9 minute read
Lynne Harper New Panel Member
“Lynne is proud to be Scotland’s only Master Craftsman in newborn photography. Her main passion and specialism are styled newborn art and classic portraiture. Her notable achievements include being awarded the Guild’s ‘Newborn Photographer of the Year’ and ‘All Round Photographer of the Year’ in 2019 and gaining several international awards for her portrait and commercial photography. Lynne’s journey into photography started after the birth of her two daughters, and they continue to be her inspiration and feature in a number of her award-winning images. Having had success in the Image of the Year competition for six years, Lynne was delighted to join the Guild’s panel of judges this year, allowing her to share her competition experience and her technical and editing skills with others through training and mentoring.”
Q: How did you first get interested in photography? I’ve always been interested in photography and appreciated other photographer’s work, but my passion for newborn photography grew after the birth of my daughter almost 13 years ago. I got my first DSLR and truly appreciated how important it was to capture memories as your children grow. Q: What do you specifically look for first when creating your images? The first thing I look to do is come up with something unique. We all try to create something different to make our work stand out, and I’m always looking for inspiration. Next, I look for colour harmony. I like to either build a palette of complimentary tones of a single colour or go for a bold contrast such as blue and yellow or orange and teal. Q: One piece of equipment that you cannot do without? My camera! Last year I upgraded to the Canon R5, and I absolutely love it. I would struggle to go back from mirrorless now. Having a live view on a swivel screen is just brilliant!
Q: What is the most challenging area of your photography? Newborn photography is a challenging genre, but it’s my favourite as I love its challenge. Working with babies, settling them, posing them safely and comfortably, lighting them correctly and editing skin tones are all skills that take time to learn. I’ve trained and worked hard to get to where I am and get so much satisfaction from looking at my images, knowing that I could only have dreamt of achieving anything like them ten years ago. Q: What motivates you to get up in the morning? Sunshine and coffee! Q: How has your style of photography developed or grown since you first started? My newborn photography style has developed and changed from using light pastel palettes when I started to dark tones and becoming more contrasty in the past few years. Tartan features heavily in my work now as I like to incorporate the heritage of the Scottish babies that I photograph. Tartans are usually darker tones, and therefore I have moved to darker backdrops to compliment my new style. Q: Best buy for under £50? My Baby Shusher. I feel it not only relaxes the baby but gives the studio a lovely relaxed atmosphere. Q: Favourite lens in your camera bag? It has to be my Canon 85mm f1.8. It’s my favourite lens for portraits. Q: Apart from your camera, what is a piece of equipment you cannot do without and why? I think it would be my Sekonic L-308S light meter. It’s now automatic for me to measure the light every time I alter my set-up and saves me so much time in post-production as it ensures that the exposure is always correct on camera. Q: How do you proof your work? I always use a grey card; I make sure that my screen is colour calibrated before I start editing, and I go over my images at least 100% in Photoshop before delivering them to the client. Q: What is your turnaround from your photoshoot to supplying your images to your client for proofing? I tell my clients that their proof images will be ready within 2-4 weeks, but I always aim to deliver within 2-3 weeks. I think it’s better to slightly under promise and over deliver in order to exceed the client’s expectations and never disappoint.
Q: Do you use a tripod? If so, how important is it for your photography? Very rarely do I use a tripod. I might use one if I’m doing headshots, but I tend to move around and find that hand-holding my camera works better for me. Q: What advice can you share for people interested in taking up photography? Get training and work hard! There are so many resources online that you can access to start with, but in-person training is also very worthwhile. The Guild of Photographers’ webinars is a great place to start. Particularly in relation to newborn photography, it’s essential to study safe practices and learn how to handle a pose a baby safely. Q: How important is Photoshop/Lightroom and Post-Production to your photography? I only use Lightroom to set my white balance from my grey card, but I edit all my images in Photoshop. I correct skin tones with newborn photography and remove any distracting flakes of skin, etc. However, I like to keep every baby’s skin tone accurate to them and therefore hand edit every baby differently. Q: What is your favourite place or subject that you have photographed, and why? My favourite subjects to photograph are my two daughters. They model for me whenever I ask, and I have won a number of awards for them. I’m very lucky! Q: Developing your marketplace, how important was it to create your brand in your area? I’m based in Scotland, and my brand is heavily focussed on our Scottish heritage, darker colour palettes and using tartan. Many newborn photographers around me use light and airy, pastel palettes, so I think my brand helps to give me something unique in my area. Q: Who inspires you? The photography industry is full of insanely talented individuals. I’m inspired by those who work hard to drive their business forward whilst balancing personal and family life. Q: If you were to be on a desert island and only take one item, what would it be? My phone. Q: How do you relax? With two children, a business and a house to run, I probably don’t relax as much as I should. However, my ideal chill out would be a chilled glass of wine with friends and family. Q: Three individual words that describe you? Patient, Determined, Creative; Q: Favourite place in the world and why? It has to be New York. I love the laid back vibe, drinking wine in a sky bar at sunset, eating in the best restaurants and watching a Broadway show. I’m not a fan of shopping, but I could walk the streets of New York, taking in the sights all day. Q: Favourite food? I like all food (except for goat’s cheese)! If I had to choose a cuisine, it would be Mexican - with extra jalapeños! Q: Where next? This is my first year on the Guild of Photographer’s panel, and I’m enjoying the new challenge that it’s given me. I also train other photographers, and I’m looking forward to travelling further afield to teach this year now that restrictions are easing. Q: Favourite suppliers? I get my prints and wall art from Digitalab and most of my newborn wooden props and posing aids from The Original Photoblocks Props. I’m in the process of setting up my new home studio, so I’m on the lookout for new products and backdrops!
- Lynne Harper MCrGPP Website: www.lynneharper.com
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