a shot we can re-create it but we do have more chances to catch shots sometimes simply because digital is fast. Digital is also amazing at allowing us to shoot in situations where film is just not as good to go: low, low light situations, for example. Digital photography is like taking the interstate and in this day and age we need to take the interstate because we’re always in a hurry. But you see things when you take the long way. You notice things when taking the back road that you don’t see when you’re going 75 mph on the highway. For me, that’s what film does. It opens me up because it slows me down. Add to that the simple beauty of film – particularly the way the Contax 645 captures images – and I love it.

Film is full of personality and charm. The images are not perfectly sharp. There’s natural grain – which is so lacking in digital photography that we find ourselves adding it in in post-processing. Film images may even seem quieter at first compared to digital – less contrast or brightness or even saturation.

Contax 645 Film Photography Love

I shot these in a little bit of a hurry (finishing a roll before we ran off to dinner!)  – and therefore some of them truly are a bit out of focus! – I love the details they do capture. Her eyelashes. The movement of her hair in the wind.

Look at the depth-of-field the Contax captures – the sweet bokeh (blur) it creates. (The Zeiss lens that came with my kit is truly what creates that magic – it’s a phenomenal lens.) Things that digital would have had a much harder time containing within its format because it doesn’t handle that type of details quite as well. Film captures whites and highlights that digital cameras tend to lose or “blow out” virtually every time. To get the skin tones of the images below much of the background color/saturation and whites would have been sacrificed in a digital file.

I wanted to experiment with these shots – with depth-of-field and details and exposure. So I focused on small things – strands of hair, eyelashes, and a few of her face, too! For me, the slower more calculated pace of film has also impacted my digital shooting for the better this year I believe. Thinking more about my shots as I’m taking them and not just assuming I can “take it again” or taking the exposure readings quite so much for granted because there’s a screen on the back of the camera that will give me some idea of what the image will look like – not having that has helped me focus on thinking through the steps of creating a photo better. And that can only be a good thing!

I love this last one – this is so pre-teen “Mom, hurry up and let’s GO ALREADY!”

Creative senior pictures are one of my first loves – photographing senior portraits on digital and film is a bonus.  I love scouting new locations, finding gorgeous light and putting together senior portrait sessions that are as special as my high school clients are each year.

If you missed Part 1 of Megan’s Inspired Shoot please be sure to check it out. Part 2 may just be my favorite. I love the delicious golden light and the amazing locations. I also enjoyed working with Megan from concept and wardrobe to the day of the shoot itself to create a session full of different looks – from a soft, romantic wardrobe to a farm-inspired denim jacket and lace dress and an informal pair of shorts and adorable top. We put this session together to show senior portraits don’t have to look alike – they can reflect your individuality and personality. And that you can style a great session on a budget – many of the clothes came from Forever 21!

Book your senior portrait session!

You can see more of my high school senior portrait sessions in my online gallery. I’m now booking for summer and fall senior portrait sessions and I have brand new packages designed to offer the hottest mix of prints, digital files, albums and much more – including a mobile album app for your mobile phone or iPad!

Let’s work together to come up with a truly unique and beautiful high school senior portrait session. A professional makeup artist is included with every session to bring out your natural beauty. There’s also unlimited wardrobe changes (within reason!) and help styling your session.

Contact me using the form on this website or by email at amy@amysandovalphotography.com to request a welcome packet with details on the Amy Sandoval Photography Senior Portrait Experience and take the first step to booking your session today!

For a limited time, I’ll credit $100 of your reservation fee towards your senior picture session order!

P.S. Ask me about how you can book your senior portrait session for this location, too!

P.S.S. I am in love with this tree.

Farm photobomber!

I’m such a sucker for cats.