Today the BabyElan {daily} team would like to show you a bit of “us”…a photo shoot recently done with Sarah and Dana, their kids, and the brilliant Armando Bellmas! Looking for a modern, unique twist on photography at it’s finest, look no further! A true professional, yet laid back and super kid-friendly, Armando creates masterpieces in life while you and I just pass it by! Enjoy these amazing pics plus a quick little interview with this clever man! {Scroll to the bottom to see the great shots from our own photo shoot}
Tell us a little about your typical work day:
I have a pretty unconventional work life. Some days I’m making photos, others I’m behind a computer retouching images, marketing my tail off, writing for my blog, or taking a morning off to hang out with my kids. Every day is different. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Tell us about your most enjoyable photo shoot:
Any day that I’m behind a camera making photographs is a good day. The photo shoots where I get paid are very enjoyable (ha ha!). I’m always making photos, though. I have a couple of personal projects that I’m always working on. Those are always very rewarding because there is no pressure or set expectation. I can just create. The freedom to shoot what you want, when you want — and possibly fail at getting the shot and learn from it — is priceless.
Tell us about your most stressful photo shoot:
They’re all stressful to some degree. A lot goes into a photo shoot that most people just aren’t aware of. Usually, on bigger productions for ad agencies and marketing companies, I have a producer that helps with logistics and assistants that help with my gear and lighting. Then there a the shoots where it’s just me, the subject, and my camera. Ultimately I am responsible for making the photos so I’m usually pretty focused on the task at hand. There’s always a little sweat on my brow as I work. That’s just a sign that I’m really into what is going on.
What is your best advice for the amateur photographer, in trying to capture the beauty of his/her family on camera?
Don’t force the shots. Many times people will get too into the posed thing. While it’s not always a bad thing, try to look for the moments that belong to your family. My 7 year old son likes to play with trucks, cars, and horses. One morning at breakfast he had all his little toy horses lined up around his plate. That was a distinct Bellmas family moment. I slowly got the camera out, aimed it at him, and shot. No warning, no thinking, just did it.
The other advice is turn off your flash (if you can). Explore your camera’s settings a bit and see what you can do with a higher ISO and no flash (photos will require less light at higher ISOs). Your photos will lose the flash shadow that screams amateur. That’s a good thing.
Anything else you’d like to add that you think our readers would find interesting?
As I mentioned before, my work life is pretty unconventional. I have a blog related to my business but it normally doesn’t have anything to do with it. The blog, be still please [the link is http://www.bellmas.com/blog], is a place for me to show prospective clients more about me beyond the photography. I listen to music, think too much, love art, and read A LOT. (Currently reading a book a week and blogging about it.) Every now and then I’ll post photos from a shoot, a day trip, or of my kids. Mostly it’s about the things that inspire me when I get out from behind the camera: other photographers, painters, books, music, poetry, the ocean, etc. It helps people understand me better and it inspires me to go out and create.
Say hi to Armando on FB
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