Nightmares

As children, we are haunted by the nightmares that seed from horror movies and ghost stories at slumber parties. As adults, we are traumatized by the realism of these all-too-real dreams. These images follow us during the day and taunt our thoughts; they make us forget the best things about our lives and instead make us dwell on the horrors of it. This can change the way we look at everything. Nightmares suck.

Last week, I had the opportunity to shoot with my good friend Natasha and my lovely boyfriend. They helped me realize a concept I had been longing to do for a long time. Here is the result:

©Sophie Fortier 2013
Models: Natasha & Nick

This particular concept has been haunting me for a while; as someone who has been through a lot of bad dreams and even night terrors, these things have been following and plaguing me for a long time. For those of you who know what it feels like to wake up in sweat and tears, I salute you. Don't give up and don't let it lead your life. Wake up and live through the day. The worst thing you can do is feed your fear; it will only get worse. If you push through those anxieties and refuse to let them take over, the dreams will diminish. I  know this from personal experience. Now, it is rare that my dreams take a turn for the worse, though they are very odd in most cases, they no longer make me wake up with my heart pounding with tears in my eyes. 

This image came out beautifully, even better then I had imagined and I will thank the two who helped me get through it (not to mention the driving my boyfriend did that night, missing the sens game for me <3). It took a lot to get the scream and hands just right so again, you guys are awesome and make my dreams come true. To end on a happier note, I have a shoot with the lovely lady in this image tonight so  stay posted for sneak peaks later!

High Key Vs. Low Key

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been living at school. Two different portrait assignments have given me the opportunity to work with the wonderful models from Models International Management. 

The first was Elise. She is a wonderful girl who potentially wants to venture into photography later in life. ( I told her to enroll at algonquin and go for it, not matter what others might tell her about the industry) Calm and gentle, she posed for me like a pro! This High Key assignment was a succes. 

Traditionally, High Key images are taken on a white background of a subject with fair hair and skin. These are some of the images from the shoot:

Elise from MIM
©Sophie Fortier 2013

Elise from MIM
©Sophie Fortier 2013

Elise from MIM
©Sophie Fortier 2013

Elise from MIM
©Sophie Fortier 2013

Elise from MIM
©Sophie Fortier 2013

Being pleased with these results, I called the agency up for another model for my Low Key portrait assignment. Faraji is a charming man who has come to Canada form France. Never having shot a man (Other then my boyfriend) I felt nervous for this shoot. He put me and my assistant (Jacynthe Blanchard) at ease by helping us with our set every one in a while and bringing many different outfits and posing like a natural. He was a brease to work with and I wish him all the best!

 Low Key imagery is traditionally shot with a male figure who has dark hair on a dark background with minimal lighting. The overall effect is very dramatic. Here are some of the images from that shoot: 

Faraji from MIM
©Sophie Fortier 2013 

Faraji from MIM
©Sophie Fortier 2013 

Faraji from MIM
©Sophie Fortier 2013 

Faraji from MIM
©Sophie Fortier 2013 

Faraji from MIM
©Sophie Fortier 2013 

Overall, I was pleased with the results and love both lighting styles. It amazes me how far I've come along since the beginning of the school year. Algonquin has taught me so much, and so much more to come! Stay posted for more images and my digital portfolio at the end of the semester. And remember, stay beautiful!

Second Semester

This past semester has taught me so much. I have made good friends, I have met very interesting people and I have been stressed. Working under pressure can make me do my best work. Reshooting assignments and booking studio times and equipment is insane. All the first and second years are scrambling to get our assignments done and get them right the first time so we don't have to reshoot for portfolio. I have learnt that pushing myself past the limits can have amazing results and that I can produce images I had never dreamed of. Here are a few examples:

Flat Metal

Texture

3D Metal

Texture

Light Field Glass

Dark Field Glass

Portraits

Last week I had the opportunity to shoot with my boyfriend again. These photographs were for an assignment and potentially my portfolio. Having been very pleased with the results I hope you guys will be too. I love shooting the people I love and I will never get enough of it.  You guys already know how much I love this man so I will spare you the ooey gooey details once more time. Here are the images from my session: 

This shoot was inspired by Mindy Glendhill's music and one of my favorite songs :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP5cJfVScGw 

I do adore everything you do  <3

The College Life

As most of you know, I am living my dream. Studying photography has become a very large part of my life and it's crazy, hectic and takes up most of my time. I love it. I have been pretty absent for the past few weeks and I do apologize. College, work and (what little free time I have left in between is taken up by the ones I love) friends have been taking over my life.

There is something so serene about the chaos is takes to get the perfect shot. Everything that can go wrong will. I have experienced this first hand about a week ago when shooting an assignment with this lovely woman. I was missing c-stands for my lights, and so my assistants (my father and the ever so patient Christina) hand-held them for me. Discovering that my photogenic flash units could not be fired because the pocket wizards I booked out did not come with batteries or sync cords and so my father went home and got his fluorescent light kit. For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, I'll cut to the chase: I was having a bad day. So I made do with what I had. All things aside...I got the shot.

Rachelle Scully

Rachelle Scully

Rachelle Scully

Rachelle Scully

Rachelle Scully

Rachelle Scully

I would like to thank the amazing Rachelle Scully for putting up with the chaos and being very patient through the whole ordeal. She is a beautiful woman whom I respect greatly and has been a mentor  since I was a child. Her easy smile and kind words have guided me through some hard times and I will never forget her.  Stay beautiful!

P.S. She has an amazing house that I swear was decorated by an interior designer. (she says her and her hudband managed to decorate it!! I know, impossible right? haha)

I will leave you guys with one little thing I would like to say: to all you lovely ladies who doubt themselves as laugh lines begin showing and your children get older: YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. Trust me.