Lifestyle
Capturing Lifestyle
Welcome to this week's edition of Behind the Picture Magazine!
In our latest photo assignment, we challenged photographers to create a lifestyle image within their niche.
What is lifestyle photography, you may ask?
Lifestyle photography is a style of photography that aims to capture real-life moments, people, and events in a natural, authentic way.
The focus is on storytelling, often highlighting everyday activities or emotions, with the goal of conveying a candid and relatable narrative.
Unlike posed studio shots, lifestyle photography emphasizes spontaneity, often using natural light and real environments to create images that feel personal and unscripted.
This type of photography is commonly used in family portraits, commercial branding, and editorial work to evoke genuine emotions and connections.
Now, get ready to explore some amazing lifestyle photos from this week's Photo of the Week winners.
Let's dive in!
Assignment Brief
CARTY gives a tight brief at the end of his photo review shows which tells us shooters what we have to shoot exactly for the following weeks review.
Here is this assignment exactly how he shares it.
“This weeks Assignment: Lifestyle Photography”
Capture an image that evokes the lifestyle of your niche.
Portrait shooters might show someone in their daily life.
Places shooters can focus on a space where life happens.
Things shooters can highlight a product in action within that lifestyle.
Vertical again this week folks.
We are shooting covers. Straight up. Lifestyle banger.
Joseph Baldwin
Can you walk us through your creative process for this shot? What inspired your concept, and how did you bring it to life?
The story behind this photo stems from my desire to build a focused portfolio centered around commercial advertising.
My goal is to develop pitch decks featuring new concepts and the brands I aspire to collaborate with within the commercial advertisement industry.
During this assignment, did you discover anything new about your style or approach to photography? How did this influence the final image?
As I worked on this assignment, I discovered two key things about my approach to creating this photo.
First, having a solid idea or concept can really help you make an impact in your field of expertise.
Second, it’s important to stay flexible and open to unexpected outcomes.
During the shoot, I had to make several pivots from my original idea, but I remained committed to the vision.
I even reached out to a close friend, whose input helped bring the concept to life.
In the end, everything came together naturally.
Receiving feedback from a professional can be invaluable. What did you take away from the critique, and how do you plan to apply this advice in future projects?
Carty’s feedback is always invaluable.
One key takeaway is that once you have a strong concept or idea, it's important to push it further by executing it tenfold.
Incorporating a small light or external flash can help balance shadows and store lighting effectively.
I plan to keep refining this concept and continue shooting it again.
Additionally, in commercial photography, if you want to hit home runs, you have to swing for the fences.
What details did you focus on to bring the lifestyle aspect to life in your image? Why did you choose these particular elements?
I focused on my subject's favorite snacks, and we walked through different aisles trying to capture that perfect shot.
I noticed that having snacks in the frame seemed to spark even more cravings, adding a fun dynamic to the shoot.
That’s when I knew I was onto something.
We should’ve called it a Target run!
Were there any challenges or obstacles you encountered while creating this photo? How did you overcome them?
The challenge I faced was the store being busier than expected, and the natural light wasn’t as strong as I had anticipated.
However, I adjusted my camera settings to make the most of the available light and capture the best possible shots.
Being part of this photography community, what value do you find in connecting with other photographers? How has the community influenced or inspired your work?
The value I find in the photography community lies in the dedicated support and invaluable information shared among its members.
This experience has taught me the importance of giving back and supporting others on their journeys.
For a long time, I felt outcast and lost, but since joining the community, I have made meaningful connections and learned so much from my peers.
What words of encouragement would you offer to fellow photographers looking to step up in the next photo assignment challenge?
I would encourage them to go for it!
You won’t truly know your potential until you take that leap.
Don’t fear failure, and don’t be discouraged if you don’t win Photo of the Week or Best in Show.
Each assignment presents its own challenges, but they also provide valuable opportunities to enhance your skills and build an impressive portfolio.
Remember, feedback and reviews are essential for growth and improvement.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: Joseph Baldwin
LinkedIn: Joseph Baldwin
Website: Joseph Baldwin
Selim El Madani
Can you walk us through your creative process for this shot? What inspired your concept, and how did you bring it to life?
