It’s a pleasure to welcome Skye Johansen, an extraordinary newborn and children’s portrait photographer from Utah, to i heart faces as our Guest Photographer Judge this week! From the very first moment we came across her website, we knew that she would be an amazing choice to judge our “All About Babies” photo challenge.
Skye wrote: I am a self taught photographer and 28 year old momma to four sweet little kids ages 2-7. Boy do they keep me hopping!!! I have been married to my husband for 9 1/2 years, we were both born and raised in Alberta, Canada but I had to move to the states when we got married so he could finish school here in Utah. We loved it here so much we decided to make this our permanent home!
Skye’s Photography Journey:
I started when I was 23, after a frustrating experience trying to get my kids pictures taken at a chain studio. I literally came home that night, made a few phone calls, surfed the internet and ordered a bunch of equipment to experiment with. All I wanted to do was take some adorable up close pictures of their little faces that I could send up to the grandparents in Canada so they could see how stinkin’ cute they were. Within a few weeks I had friends bringing their babies over and a few weeks after that I had strangers calling. It was so crazy to me but so much fun. I dabbled a bit in wedding/families/seniors, but I quickly learned what my favorite subjects were…newborns and young kids.
Several of Skye’s Favorite Baby Photos:
Fun Q&A with Skye:
-What do you love most about capturing baby faces?
Oh my gosh is there anything cuter than squishy newborn lips, round chubby cheeks and that perfectly smooth skin? Nope. And I love being able to capture those sweet thing for their parents to remember and enjoy as their babies grow up!
-What do you find most difficult about capturing baby faces?
I think eye contact can be kind of hard, babies are just so in love with their parents, I get so many sideways glances. Sometimes I just tell the parents to hide on the other side of the door so I can get the baby to focus on me.
-What was one of your favorite baby sessions?
Recently I was able to photograph this very special newborn. It was such a rewarding shoot for me.
-Can you share a “most embarrassing” moment with us?
I’m pretty used to getting peed on or even worse on occasion, but during this one session a dad was standing up holding his newborn in his hands and the baby’s binky fell out of his mouth. So I bent down to get it and…oh yes, the baby pooped. It landed my hair. I used a wet wipe to get some of it out, put it in a braid and carried on shooting! I did dry heave once, but I don’t think the parents saw.
Skye’s Helpful Hint:
With newborns it is all about having patience, a week old baby with a full tummy and a warm room. With older babies, you have to just let go and not worry about how weird the parents think you are. I have a whole collection of super cool (probably more like embarrassing) sounds I can make that always get the babies attention. I hit my head on my softbox, trip over my light stand, get attacked by Elmo…..all to get laughs out of babies. It’s all worth it though!
Skye’s Photography Equipment:
I used a Rebel for the first three years, then I have been using the 40D until just a few months ago when I moved up to the 5D mark ii. I only have prime lenses so I do a lot of running back and forth, but I love them! I use CS3 and a lot of actions I’ve made myself, but I do love actions by Brenda Acuncius & Sheye Rosemeyer. My favorite templates are from Simplicity Photography and my new favorite place for props is Pepper Lu.
We’re in love with Skye’s style of photography and the creative eye she uses while setting up her sessions. Please take a moment to welcome Skye to IHF in the comments section below and take this opportunity to ask her any photography-related comments you can think of!
Important Info to keep in mind: Photographing Newborns Safely (a fantastic article from our sponsor, Photographer Cafe.)
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{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
I can’t believe I missed this post! Skye’s my idol! I couldn’t get through a baby session without checking in for inspiration with her!
Oh and Pepper Lu is a brand new prop company that has been sending me their stuff to photograph for their new website. I have been blown away by the things they have, I think they are trying to go live next week, I'm so excited. Cutest stuff EVER. I will post the link on my blog the second they are ready to take orders!
WOWSERS thank you all so much! You are making my day with your sweet comments!
To answer a few questions, I just have clients bring whatever outfits they have and when they get to my studio I usually use their clothes and since I have hundreds of hats and headbands we just mix and match our stuff. Or sometimes they don't bring anything and I just dress them up. Since I mostly photograph newborns, it's mostly nakedness with some cute accessories.
I have lots of different softboxes on alienbee lights and I just use different ones with each set up I do.
For clarity, this is something I get asked all the time, and there's not really a secret, I just get their eyes in focus, sometimes I use selective focusing but since babies are usually moving around I just focus and recompose. Works great!
Do you ever plan to bundle the actions you have created and sell them?
Am also trying to locate Pepper Lu, but can't find them anywhere on the web. Are they a local store?
Yay! I LOVE Skye's photography. I came across her site a couple months ago and fell in love. She is seriously one of my favorites. I just wish I lived in Utah, so I could book a session.
I have found yet another blog to stalk, and she's local!!! Love your style!
My god those are beautiful!! So inspiration to me. I too am self learning. I wont say taught since I have only been learning since my daughter was a couple of months old (she is now 7 months). You truly are someone I can look up to.
Amazing!!
Mandee
Such beautiful photos!
I want to know:
1. How do you get such incredible lighting?! What kind of equipment do you use? I'm guessing you have a studio? What do you take with you for outdoor shoots?
2. How long have you been taking portraits?
3. How do you get such amazing clarity and focus of eyes?
I am in awe.
I've been following Skye for about a year now. I follow her blog religously! It still amazes me just how gorgeous she is, and with 4 kids!
Do you have a link for Pepper Lu?
WOW!!! Amazing talent.
Ah i love Skye! We grew up in the same small town and I am just so proud of her!! She is the best baby photographer there is!!!
I LOVE Skye's photography!! She is a favorite of mine for sure. So neat to hear her story too.
I love how you got started. Self taught, and super talented. I am on a similar path, but haven't had the overnight success just yet. Thank you for the inspiration, though!
Was it difficult to embrace the title photographer?
OMG I'm dying! Your pictures are so GORGEOUS! Absolutely breathtaking. Do all the ideas for outfits, hats, props come from you, or do some of these ideas come from your clients?
I love her work, and the fact that she is self taught is icing in the cake!
Wow! What amazing photos…and that story about baby Lincoln…what a miracle!!
I love her name! I love her pictures. So beautiful! Great post!
Oh my goodness. Skye, you are my new favorite photographer. Your pictures are beautiful!!!!!