This week we are interviewing photographer and painter Deborah Samantha. Deborah is known for her documentary style photography. She is based in Los Angeles and has been featured at several art exhibitions in the southern California area. In this interview, we are focusing on Deborah’s unique child photography.

MBP: How and when did you get started in child photography?

I have a fine art background in photography which lead me to New York. I worked on the east coast with Rock N Roll and Wedding Photographers. On my trips home to Los Angeles I would photograph my niece and nephew while we spent time together as well as their birthday parties. As time went on I began to photograph my friend’s children as well. It was at that point that requests started coming in and my life as a children’s photographer was born.

MBP: I read that you make use of documentary style photography. Can you elaborate on this?

DS:When asked on one occasion how do I get kids to do what I want them to do, I honestly answered, “I don’t. I let them be themselves”. My job is not to pose the kids as I want them, but to create an environment that they feel safe and comfortable to be themselves in. This is how I approach all my subjects, regardless of age.

I think that for a parent, that is what they want most. To have a visual reminder of what their child was like at that age. For me, the best way to capture an honest representation of my client’s children is to allow them to be themselves.

MBP: How much time do you spend editing photos to make them production ready?

DS: I don’t retouch my photos much for children. I make the same corrections I would make back when I was working in a traditional “wet” darkroom. I fix the color balance and any contrast or level issues. Perhaps that’s part of the joy of photographing children, there is so little that needs to be done to their photos to make them look perfect.

The only real modification I make to the photos is to create the same series in black and white or sepia if the client is looking for options besides color images. After that, if they are looking for a more customized artistic rendering of their images I am happy to discuss that with them as I do also combine photos with illustrations for a more fine art type piece.

MBP: What types of photo editing do you do?

DS: Producing a portfolio of your work is different than submitting a digital contact sheet or online gallery for your client to review. I only remove the test photos I do for lighting and any possibly overly blurry images. For the most part, I want the clients to have as broad a selection of images to select from as possible. I think in the initial stage it’s best to not use my critical artistic eye to remove images that I might not like. The parent’s know their child better than anyone and while I might not favor a particular photo initially, they might find that the image resonates with them on a personal level.

Once my clients have received their photos to review at that point I am happy to help them decide on which final images they would like to purchase.

MBP: What type of camera equipment do you use and why?

DS: Simple. I use my DSLR Canon and a speedlite flash. I use this portable set up so that I can easily follow the little ones around. I use mostly natural light for my subjects and the speedlite as a fill for more definition on the subjects face.

MBP: What advice do you have for parents who are looking for a professional child photographer?

DS: Know what you want ahead of time. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions about the session. I have a FAQS section on my website that I think helps parents prepare for the big day. Don’t be afraid to talk to your photographer ahead of time. Share stories about what makes your child special to you. Maybe they have a favorite stuffed animal or a security blanket they take everywhere. I think that these little things that help make your kids more comfortable should always be with your little ones. I want your children to be as happy about the photo shoot as you are.

You can find out more about Little Ones Forever and view Deborah Samantha’s portfolio of documentary style photography at the website www.littleonesforever.com.

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