As 2022 comes to an end, reflection floods my mind and heart with fun times, laughs, getting dirty, getting wet...sometimes you do what you have to do in order to "GET THE SHOT!"

My job as a photographer has taken me to so many amazing places/locations over the years and in 2022.  Some locations are breathtaking while others one must use their imagination to "SEE THE SHOT!"  Sometimes the most awkward location/photo spot produces an amazing image! 

Yes, I have stood atop mountains, battled currents chest high in streams, laid chest down in wet street puddles, battled bugs kneeling in waist high grasses, and lying flat on my belly in the dirt of a baseball field. Other times I may be dodging oncoming traffic or waiting on a stoplight to provide that opportune moment to capture the shot! I have leaned against light posts, telephone posts, street signs, trees, a building, a large rock, a car, a wall, and my camera bag to get special angle for the shot.  

While it is true that a picture is worth a thousand words what some of these behind the scenes (BTS) images don't convey is the ten degree temperature with zero degree windchill, 100 degree temperature of the August sun beating down, the cool temperature of the water as I wade in waist high or chest high even, the feeling of the cool breeze that cooperated and provided a natural model hair wind machine, or the laughs shared between subject, parent(s), and myself!  At times the nitty gritty grunge work (not highly praised) is what pushed that one image over the top!

A Flash Factor Photography photo session is definitely NOT a stuffy, pocket protector, or rigid type of photo session.  It is fun, creative, and adventurous.  There will be laughs!  I have even shed a few tears at times.  These BTS images don't show the blood, sweat, and tears that is exerted but it does show the passion I have for photography and working my behind off to make EVERY photo session unique and one-of-a-kind!

I am passionate about photography and capturing you in your element - sometimes even capturing you out of your element because the contrast of a beautiful ballroom gown in an urban setting or a cello underneath a concrete bridge just ROCKS!

2022 has been a good year for me and Flash Factor Photography.  I look forward to the adventures the future holds for my clients, my family and for me!

What is your vision for a photo session?  I am ALWAYS up for adventure!  Reach out and schedule a time to discuss your unique photo session and how we can make it even better as a Flash Factor Photography session!

What a super fun family maternity session.  Sara and Kourosh reached out wanting to combine a maternity and family photo session. 

We held their session at Inniswoods Metro Park because of the variety of backdrops it provides within the park itself.  Plus, the park offered croaking bull frogs and snakes to search for keeping dad and son busy while I photographed mom alone in her outfits. 

Super fun session and I am so thrilled for this family to add another child (spoiler: it's a boy) to their family! Reach out to schedule your Flash Factor Photography maternity photo session today! 

This family reached out about a family photo shoot for their family of seven: Mom, dad, and five children.   We determined a local park, Inniswoods Metro Park and Gardens, would work best for their needs.  

This was their first family photo session and they were so friendly, excited, and yet relaxed having their portraits taken.  I photographed the family together in multiple site locations within the park because it was so important to the parents to capture the family together.  I also shot the parents and each child individually so that we could create a family collage of images.

It had rained a lot days before their family photo session so I was concerned about the park grounds being too wet and their also being a high volume of photographers with their clients within the park trying to get photo shoots done on a nice weather day.  The sun came out the evening before and day of their family photo session to dry up the park grounds.  The park was not that crowded with the weather being so nice.  The family was on time and had coordinated outfits nicely which always makes for a happy photographer!

Professionally, I always have an idea of the images and location settings I want to shoot in and usually try to do something a little more creative on at least one shot regardless if I am shooting a family, engagement, or high school senior photo session.  Sometimes that creativity pays off and sometimes it doesn't.  In this case, I thought it was a huge success.   After scouting out the park I had the idea to shoot the family under a bunch of pine trees around one tall tree and catch the sun setting starburst behind the family peeking around the tree.  With a family of seven in a shaded area for this shot I used a two light system and I couldn't be happier with how this particular shot turned out (see images below).

After these family portrait shots we then continued the family photo session throughout the park shooting a four other settings including the rose garden, fence line, stone bridge, and pebble pathway.  Personally I try to balance moving to a new location within the time constraints and speaking with each individual to learn something about them.  I find it helps me to understand the personalities and also helps people relax more in front of the camera.  My approach is pretty low key and relaxed and it worked perfectly capturing this family during their FIRST FAMILY PHOTO SESSION!

We finished up the family photo session with a little creative session of super hero poses.  Here's what a stranger passing by would see versus what I see taking the photo.  I think the family thought I was little crazy but they loved the superhero shots.  This only stressed the importance of finding and working with a photographer you trust to capture you at your best!  

Madison and I partnered to help her build her modeling portfolio with some different looks.  We shot our Winter Wonderland session on a cold winter day (26 degrees outside which felt like 10 degrees in the wind) in a super fun setting at Creekside in Gahanna, OH.  I choose Creekside because it provides diverse background opportunities such as the wooded hiking area, urban street setting, bridges, waterfall, restaurants, AND it also had many locations for us to quickly step inside and warm  up our bodies.  

