Featured Photographer – Hayley Hamlin

Hayley, your work so full of life. One of the things I absolutely love about your photographs that it looks as if you are peeking into your clients world. What steps do you take to capture this with your clients?

Thank you! My approach to photography has always been that of a “silent observer.” I want the photos to feel natural and draw you into what the subjects are doing/feeling. You could not have said it more perfectly, “like you are peeking into their lives”. It is in these non-intrusive moments that you will capture the most honesty in your subject. When direction needs to be made I will set up the shot but then I step back and wait for the magic. Patience is a big key, letting things happen naturally and then just observing through my lens from a distance. It is for these reasons, I love my zoom lenses so much.

What made you decide you wanted to be a photographer?

I started my photography journey through having children. My husband bought me a digital camera when our first child was born, as I documented my little one’s life, I immediately fell in love with photography.

What do you find is the best way to promote your photography business?

Word of mouth

How would you describe your photography style?

artistic, soulful, timeless,

Do you have a favorite area of photography such as weddings or babies and why?

I have a few favorites these days: children, seniors and dance. When I started out in business children’s photography was my specialty. In the past few years seniors have dominated my photography business but my heart will always be driven by photographing children. They inspire every aspect of my photography. Being with a child is a magical thing. Their beauty, imagination, honesty, curiosity, everything about them just inspires. There is a quote by Eric Maisel that says “One visit with a child can supply us with enough creativity dust to last for a lifetime.” That really sums it all up for me. No matter what I am shooting, I approach it with eyes of a child.

I love photographing Seniors and Dancers as well. What I love about seniors is they each have such a unique style and I love to capture their individual beauty. Dance photography is such a creative outlet for me. I love the artistry and beauty of a dancer and I love to capture that beauty.

How do you get your clients to relax and feel natural around you?

I start every session chatting with clients to relax the nerves. With seniors I know they are nervous coming in, (who wouldn’t be?) so I address it right away. A common line from me is, “this is fun, no pressure, no need to be nervous, just think of it as hanging out for the day”. With children I make sure I engage with them before I start shooting. I interact with their play so they feel like it’s just “playtime” rather than a photoshoot. I will be honest, I take a lot of time with my sessions, maybe some would say too much time, but I really want this to be an experience they will never forget. I mentioned this in my opening statement but truly being patient with shots is so helpful to get that natural feel. Many times it’s the “process” of a setup, (before or after the shot) that creates the “real” moments.

Are you Canon or Nikon?

Canon.

What’s your favorite lens?

I am a zoom shooter. My 2 faves are the Tamron 28-75 2.8 and Canon 70-200L 2.8

What tip would you give aspiring photographers?

Find your own style and be true to it. You will have many critics but in the end you need to do what you love. I have always loved black and whites, when I started out I was told countless times, you have to do color, people prefer color, etc, etc, etc. Black and whites to me are soulful, they focus on telling the story and they drive my artistic style. I stuck to what I loved and today I have many people seek out my photography because of my black and whites.

Where do you see your career in 5 years?

God willing I am still here doing what I love.

Where can we find you (facebook, twitter, pinterest, etc)?

Facebook is where I post most of my recent work.
Website
http://www.hayleyhamlin.com/

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