A friend wanted a shoot with his new haircut (long hair for 8 year) and he is also looking at transitioning from IT to an environment job.
So I proposed to go to his place as he is shy so that he could be natural and around stuff he likes to loosen up in front of the camera.
During this assignment, did you discover anything new about your style or approach to photography? How did this influence the final image?
I discovered that's its better to have a safe place for the model, especially people that don't make a living out of it to be in their zone.
It is our job to put the client at ease so that we can grab emotions live.
Receiving feedback from a professional can be invaluable. What did you take away from the critique, and how do you plan to apply this advice in future projects?
The hand might be need a better placement.
What details did you focus on to bring the lifestyle aspect to life in your image? Why did you choose these particular elements?
I'm trying to focus on telling a story through different images juxtaposed and for this shoot we did that.
We started out in a white collar driving out of the car, him getting into comfy clothes and walking around the garden and shed(were i took this one) and finally waiting for golden hour and sipping a refreshing beverage after a day in the field.
Being part of this photography community, what value do you find in connecting with other photographers? How has the community influenced or inspired your work?
Not a professional model, which meant that posing was out of the way and hat also means more talking and making him do actions whilst i'm behind following and taking pictures.
What words of encouragement would you offer to fellow photographers looking to step up in the next photo assignment challenge?
Don't give up, aim for the highest possible scenario and don't compromise on setting your bar lower that what you judge yourself.
Also, as always, its a marathon, not a sprint. So it's better to do one small thing a day that improves your photography than trying to cram 10 things on one of your free day.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: @miles__prod
Website: milesprod.ch
Amund Thompson
Can you walk us through your creative process for this shot? What inspired your concept, and how did you bring it to life?
I framed the shot to keep the focus on the child’s expression, using a slightly off-center composition to keep the moment feeling spontaneous.
The soft lighting and shallow depth of field blur the background just enough to give context—suggesting a cozy, welcoming environment—while still directing the viewer’s eye toward the child’s facial features and hand gestures.
The muted tones of his sweater and the soft background colors helped keep the mood gentle and warm.
This approach allowed me to emphasize both the simplicity of the moment and the quiet joy behind it.
During this assignment, did you discover anything new about your style or approach to photography? How did this influence the final image?
I’ve always been drawn to natural expressions, but this shoot deepened my understanding of how to let a scene unfold without over-directing.
It taught me the value of patience and observation—letting the subject's natural behavior tell the story.
This realization influenced the final image by reinforcing my choice to shoot without interrupting the moment.
The relaxed and unguarded nature of the shot aligns with my growing preference for understated, genuine emotion over polished or staged setups.
Receiving feedback from a professional can be invaluable. What did you take away from the critique, and how do you plan to apply this advice in future projects?
The critique encouraged me to be more intentional with light direction and background elements, ensuring they contribute to the mood without distraction.
I also learned to push for more dynamic compositions, experimenting with angles and framing.
What details did you focus on to bring the lifestyle aspect to life in your image? Why did you choose these particular elements?
To bring the lifestyle aspect to life in this image, I focused on the child’s natural behavior and environment.
His relaxed posture, the way he holds the ice cream, and his absorbed expression all contribute to an authentic, everyday moment.
Were there any challenges or obstacles you encountered while creating this photo? How did you overcome them?
One challenge was that I met this family by chance, which meant there wasn’t any time for preparation or planning.
Capturing a natural moment without prior connection can make the subject more guarded or self-conscious, especially with kids.
The lighting in the space was also a bit tricky, as it was softer indoors, requiring quick adjustments to maintain focus and clarity.
I overcame these obstacles by staying patient and observing the child’s behavior, waiting for an unguarded moment.
I used the available light creatively and kept the composition simple to emphasize the spontaneous, everyday nature of the scene.
This allowed me to capture the candid feel I was aiming for.
Being part of this photography community, what value do you find in connecting with other photographers? How has the community influenced or inspired your work?
Being part of The Carty Method photography community has been incredibly valuable for me.
