My New Love

I've been working hard behind the scenes to figure out a way to incorporate video into my photography business. Video can really complement still photos by adding depth to a story. The power of a photograph is how it allows us to savour tiny moments frozen in time, appreciating the details of that moment. I love staring at a photo and seeing details I didn't notice during the moment or taking photos to show clients the beauty of a simple interaction. Video brings the preservation of moments to another level by using movement and sound - little voices, the sound of laughter, mannerisms. It's like stepping back into a memory and reliving it. 

I documented a few everyday routines over the holidays with my kids and I'm slowly finding my voice and a new workflow using both photos and video....and I'm loving it!! My goal this year is to use video more and more - both professionally and personally. I don't want to forget how their voices sound at these ages, their favourite games, how my youngest always pools copious amounts of maple syrup over her crêpes and has to start each meal by announcing "bon appetito". These are moments that videos brings to life. 

One thing that struck me while watching the mini films I put together of our holidays, I'm not in any of them. I'm still working on how to incorporate myself into the story more. This is why I love shooting families. So often, it's the moms who document (not always of course, but often), and so I like being able to give something to families where everyone is in the picture. I hope to do the same with video soon!

For now, click on the link below to see a little taste of what we've been up to - our real, everyday life in all its beautiful imperfectness. 

Ottawa photographer and filmmaker | Melanie Mathieu Photography + Films

What happens when I show up at your home?

A little behind the scenes look at in-home sessions with me

A client sent me these two photos that her mom had taken during our session (thank you again for these!). I had no idea that she was taking photos but I’m so grateful that she did because having photos that show me in my element, doing what I love, is really so special. Coming across these photos again recently got me to thinking that maybe some would be interested in learning a bit about how I work for in-home photo sessions. 

So what happens when I show up to your home? To answer that, maybe it’s better to back up a bit. Before a session, I have clients fill out a questionnaire about their family - a few simple questions that help me get to know them a bit and to highlight what’s important to them. Reading about clients beforehand is one of my favourite parts because I start to get a sense of what their story is and how I can capture it. I re-read the answers several times before the session and I’m not gonna lie, I have cried more than once when reading some answers. It’s very touching that some will share personal stories with me and I start to put myself in their shoes and imagine what their life may be like.

Getting back now to the earlier question about what happens when I show up at the door - after a quick introduction to put faces to names, I take out my camera and start shooting and following everyone around. It plays out differently every time with some falling into it naturally and others needing a bit of time to warm up or for the novelty of the camera to wear off. Sometimes I think clients may feel like they aren’t doing anything ‘photo worthy’ but it’s never true - the little things matter and that’s what I’m there to show. I always have the client’s answers to the questionnaire in the back of my mind and I wait to see some of those interactions or pieces of their story to show up in one form or another. It can be a glance, a smile, an object, a small detail that tells a bigger story. I ask questions, talk a little to the family and I wait for the moment I can see in my mind. I look for things like lines, light and shadows and think about how to compose the image to use those to shape the photo. I take a lot of photos, many won’t work - I try different angles, exposures. I don’t give much direction for the most part - you won’t often hear me ask “do that again” and instead I wait for moments to happen naturally. I may suggest that we switch activities or move towards a different part of the room for variety or light but most often, I let things unfold. Because of this approach, the majority of the photos that I will send clients will be candid, natural and real. I do include some more posed shots if the family wants those but I try to keep the feel more natural - for example, maybe not every shot shows everyone looking at the camera and smiling. Maybe the parents are looking at their child instead of smiling at the camera, maybe the kids are making silly faces. People hire me because I capture people in an honest way and so my posed work with families will be in keeping with that. 

Once I finish a session, my work has really just started as I start the culling and editing of photos.

So there it is, it may seem like I just show up and take a bunch of photos but there is more to it than that. I work hard to see those answers from clients come to life to tell their story in a way that makes you feel something. 

Why Small Businesses Should Invest in Photography (Part 2)

I wanted to shift the focus a bit from where my last post left off and share a few tips on how to prepare for your business photo session. These photo sessions are all about putting your best foot forward but also being real and true to your brand.

3 tips to keep in mind before your business photo session:

1) What to wear
Choose something that is comfortable and appropriate for the type of work you do. Depending on the idea for the photoshoot, think about what you wear when you are working or if you were meeting a client.

2) Have a plan but be flexible
Having a general idea of the types of shots you need will help to guide the session. Discuss these beforehand with your photographer so that they come prepared with the right equipment. Some shots or angles might not work as you envision - they may not be flattering to you or your work, or maybe the space you are working in has limitations. Trust the photographer to find the best solution for your particular photoshoot.

3) Tidy up your work area before the session
Of course the idea is to showcase your work in a real setting but photos will show everything. Take the time before the session to look at your space, remove any items that don't belong or to place elements in a way that is less distracting to the focus of the shoot. Have on hand all the tools or elements you would like included.

To give you an idea of how each photo session is different. Have a look at two businesses I worked with recently. Each session was tailored to what they needed and to the nature of their businesses.

Maman Chic Boutique 

Maman Chic Boutique is a local shop in Aylmer QC filled with the most thoughtfully selected items for expecting moms, new moms and even beyond the bump. I love this shop and all that it offers from the personalized one on one attention to the convenience of online shopping.

Dulce Couture Cakes

Gabriela is the face behind Dulce Couture Cakes. Having seen many of her creations before we met, I was so excited to meet her and see her at work. Her attention to detail and passion for her work shines through.