van, dani, and family | wilmington nc family photographer

May 16, 2013

Talking to Dani prior to their session, she told me that she loved the unplanned moments captured in an image.  I feel the same.  I read a quote once by William Albert Allard in “The Photographic Essay” – “I think the best pictures are often on the edges of any situation, I don’t find photographing the situation nearly as interesting as photographing the edges.”  Those moments on the “edge” are exactly what I find compelling and genuine.  They come together breathing life, personality, laughter, love, and tenderness into a session.

I adore this session in part because Van, Dani and family are pretty amazing inside and out, but also because of the “edges of the situation.”  They shine through so sweetly and display so beautifully in the images.

 

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Of Light, Love, and Film: Details | Wilmington NC Lifestyle Photographer

April 30, 2013

The beauty of film is that it forces you to slow down.  With a digital camera, you can take 100 pictures of your kids at the park without thinking twice.  Film is different.  Every time you release that shutter, you are using one of your limited number of frames.  Shooting film encourages me to anticipate the moment.  To think about composition carefully.  To take a breath.  In those moments that I peer through my viewfinder, an outsider looking in at the scene sometimes, I see the details.  The little details of the moments AND the moments that are the details to our day.  Film is really a beautiful thing.  Here are a few of our details…  and when you are done taking a peek, I hope that you will spend some time with a fellow photographer in the film circle,  Caroline, her camera, and her details. 

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mandy haber - Gosh, you even made dishes look beautiful! Love R’s socks!

Brandy - Love it Leslie!! That kitchen sink shot is my fave…great detail ;)

Tara Stallings - Lovely as always! Love those little socks : )

Jackson MO | Photographer | Tara Stallings Photography | Cape Girardeau, MO and Jackson, MO Photography - [...] follow the links around the circle to check out more ‘Details’.  Next up, the fabulous Leslie Densford! Share this:Facebook « Previous Article | 0 COMMENTS | ADD YOUR COMMENT Thank [...]

My Pretty Little Baby | Wilmington NC newborn photographer

April 17, 2013

You may have heard me say a time or two (or three or four) that I love to create images capturing your family’s love and connection with one another.   Every single session, every single time – this is my goal, this is what makes my heart sing as a photographer and is part of the reason I fell in love with photography.  I wanted more than the perfect portrait.  I wanted real life and joy and honesty – and there is something in a newborn session that is all that and more.

There are a few similarities between the family featured in this post today and my own and as I sat down to edit the images of John + Kristy’s two boys, I remembered the song I used to sing to my own boys when they were this size.  This is the best version of Elizabeth Mitchell’s “Who’s My Pretty Baby” I could find online – and I couldn’t love it more.  Feel free to turn it on and come back here!

These are just a few images from the session.  The family ordered a gorgeous set of 5 x 5 linen print custom birth announcements featuring 5 images from their session and I don’t want to spoil any surprises!  I will be back soon, though, with details on the stunning image box they received – filled with 4 x 6 color prints for each image in their gallery!

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a simply mini-session at topsail beach is a’comin | topsail island beach photographer

April 3, 2013

If you follow me HERE then you may have read THIS interview in which I talk about my favorite time of day for sessions.  I am extremely picky about finding good light in my sessions because I wholeheartedly believe that two things make a session – that sweet little family of yours just being themselves + pretty light.  The prettiest light – in my opinion – is the soft, slightly pink, slightly yellow light that makes its appearance in the hour to half hour before sunset.  It really is something else.  Now, combine that light with a setting as amazing as the beach on Topsail Island?  Woo-wee… to quote my kids, “Now you’re talking!

Before I share with you the sweetest little family session taken at Topsail Beach on an evening in March, here is a little reminder that you + yours can get in on the action too.  I have a couple of sessions open still, but once they are gone… they’re gone!

The details are here…

 

And the recent session is here…

Now this girl is off to bed because it is 9:21 p.m. at night.  (Somewhere inside me, my 21 year old self is throwing up her hands in exasperation!)

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Of Light, Love, and Film : Explore | Wilmington, NC Photographer

March 26, 2013

Each month I participate in a blog circle, Of Light, Love, and Film, with a group of amazing film photographers – with whom, I am honored to share my personal film work.  I currently shoot digital professionally and an example of my work can be seen HERE.

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I picked up a film camera for the first time less than 6 months ago.  The timing could not have been more right.  My attempt to cut back on technology in our home – television, video games, computer games, iPhone games, etc. – was ongoing and the nature of film fit right in.  With digital, I would take over 100 images of my kids playing outside.  Do you know what I wasn’t doing during that time?  Playing with them.  I was too busy being the mom behind the camera, hitting the shutter release on my camera hundreds of times because… well… I could.  When I shoot film, I am more purposeful with my shooting.  I think about every aspect of the shot, take the picture (hear that amazing “click” sound that you only get from a film camera), and I am done, free to be back IN the moment instead of on the outskirts documenting it.  I believe 110% that shooting in film will make me a better digital photographer for this reason.

This isn’t to say that film is easy.  Goodness me… I find it to be the opposite.  Every time I shoot, it is an exploration with exposure, light, film stock, shutter speed…  things I am comfortable with in digital, leave me confused and frustrated with film.  I keep trying though.  Keep exploring to see what works and what doesn’t.  Here are some of the good… and the not so good… of my explorations.

 

And there is more…  please continue on to Caroline’s neck of the (blog) woods:)!

Posted in Film, Personal
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Joanna - Great light on those cones – it came out really nice. And your boy – so handsome. Love the one of him snuggling his stuffy on the stairs. Really precious.

mandy - These are beautiful Leslie! I especially love the pinecones and the shot of your big man on the stairs! Oh, and the tomatoes and the pup! Beautiful job this month!

alana - love the bowl of tomatoes!

Megan - Love seeing what you do each month, Leslie! The ones on the stairs are my favorites <3

Brandy - Leslie…I LOVE your interpretation of the Explore theme!! Fabulous post and images! Keep exploring because I love your film captures :)

Jo Clark - Love these so much Leslie! Reading your intro I kept nodding my head in agreement. Film has been the single greatest thing in keeping me off the computer and I love it so much as well. The grain in your images is lovely and the way you captured your boy around the house with all his favorite things is such memory book material. :)

Tara Stallings - I love your take on the theme! Also, good to know that my kid isn’t the only one wearing mismatched socks :P

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