Early spring is a beautiful time of year when you can begin to take off your winter layers and enjoy the warmth of the sun. On Sunday, March 19, 2024, my clients and I travelled to Radar Road in Hanmer, Ont. to this breathe taking location perfect for photos. As we embarked on a 25-minute hike up a mountain, we made sure to take precautions against the potential hazards we could face, like slips and falls. As the shoot took place in early spring, there were still presents of ice and snow in areas with lots of trees and bushes. As we reached the ideal location, we took some time to set up props and drink some water.
Once we were ready, I revealed the props I had hidden in a duffel bag I brought with us. These props included 2 swords, a blanket poncho, and 2 prop swords. The plan was to take still shots with the real swords as well as some cute loving photos with or without props. This shoot was a lot of fun for not only me, but my clients also really enjoyed it! There were about 12 different inspiration photos the clients had given to me, and they got to pick and choose the best photos from the bunch. Once these shots were concluded, I introduced candid shots with the prop swords to end the session on a fun and positive note.
We had taken an alternate route to get back to our vehicles to enjoy more of nature’s gifts before we concluded the shoot at the bottom. This experience was new and exciting for me as it was the first time I brought clients to this area. If I was given the opportunity to do this again I definitely will! Some things I would do differently now that time has passed is to ensure the photos are taken with appropriate angles and speak more with the client to help them relax and ready for the shoot. It can be uncomfortable for the client if it is their first photoshoot and they don’t usually know who the photographer is as a person, so making the experience more relatable and engaging makes the client feel more comfortable.