Connecting with other photographers provides a supportive network for sharing ideas, techniques, and experiences.
It’s inspiring to see different artistic perspectives, which pushes me to experiment and evolve my own style.
This community has influenced my work by encouraging me to explore new concepts and approaches.
For instance, the feedback I receive often highlights aspects I hadn't considered, like innovative uses of light or composition, which I then try to incorporate into my projects.
It's also motivating to be around others who are passionate about their craft, keeping my enthusiasm high and continually driving me to refine my skills.
What words of encouragement would you offer to fellow photographers looking to step up in the next photo assignment challenge?
I’d encourage fellow photographers to embrace experimentation and not shy away from creative risks.
Don’t be afraid to try new techniques or approaches, even if they seem outside your comfort zone.
Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow, so focus on the process rather than perfection.
Remember, some of your best work may come from unexpected moments or unplanned shots.
Trust your instincts, stay curious, and keep pushing yourself to see things differently—you’ll be amazed at the results!
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: @amundphoto
Facebook: facebook.com/amundphoto
Substack: amundphoto.substack.com
Leslie Carty
Can you walk us through your creative process for this shot? What inspired your concept, and how did you bring it to life?
Like most Artists ,we see images in our minds first and create from there first.
With the gift of a new Milwaukee cordless polisher the image came to me pretty quickly, how I could feature my Mirror making art and the tools that get me there.
During this assignment, did you discover anything new about your style or approach to photography? How did this influence the final image?
My main goal in my photography work is to showcase the detail in my paint work.
So my style is getting close ,and capturing the reflection in paint.
So this assignment was perfect for seeing the mirror in my ŵoŕk and showcasing one of the tools ,I now use to create my best work.
Receiving feedback from a professional can be invaluable. What did you take away from the critique, and how do you plan to apply this advice in future projects?
Feedback from your peers is so important for the continued improvement of your work.
I think it's the most important part of your growth as a Photographer/Artist/Creative.
We all see our work differently.
What details did you focus on to bring the lifestyle aspect to life in your image? Why did you choose these particular elements?
I tried to focus on the Polisher and the paint reflection. I picked the hood ŵith the windshield showing so the view would know what they were seeing straight away.
Were there any challenges or obstacles you encountered while creating this photo? How did you overcome them?
Lighting and timing were the biggest to challenges.
I shoot with nature light when outside.
Being part of this photography community, what value do you find in connecting with other photographers? How has the community influenced or inspired your work?
Being connected with other like minded Creatives in this community has been a gamer for sure.
Having so much talent with eyes on your work and sharing knowledge has inspired me to up my game.
The each one teach one minds set is awesome.
What words of encouragement would you offer to fellow photographers looking to step up in the next photo assignment challenge?
All great work starts with an idea a vision and then a plan.
See the shot way before you even pick up your camera..
Shoot lots of frames .
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: opalkustomz
Instagram: lescarty_opalkustomz
Youtube: Opal Kustomz
Cynthia Lilly
Can you walk us through your creative process for this shot? What inspired your concept, and how did you bring it to life?
As a “places” shooter, I knew I needed to find a way to incorporate people doing what they would naturally do in a space, and in doing so, I wanted to be sure that I was also highlighting the architecture of the place I chose for the shoot.
This provided me with the perfect opportunity to capture the beautiful architecture at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.
During this assignment, did you discover anything new about your style or approach to photography? How did this influence the final image?
My approach was a combination of elements.
Position of the sun was important, as the architectural design of the space I chose throws shadows that accentuate the design in the mid afternoon sun.
In addition to this, the timing also needed to coincide with the students moving in the background between classes to capture the lifestyle aspect.
Receiving feedback from a professional can be invaluable. What did you take away from the critique, and how do you plan to apply this advice in future projects?
Always remember to be cognizant of framing, as you need to assume that your image may be wanted for print.
Keeping that in mind, ensuring that proper space is left on the edges to accommodate cropping required for print is equally as important as the subject matter.
What details did you focus on to bring the lifestyle aspect to life in your image? Why did you choose these particular elements?
