Stephanie Carlton + The Story Behind

When you think portrait, what pops into your mind? Maybe a close up monochrome shot? A child beaming as they play in their element? Stephanie Carlton’s dazzling golden hued image featured on today’s The Story Behind reminds us that a beautiful portrait doesn’t always have to feature the subject’s face. Facets of the story can be told from all directions and all sides. Read on for Stephanie’s take on her image and how she guided her daughter right into the photo she had in her mind!

IG Handle:.
@somethingbeautifulphotobysc

Where was this photo taken?
This photo was taken in some small rolling adobe hills close to the town dump. Locals use it as a place to ride dirt bikes.

How did the location add or hinder to your image?
This location I love because of the earthy tones of the adobe and how soft and gradual the light is as it sets.

DSLR, iphone, instant or film?
DSLR

What were your camera settings for this image?
50mm, 1/1600, f1.8, ISO 100

Can you tell us “The Story Behind” this shot?
This shot was taken on an evening when my family and I needed to get outside after the high temperatures had kept us inside most of the day. I do ask them to put on particular outfits based off where we will be shooting, here I wanted soft earthy colors. We parked on the very top of a hill and they just played and ran around, pretending they were airplanes running up and down the little hills. My girls are used to the camera and just doing “there thing” allowing me to shoot as they play. I love my oldest girls long curly blonde hair and have shot many frames of it silhouetted by the light. I never tire of watching it swing about and I knew I would catch it on this evening.

What speaks to you about this image? What specifically made you press the shutter?
I loved this image for so many reasons. The light and the sun flare were so pretty, of course, but it was more the “feeling” of the image. The movement of her hair, the way her dress falls off of her shoulder and her stride walking away. It had such a carefree and light feeling, just like I want my girl to feel on a sweet summer evening.

The rim light highlighting her hair and her movement made me press the shutter.

What was your composition technique with this shot?
My composition was centered. I wanted her to fill up most of the frame with the sun and then the flare just over her head.

Was this photo happenstance or did you visualize it prior? If so, how did you envision the image and set up for it?
I definitely knew this was a shot I wanted to get. As my girls played I allowed them to do what they wished, taking photos the entire time. I then asked my oldest daughter to walk down the road a bit to check something out and clicked the shutter when she hit the spot below the sun where I wanted her.

Did you have any lighting challenges/How did you light the image?
Yes, backlighting can definitely be a challenge. Getting the camera to focus can be hard when shooting directly into the sun. Moving slightly to the left or right generally does the trick and I can get it to focus.

Did you use a preset to edit this image, your own selective edits or a combination of both?
I used a combination beginning with LOAF by Tribe Archipelago as a base and then tweaking it to get my desired look for the finished photo.

Do you have any addition information you would like to share with our readers?
I am asked what camera I shoot and what lenses I use a lot. I shoot a Canon 5d Mark IV and use 35mm 1.4, 50mm 1.2, and 24-70mm equally and love them all for different reasons.

Colorado’s own Stephanie Carlton can be found at the following spots:
SITE // INSTAGRAM // FACEBOOK