Today I’m excited to share a little behind the scenes look at Chloe’s graduation session at the beach! What you see during a shoot and what I see through my lens can be totally different, so trust the process and enjoy the ride!

What You See vs. What I See
Here are a few common things you might notice during a session, and how I work around them to create stunning final images. (And if you ever have a session with me, please snap some BTS pics like these so I can share the magic!)

Garbage
If there’s a trash can nearby, I usually leave it, it’s easy to edit out in Lightroom. But if there’s a piece of garbage on the ground, I’ll just move it to save editing time later.

People
No worries if there are others around. I can zoom in with my lens to avoid getting them in the shot, wait for them to move, or edit them out later if needed.

Close-Up Shots with a Clean Background
If someone comes along to help (especially with a flowy or poofy dress), I’ll have them hold up the back of the dress behind the grad’s head. This gives us a clean background that focuses attention on the fac, perfect for makeup shots! Plus, using the dress as the background ties everything together beautifully.

Reflectors
Sometimes I use reflectors to bounce light back onto the grad’s face. Not only does this brighten any shadows, but it also adds a gorgeous sparkle to the eyes! I can use warm, cool, or neutral tones depending on the vibe we want.

Odd Locations
You might look at a spot and think, “How is this going to look good?” But trust me, with the right camera settings and lens, I can crop out distractions and turn even the strangest spots into magical backdrops.

Hope this gave you a fun peek behind the scenes from Chole’s grad session! 😊 Let me know if you’d like to see more BTS posts like this.

(Thank you to Chloe’s dad for these BTS photos!)