Shooting lots of frames, trying different camera settings to ensure that I nailed the focus on the building design as well as the students moving in the background.
I chose these elements, as I knew it would bring my vision to life.
Were there any challenges or obstacles you encountered while creating this photo? How did you overcome them?
My biggest challenge was lining up the timing of all the elements required to capture my vision.
As I mentioned above, the position of the sun was crucial.
Being part of this photography community, what value do you find in connecting with other photographers? How has the community influenced or inspired your work?
Being an active participant in the community is essential, as it encourages me to bring my A-game to level up my skills & strive for continuous improvement.
What words of encouragement would you offer to fellow photographers looking to step up in the next photo assignment challenge?
Go into each assignment with the mindset that you’re creating nothing less than portfolio worthy photos.
Put a lot of thought into every photo you set out to make.
Remain flexible, think creatively, and remember that you are setting out to improve every single frame, learning from past mistakes.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: cyn_lilly_photo
Torrence Davis
Can you walk us through your creative process for this shot? What inspired your concept, and how did you bring it to life?
I was using natural light in a slightly enclosed garage.
I didn't want the welds to blow out so I took about 300 frames to get the right exposure.
During this assignment, did you discover anything new about your style or approach to photography? How did this influence the final image?
I was lucky that the guy let capture him.
The conditions were crazy for me but I was patient and got the shot I wanted.
I learned that taking your time pays off.
Receiving feedback from a professional can be invaluable. What did you take away from the critique, and how do you plan to apply this advice in future projects?
Carty’s critiques were expected.
His info on ISO Wasn't new to me but his math was.
The noise problem was my fault because I enabled film grain. It's been disabled since I figured it out.
What details did you focus on to bring the lifestyle aspect to life in your image? Why did you choose these particular elements?
Natural light is my favorite.
In this shot I wanted to show extreme light and dark while keeping detail in the highlights and shadows.
Exposure is one of the hardest things to master in photography and I wanted to show that I could do it.
Were there any challenges or obstacles you encountered while creating this photo? How did you overcome them?
I was worried that I would get a composition that I was happy with.
Out of about 380 frames I picked 3 images and chose the best for the assignment.
Being part of this photography community, what value do you find in connecting with other photographers? How has the community influenced or inspired your work?
I see myself as a grad student and Carty is my professor.
He's taught me more in the last month than I ever learned in school or youtube.
I love to see the other communities work because it inspires me to do better.
What words of encouragement would you offer to fellow photographers looking to step up in the next photo assignment challenge?
Think outside the box.
Don't submit anything you are happy with.
Get your technical game on point!
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: torrence_davis
Géran Raath
Can you walk us through your creative process for this shot? What inspired your concept, and how did you bring it to life?
I have to be honest.
This shot was made out of desperation.
I was swamped with work so I grabbed a toothpaste and toothbrush from the grocery store while getting lunch and forced myself to shoot this in the studio’s tiny bathroom in time for the assignment.
What you see in the picture is all that could fit in the frame but I wanted to create a plain and familiar scene that everyone could relate to.
Everyone knows this plain, motel like kind of setup making the product more accessable to the market.
During this assignment, did you discover anything new about your style or approach to photography? How did this influence the final image?
Simpler is often better.
There was no space for a lighting setup so I tried to replicate the light that was available.
One flash high up pointed down.
Its hard and unflattering but I'm enjoying this matter-of-fact style lately.
Receiving feedback from a professional can be invaluable. What did you take away from the critique, and how do you plan to apply this advice in future projects?
Carty was spot on as always.
He noted that my color balance was off and I could push the exposure a bit more.
After making these adjustments I had a better image.
His experience is infallible.
What details did you focus on to bring the lifestyle aspect to life in your image? Why did you choose these particular elements?
Including the hand holding the toothbrush.
Although not the most flattering image id like to think of it as a familiar image.
Just having the product would have been boring but the hand brought a human element to the frame.
Were there any challenges or obstacles you encountered while creating this photo? How did you overcome them?
Space.
The camera was outside the bathroom door and tethered.
