Competition Winner – Lara Grauer Photography
Posted: March 3rd, 2010 | Author: Lara | Filed under: Competition, SPPA, on-location, portrait | Tags: candid, children's photography, Competition, genuine, Iowa, Iowa City, kids, Lara Grauer, on-location photography, personality | No Comments »At the SPPA monthly competition, I was awarded second place in the Wedding category for this photo!
These kids have been so much fun to work with, and it thrills me that they get to be a part of my competition experiences! I think the best part about this photo is its genuine reflection of the children’s personalities. I admit I might tell people where to stand from time to time, but other than that, this moment is genuinely candid. These kids got all dressed up and *gasp* acted like kids! How wonderful! That’s what Lara Grauer Photography is all about – capturing those elements that make people who they are.
I put together a little macro studio for product shots today. It was so easy, and really fun! I started with a cardboard box. It’s small; probably about 12×12x18 or so. 
I cut out three of the sides and taped parchment paper across each opening to act as diffusers and reflectors. From there, I placed a strip of posterboard inside the box for a backdrop and voila! A strobe aimed at the diffuser on one side is all I needed other than the ambient light from a nearby window. I could have gotten out a second strobe, but I was itching to start shooting so I stopped at one. If you’re not the photography type, you might be surprised to know I spent about an hour photographing this tiny little bottle of whiskey! There are so many ways to practice good techniques without much fancy equipment. 
A little creativity can go a long way. Perhaps I’ll post a picture of my creation in the near future. It’s not very pretty, but it does the job. I made sure to photograph a few objects while I was at it. You’ll have to stay tuned to see those. Who says photography equipment has to be intimidating? Do you think I could get a family of 4 into one of these? Oh . . . I get it . . . that’s what studios are for!!!
