As we arrive at the meadow and walk a few steps into the field, the sky opens up and an onslaught of rain quickly forces us to retreat back into the car. It's a small isolated shower, the first of many beautiful summer storms. The sky clears allowing Carly and Zef walk through the meadow together, holding hands and talking together. The beginning of the maternity session is dark and moody: completely void of leaves, the bare trees are a dark chestnut brown; the sky is heavy with an ominous threat of more rain; the tall grass looks red in the melancholy light. In the shelter of some wide trees, we set some intentions for their baby: Carly hopes little Xhozef will be intellectual and Zef wishes for him to be mechanically inclined. We find a beautiful stone wall, make some final portraits, and I think the maternity session is done.
We start walking back to the car when suddenly the setting sun bursts through the clouds. The heaviness of the day lifts and we are enveloped by a completely different energy, with soft light spilling over Carly and Zef’s shoulders. As we step back into the open light of the meadow, Carly and Zef are backlit by a beautiful sunshower. The light is so different it's as if we are taking photos on a completely different day. This is the type of soft natural light that photographers dream of.
Recently I’ve been challenging myself to step out of my comfort zone of bright airy photos and make darker images. While editing this photo session, I lean into the mood that was brought by the dark heavy clouds, pulling the heavy shadows and dark tones of the trees, while keeping a small amount of light that caresses their faces. During the second half of the maternity session I embrace the warm soft light, keeping the photos bright and airy.
This Life by Selena Photography blog post was written by Montréal portrait photographer Selena Phillips-Boyle. Selena specializes in portrait photography, including maternity, couple, and family photo sessions. Here you can see her family portraits with the Biziaev family and this Montreal couples session with Elizabeth and Jakob. Based in Montréal, Selena accepts commissions across Canada and worldwide.