I had to climb over cables and squeeze past the camera without bumping it to hold the toothbrush.
Having a model would have made this easier.
I used a self timer set to 10sec to give myself time to trigger the camera and get into position.
It took a few takes to have my hand in the right spot.
Being part of this photography community, what value do you find in connecting with other photographers? How has the community influenced or inspired your work?
The community aspect is so valuable.
We have some friendly competition and I can reach out to anyone of the more experienced members to help me with technical and conceptual ideas.
What words of encouragement would you offer to fellow photographers looking to step up in the next photo assignment challenge?
Do what you're nervous of doing.
Carty’s assignments are by far the cheapest way to learn while working to a brief.
You're allowed to make mistakes and you get valuable feedback.
So shoot the concept you couldn't suggest to a client and value the feedback Carty gives.
It only makes you better.
Social Media Handles:
Website: geranraath.photography
Mike Morrison
Can you walk us through your creative process for this shot? What inspired your concept, and how did you bring it to life?
I spent a long time working on a totally different image and was reminded by a Carty video not to try solving bad photography in post.
So, with that in mind, I scrapped that project.
Carty also mentioned a couple of times using a product and I use a lot of auto detailing products, so this idea came to mind.
I used my Neewer MS60C light, TL21C light stick, and a silver reflector.
During this assignment, did you discover anything new about your style or approach to photography? How did this influence the final image?
My niche is auto photography, but I've discovered a part of that is product photography, specifically many products being used in the auto industry.
I'm planning to create more of this work and tag the manufacturers.
Receiving feedback from a professional can be invaluable. What did you take away from the critique, and how do you plan to apply this advice in future projects?
Past critiques were really on my mind this round.
I bombed my last lifestyle assignment, but we succeed through failures.
What details did you focus on to bring the lifestyle aspect to life in your image? Why did you choose these particular elements?
My first shots were of the product propped on a dolly, but I felt showing the product in use was more appropriate.
Were there any challenges or obstacles you encountered while creating this photo? How did you overcome them?
Aperture, product placement, and crop.
At F16 the entire shot was sharp, but I felt the product lost some pop, so went with F8 giving me a tac sharp product.
I initially shot with my left arm coming in from the left side of the wheel, but my watch was distracting.
I removed the watch, then the veins in my wrist were distracting.
Additionally, from this angle my finger nails were visible, which Carty has said many times nails should be perfect (mine are not, lol).
I switched to having my arm come in from the right side of the wheel (back of hand), which looked much better.
For the crop I really wanted the product to pop more, so zoomed enough to remove the top of the fender above the wheel, and sides of the wheel.
This put emphasis on the product.
Being part of this photography community, what value do you find in connecting with other photographers? How has the community influenced or inspired your work?
The Carty community is full of professional photographers that are all pushing their work to the next level.
I've learned an exponential amount of information from other members and their photo critiques.
Seeing all of their work pushes me to do better.
What words of encouragement would you offer to fellow photographers looking to step up in the next photo assignment challenge?
Taking one step doesn't get you to the top of the stairs.
You have to keep stepping to reach your goals. Be persistent.
Critique can be tough sometimes, but listen to Carty.
Keep making improvements.
Social Media Handles:
Behance: Mike Morrison
Facebook: Mike Morrison
Instagram: Mike Morrison
Website: Mike Morrison
Micheal Stimatze
Can you walk us through your creative process for this shot? What inspired your concept, and how did you bring it to life?
I been have around HVAC sheet metal shops since I was like 12.
I got these new “snips” for another shoot and decided to pay homage to my roots.
Old tinner using new tools to perform a task that is still done by hand like this.
During this assignment, did you discover anything new about your style or approach to photography? How did this influence the final image?
One new technique I have been exploring is shooting tethered.
This allowed me to see my screen and get the frame composed and exposed correctly.
Then I asked my wife to take the photo. It’s a work in process.
Receiving feedback from a professional can be invaluable. What did you take away from the critique, and how do you plan to apply this advice in future projects?
This photo didn’t get much critique.
Not that is perfect, because of course it is not.
I can see some areas for improvement.
