My Favorite Photos

For more than 10 years, I have been taking pictures both for fun and as a freelance photographer. However, I have never shared my personal favorite photos from my work. While it's challenging to pick a single favorite photo from the many I have taken, I have selected one from each category I have identified. The list of my favorites is in order, with the first one being my top pick. Additionally, I will be evaluating my own photos and providing an explanation for why I have chosen each one.

Travel (Aesthetic)

This one was a quick decision photo, and it may not be the most crystal clear. I took it while walking up the stairs of the Eiffel Tower. On the way up I was debating in my head how I could take creative photos, that didn't look like every other person's photo of the Eiffel Tower. "Look for little moments." I kept telling myself. And "Look up, down and all around." As soon as I thought this, I realized I was looking down, but only at my feet as I trudged up the stairs. I decided to look around and snap a few photos. When I got back home. I realized this was my favorite photo I had taken the entire trip. I love how abstract it is, the subtle colors, the composition, the shadows. I think this might be my favorite photo I've ever taken, even if someone looking at it may not be able to tell what the subject it. "Look up, down, and all around" has now become my little motto whenever I'm taking photos.

Travel (Documentary)

This photo is a close tie for my favorite photo I've ever taken and I can't exactly say why. I think the composition is excellent, the editing could be better in my own opinion (I have a different version that I've edited differently but I can't find it for the life of me), and I think the subject is hilarious. It speaks a bit on how we are viewing the world through our technology these days, but it's also just funny to see a regular man with his iPad snapping pictures of these war re-enactors in full garb.

Romance

It was hard for me to narrow down a "romance" shot, but I absolutely love this picture. I was a second shooter for a wedding years ago, and I was having so much fun with it. I loved being able to be a part of their special day and take my creative and unique photos without the stress of having to get *THE shot* like I would be if I was the only one shooting a wedding. I didn't take a lot of pictures during the reception, as I didn't have the proper tools (a flash for indoors) to get the quality of photos that I wanted. But this gave me time to move around and set up the shot. For this photo I used their table centerpieces to frame the image of them during their first dance. I think it turned out beautifully. It was a perfect moment in the dance and the composition turned out so well. If I was perfectly crafting the shot and could have them re-do the moment, I might have moved around a little to show more of the couple, but for an in-the-moment shot, I wouldn't change anything. It comes across as so intimate, which I adore.

Portrait

This photo could have been my favorite photo ever, but it falls short because of the focus. I wish it was more in focus, especially on her face. But, unfortunately, this was another quick snap. I had just joined a photography group where they hosted themed events in their studio. I was very new to the group and new to studio photography, so I came to the event a bit unprepared and overwhelmed. When I arrived, I saw a collection of photographers with their own setups of tripods and studio lighting, whereas I had nothing but my little camera. So essentially I snuck around in the background of everyone else's set up trying to snatch some decent lighting and an interesting pose here and there. This girl stuck out to me, she is not only stunning and an excellent model, she had also done her own hair and makeup (There was a makeup artist on set, but she chose to do her own, and did an amazing job). I grabbed a few pictures with very poor lighting as she posed for another photographer. I thought this one turned out amazing, I loved the way the light highlighted her face and her sheer cover-up and the pose was so dynamic. Imagine how distraught I was to find out it wasn't in focus. I still love this photo though.

Animal

This was such a fun shoot and I have so many pictures I love from these little kittens. I wanted more experience shooting pets, so I visited my sister a state away who had three cats. Two of them were just kittens and they spent most of the day sleeping in the sun spots, which was perfect for me. I was able to capture them from every angle as they just sat there completely still. This is unusual for pet photography, for them to be so comfortable with me around, getting up in their space. And for them to stay completely still for hours. But that day gifted me with this serene photo, perfectly lit, and wonderfully composed. I love the details of the fur and the whiskers and the way the kitten was twisted around. It just happened to be perfect. It's also one of very few photos that I prefer in black and white.

Food

It was also difficult to narrow down my food photography. I spent two years photographing for a local food blogger, who was also my co-worker and friend. We had so much fun together, I snapped away while she cooked. We spent hours creating together. And we worked well together, we were both very passionate and had similar creative energy. I also created some designs for her and worked on her website, and I had so much fun with anything we created. This was one of the first shoots we did together and I think the photos turned out so elegant. This looks like something you could only get at an expensive, exclusive restaurant and I love the specific focus creating the bokeh effect. I love that it looks like someone is in the middle of taking a bite, it almost tells a story without there being a model in the picture. I personally think it looks enticing and interesting, and while I have a lot of other favorite food photos, I chose this one as my favorite.

Oldest

This was the first self-portrait I ever took. This had to have been taken around 2012. For this photo, I took a clamp-on work lamp, wrapped some wax paper over it to diffuse the light and clipped it on the top of my bunkbed and then took a few up-close self-portraits. Goes to show you don't need any expensive equipment. I still love this photo to this day! I wish I plucked my eyebrows before I shot these, but that's a minor detail. 😂

I ended up using this photo and a few others in a series I created to apply for a contest at Kendall College of Art and Design and ended up winning the award for photography & even won a scholarship. I didn't end up going to that school, but it was great to have my work appreciated.

Most Artsy

After taking the photo before this one, I grew to love close up self portraits. This one received a lot of criticism from the makeup lover community. To be honest I have never used this lipstick other than to take this photo, I'm not much of a lipstick gal. But I loved how this shot came out. I made an absolute mess taking these photos, though. I did a few other weird makeup looks and there was makeup all over my desk and smeared over my face. (That was purposeful for a photo as well). I didn't like how most of the photos turned out from this whole shoot, though, and I believe this was the only one I ever shared online.

Again, the setup was very amateur, I moved my desk right up by the window (the apartment I lived in at the time was a cave, there was little to no natural lighting), I set up a few cereal boxes and books to make a sort of tripod, flipped my camera screen around and started shooting.

Those are my favorite photos! All of these were taken years ago, it seems like I'm due to take some new favorite photos. Stay tuned to see if I do another close-up self portrait shoot soon! I have more lipstick to destroy, should I make a series?

Hope you enjoyed this post. :)