Today we have interview with veteran child photographer Bentley Gray who hails from Boaz, Alabama. Bentley helps us get to know his variety of photographic styles and techniques with clients thru a very detailed blog. I was amazed by all the great photos and stories he shares going back over several years.

How and when did you get started in child photography?

As I child I always loved to draw and paint, so I guess the eye for composition just came naturally to me. In high school I was asked to take pictures for our school newspaper and as soon as I held a camera in my hands I knew it was what I wanted to do. It was like magic. I studied every photography book and magazine I could get my hands on. Later I studied in person with some phenomenal portrait photographers, namely Jacky Scott, Andy Nelson, and Leon Kennamer.

How would you describe your style?

I would describe my style as classic portraiture. Lately there has been a movement towards candid “lifestyle” portraiture which is fun to do and has breathed some fresh air into photography.  There is room in my world for both styles, but classicism, when done right, will never go out of fashion.

Do you prefer studio or “on location” photography and why?

I don’t prefer one over the other. In the studio I have ultimate control over lighting, and I can shoot at any time. Location portraiture is beautiful when executed properly, and I’m not limited by space when I shoot outdoors. It’s great for a more natural, environmental look and backgrounds are unlimited. However, with a location shoot I can be limited by lighting and weather constraints, which are not a problem in studio. Also, in keeping with the lifestyle format, I do a lot of location work inside clients’ homes. This is an excellent option for a more personal, less formal look, but it has to be planned carefully. Really what it boils down to is what are my clients’ needs, and how can I fulfill them?

Can you share a story about your funniest photography shoot?

In 19 years I’ve had so many, but one of my favorite stories comes from when I first started. I took a call from a new client who wanted to make an appointment. All she said was “I need to get my babies pictures made.” Being new, I enthusiastically made the appointment without getting any details. This was before the days of the “pre-portrait” consultation. The day of her appointment came and as I was setting up she came in the door with two freshly groomed poodles under her arms. Those were her “babies.” From that point on I’m always sure to get the details. Incidentally the shoot went well, and up to that point was one of my biggest sales.

“I’ve had my share of crying babies, which can be challenging, but I consider it my job to be patient and work through difficult moments. Sometimes the timing just isn’t right, so we reschedule.”

What about your most difficult photography shoot?

That’s a tough one. I’ve had my share of crying babies, which can be challenging, but I consider it my job to be patient and work through difficult moments. Sometimes the timing just isn’t right, so we reschedule. We understand that babies have their own schedules and we just have to work around them when we need to. I always recommend new clients, especially with toddlers, bring the children in to meet me some time before the session. That way, they aren’t surprised by me or anything in my studio.

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

Bentley Gray

Bentley Gray

Efficient workflow is critical, but more importantly it’s crucial to get an image composed, and exposed properly at the moment of exposure. As long as I do my job while shooting a session, then I will have very little post-production work after the shoot. A properly exposed image can go to the lab for printing with very little tweaking. I still spend a lot more time in front of the computer now than I ever did when I shot film, but I wouldn’t go back. I have complete control over my images now, and that’s always a good thing.

What types of photo editing do you do and using what software?

After a session I edit my images to make sure that only the best portraits are presented to the clients as previews. For this editing I use a software called ACDSee Pro 10. I’ve found this to be the most efficient software for viewing, culling, sorting and numbering my images. For image correction and manipulation, I use Adobe Photoshop CS3. This is by far the best software application for digital photographers,  I use it in my studio on a daily basis. With Photoshop I can take a great image and make it spectacular. I’ve also recently become a fan of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. This software is somewhat of a hybrid between editing and corrective software. It’s incredibly efficient especially for working with large groups of images. There are so many image enhancement techniques now that can be done with software, but I don’t like to overdo it.

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

First of all I would say don’t underestimate the value of a professional portrait. Snapshots are great, and we encourage our clients to take lots of pictures at home. With today’s digital technology it’s easier than ever to get cute, fun pictures on your own, but it’s also easy to overlook those milestones in a baby’s life that a professional photographer can be trusted to capture. Secondly I would recommend finding a professional that you trust, someone whose style is compatible with your own, thoroughly explain your needs, listen to their advice, and then let them do their job. At our studio, we welcome new clients to come in for a chat so they can view our work and discuss how we can fit their needs. At this pre-portrait consultation we can make suggestions such as clothing choices, and discuss how we can create a product for them that they will cherish.

What type of camera equipment do you use and why?

I use Nikon professional equipment exclusively. My D200 camera bodies are rock solid and have never let me down. Nikon has recently introduced the new D3 and D700 bodies, so I will probably be upgrading in the near future. I prefer to use lenses with large fixed apertures which help to keep the focus on the subject where it belongs. Specifically, in the studio I like to use the Nikon 28-70 2.8 lens, and for outdoor work I like the Nikon 70-200 2.8 VR lens that lets me back up a little further from my subject and gives my that beautiful soft background effect. As for flash, I never use it outdoors.  There is only one natural source of light and it suits me just fine. To me, an outdoor portrait that his been lit with flash looks somewhat unnatural. In the studio I use large softboxes on my strobes to give me a nice soft light.

What is your website?

I’m glad you asked. My main website is bentleygray.net. Lately however, my clients tend to visit the blog more often. My blog is a great way for me to connect with clients by posting images from recent sessions, and also images from my family life. The address for the blog is bentleygray.net/blog.

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