My shirt was a little wrinkled, Carty mentioned the horizon line being almost centered.
So I would pay more attention to those details in the future.
What details did you focus on to bring the lifestyle aspect to life in your image? Why did you choose these particular elements?
As I mentioned before, this is my lifestyle.
I am a trades person and have supported my family for almost 3 decades doing what I showed in the photo.
I wanted to show a realistic scene with details from the real world.
The High-Viz shirt is what I wear at work, the gloves are specially made to be cut resistant (safety is a critical aspect that I always want to demonstrate in my photos).
I also wanted the high-viz shirt to be that yellow because of the contrast it gives to the Milwaukee red.
Were there any challenges or obstacles you encountered while creating this photo? How did you overcome them?
Of course, there were obstacles and challenges.
One main challenge was the timing. I had been out of town working until Wednesday evening.
I traveled all day to get home.
Being my own model was a challenge.
One thing that helped overcome these is that I was in my shop – I do work like this in my shop so I had the scene set up…sort of.
My wife was clutch in making this photo.
Being part of this photography community, what value do you find in connecting with other photographers? How has the community influenced or inspired your work?
I think the community feeds off each other.
The friendly competition we have but also the kind support that is shared encourages me to be better.
Because of the rare niche I have found myself in I get many community members sharing ideas that they come across.
The Carty Community has made the biggest difference in my improvements as a photographer, and as a person.
What words of encouragement would you offer to fellow photographers looking to step up in the next photo assignment challenge?
You will never be ready; you just have to do it.
The first one is not the hardest one to submit, but it feels like it will be.
Stop the dumb self-talk and submit the photo.
Then after 3 or 4 it gets hard because you over analyze your own work.
Again, shut up and submit it.
You cannot improve without feedback and Carty is the BEST at giving honest and valuable feedback.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: Micheal Stimatze
Substack: Micheal Stimatze Photography
Substack: Micheal Stimatze
Best In Show
Travis Silverman
Can you walk us through your creative process for this shot? What inspired your concept, and how did you bring it to life?
I’ve been wanting to take photos of Chris at work ever since we first met at a photo shoot for Run the Crown, custom made, tailored, masculine clothing for female bodied people or trans men.
Jared Colautti (owner at Run the Crown) and I have brainstormed together in the past on ways to work together since our clientele is virtually the same and we are working on generating more video for his website - including interviews and lifestyle videos of the clients.
This was a great opportunity for me to finally make my way to Hooked, the fish store where Chris works.
During this assignment, did you discover anything new about your style or approach to photography? How did this influence the final image?
I used to work as a freelance newspaper photographer in the late 1990s in Toronto.
Back then I was afraid of studio photography and stuck to available light.
I loved documentary photography and photojournalism, capturing moments of real life as they happened and I almost refused to shoot anything posed.
Something about it really stressed me out - maybe because I had to have the confidence to connect with my subject and potentially direct them.
The way I worked as a photojournalist allowed me to fade into the background and work around people and I loved that.
During this assignment I noticed that I haven’t shot as much in a documentary style and it challenged me - especially since I had planned to bring a light but had a malfunction and ended up using available light only.
I noticed that I have much more confidence now in directing the subject. I was able to observe the environment and notice the light coming from the cooler and use it to my advantage.
I was also able to ask Chris to repeat things if I needed to get a different angle (without doing that too much because they actually had a job to do!)
Receiving feedback from a professional can be invaluable. What did you take away from the critique, and how do you plan to apply this advice in future projects?
Carty is tough and hard to please and I really appreciate that about him.
I haven’t had that kind of push since I was in photography school in the early 90s.
So when it’s a “YES” from Carty it is such a boost and just makes me feel like I’m on the right track.
He did suggest I get into the freezer even more - joking but kind of not and I DID! I actually shot a few through the freezer when Chris was reaching in from the other side.
They were almosts but this is the one that made it through.
I think the one thing I would do differently is get a better wide angle lens.
When I was shooting as a photojournalist I used a 20mm 1.8 and a 24mm 1.8 a lot and I just don’t have a fast enough lens that’s wide angle and compatible with my Nikon Z camera.