We started on the walk bridge because it gave us a fun picturesque location and the walk from the street to the bridge allowed us to talk and for me to discover more about Madison and her modeling journey. The wind picked at times during our session but we positioned her so that it turned into our own modeling wind machine!  Make lemonade (or in this case lemon ice) from lemons right?  From the walk bridge we then shot some in the fountain courtyard, on the hiking paths (on both sides of the river) and finished up inside a restaurant with some through the window shots.

Madison started her modeling journey in January 2021 which is tough during the COVID pandemic.  I believe our outdoor winter photo session provided her with some outstanding diverse looking shots to help her enhance her modeling portfolio.  What do her images tell you about her Winter Wonderland session?

I’m speechless as I sit here and write this Flash Factor Photography Blog post!  What a super fun and stunning senior photo session with Alayna! 

Yes, this is the right way to hold a senior photo session.  

1. Consultation: Consult with the senior and parents about what type of photo session and what photo's they'd like to capture from their session.
2. Styling: Based on the answers from Step One work together to style together multiple outfits to fit the personality, location, and mood of the shooting session.
3. Location: Get busy researching and visiting sites to discover the perfect location.
4. Shooting: Have fun shooting!
5. Reveal: Reveal the amazing photo's captured to the senior and family!
   
   

In talking with Alayna about what she wanted from her senior photo session she used the words unique, different, and industrial.  Her mother had one sentimental request to capture Alayna on a swing because as a young child that was where you could always find Alayna - on the swing set!  Collaboratively with myself, her and her mother we came up with some ideas for locations that fit the description.  It then created work for me to scout, visit, make some phone calls...to come up with a final list we could actually make happen!  While I was doing this over a few weeks and amidst the Covid-19 social distancing Alayna and her mother were busy styling her outfits!

I think we totally nailed it with the location, styling, and posing!  I love it when a plan comes together!  I'd like to send out a huge "thank you" to Alayna for being so brave and working so hard during the shoot to generate such an amazing outcome!  Yes, we can simply meet at the park and capture some great images of your son or daughter but truly these images speak for themselves!

Who is going to be brave enough to sign up for their fun and unique Flash Factor Photography senior photo session?  

Bringing your "A" game in whatever it is you do will prepare you for whatever life throws at you.  You can plan and prepare but sometimes there's a curve ball thrown your way.  Heather truly brought her best game to both of her Flash Factor Photography senior portrait sessions in her preparation.  We held her pre-consultation meeting via phone a week before her first session and discussed what to wear, accessories, details...   This not only helped Heather be prepared but also helped me formulate shot lists for her two photo shoots with some of the standard sports shots along with some creative shots to try and get her published in a senior magazine with a sports theme which had a submission deadline just a couple days after her sports photo session. 

Heather took my photography coaching to heart and came prepared to both of her Flash Factor Photography senior photography sessions.  Her first session was a softball sports theme session where she went all out in her full uniform complete with painted nails in school colors  (green, white with bonus softball stripes) to eye black stickers under her eyes that we shot at her high school softball field.  She's a four year letter earner for softball so it's been a big part of her life and was important for her to capture some great shots of her in that setting.  Great news!  Her all out effort paid off and helped me to get her published in the Senior Year Magazine - 2019 Girls in Sports edition. 

Heather also came super prepared to her Fall photo session with multiple outfits (casual and dress), accessories, nails professionally done, and new boots.  She definitely brought her "A" game with her Flash Factor Photography photo sessions!  I am excited to see where her senior softball season takes her once the season rolls around.  But I can say without hesitation, I am one of her biggest fans because this girl has game in softball and life!!!

Today is the day I launch my newly rebranded photography business.  Rebranding takes a lot of energy, effort, and is risky.  So why rebrand?

A rebrand is much more than the name, logo and colors.  It is the inward process of recreating the company's outward expression of identity.  Perception! 

I chose to rebrand to keep my business updated with todays marketplace and help me differentiate my photography business and to better connect with my clients and future clients.  Back when I started the business the old name fit, but I needed to revitalize myself and the business.  I also moved recently and the new community supported a change to help me better reach my target market - setting expectations and perceptions that better fit me and the business as I grow.

Thus, after months of repositioning, focus, and hard work I am excited today, November 3, 2015, to officially announce the launch of Flash Factor Photography at www.FlashFactorPhotography.com.   The goal with the new website is to provide my clients and prospective clients an easier way to learn about Flash Factor Photography's services and a more organized way to experience the service before buying.  With the new "Client Access" page, "Blog", and integrated social media buttons I've stepped up the interaction of the website and improved communication so you can follow me in the forum that best fits how YOU like to interact. 

The reorganization of pages helps prospective clients find useful information about my services and the value provided in a much more organized fashion.  One can quickly see my work on the "Portfolio" page which is organized as a melting pot of all my work.  I will be constantly updating the content with helpful information, articles, blogs, client portfolios, and news so be sure to follow Flash Factor Photography to stay up-to-date.  I hope you find the new website fresh and easy to navigate to find what's important to you.  I would also like to thank those that were a part of the focus group during the rebranding.  Your input and feedback helped make this change work!  Again, thank you!

Email me at David@FlashFactorPhotography.com with any questions, suggestions, feedback or comments.  Plus, for all your photography needs reach out to me via email or complete the "Contact" page for getting your questions answered and photo session scheduled.

Sincerely,

David Turner