So that’s probably next. Upgrade and get a better lens. I use my 24-70mm f/4 a lot.
It’s great in the studio, but when I need to open up to f/2 or more than I’m stuck.
What details did you focus on to bring the lifestyle aspect to life in your image? Why did you choose these particular elements?
Chris told a great story during their interview during the run the crown photo and video shoot of being a Fishmonger from Ireland and coming from a “long line” of Irish Fishmongers.
It’s a bit of a tall tale in reality but it sounded so epic that I just really wanted to focus on this aspect of their life.
In reality Chris’ mom got a job as a fishmonger (which is really just someone who sells fish) and Chris happened to also apply for a job at Hooked and got the job.
Were there any challenges or obstacles you encountered while creating this photo? How did you overcome them?
I mentioned above that I had a light malfunction.
In truth I had a professional malfunction and I showed up missing pieces of equipment - namely a modifier that fit my light and fresh batteries for my trigger.
I was short on time so I just went with what I had - a reflector and available light.
Being part of this photography community, what value do you find in connecting with other photographers? How has the community influenced or inspired your work?
I love seeing other people’s work because it’s often so different from mine and it inspires me to try new things.
I also really appreciate the feedback I get.
One of the things I struggle with is selecting the best final image and when I can narrow it down to 3 and ask the group for feedback it really helps me to see which one stands out the most and why.
What words of encouragement would you offer to fellow photographers looking to step up in the next photo assignment challenge?
I would say to make sure they are absolutely sure about the parameters of the assignment - shoot something new and pay attention to whether the assignment is asking for portrait or landscape and adhere to the guidelines.
On top of that, keep your backgrounds clean and simple either by eliminating stuff in the background, or using a shallow depth of field to knock distracting elements out of focus.
Keep it simple and also ask for feedback in peer reviews before submitting.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: @Travis Silverman Photography
Instagram: @Findinghandsome
Substack: Travis Silverman
Website: Silverman Photo
Samuel Sailing
Can you walk us through your creative process for this shot? What inspired your concept, and how did you bring it to life?
First of all, this was a third try of making the shot in the day.
I tried in the morning, during lunchtime and the only one that worked was sunset scenario.
I would say that out of almost one hour of shooting this was the best 10 minutes.
During this assignment, did you discover anything new about your style or approach to photography? How did this influence the final image?
What I discovered is that I need a lot of location searching in order to find the perfect spots.
I need to do this regularly and have at least 30 spots verified for outdoor sets.
Receiving feedback from a professional can be invaluable. What did you take away from the critique, and how do you plan to apply this advice in future projects?
Critique from previous shots made me think about location, the value of free space in photography.
I have seen many critiqued photos and I try to remember all the important ones.
What details did you focus on to bring the lifestyle aspect to life in your image? Why did you choose these particular elements?
I have let the time flow and intercepted only when needed, so that it looks natural.
It was important to let the kid forget he was photographed.
Were there any challenges or obstacles you encountered while creating this photo? How did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge was to capture the right moment and softly moving my subject to the good light, so that he doesn't rebel. It worked, but we had to leave immediately after the final pictures.
Being part of this photography community, what value do you find in connecting with other photographers? How has the community influenced or inspired your work?
It helps me a lot when I see others execute the same assignments and also debating with others when they are deciding about which photo to choose.
Also the group is great at talking gear and helping to decide what to use and when.
What words of encouragement would you offer to fellow photographers looking to step up in the next photo assignment challenge?
Just do it.
If nothing else, at least you can greatly improve on your skill.
If you go all in, the accelerator will take you to the next level.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: samuel_saling
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Carty is a Pro Photographer, Director, and Educator based in Toronto, CA.
His goal is to educate and connect a global network of visual creators.
👉🏾 Mindset shifts and Immersive Pro Education on YouTube 👈🏾
Learn more about him and see his work at 👉🏾 SteveCarty.com
Join his photographers community 👉🏾 TheCartyMethod.com/community
Work with Him 👉🏾 theCartyMethod.com
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