Emma | Sonnenberg Gardens | Canandaigua, NY
Emma
Senior Portraits | 2022
Senior portrait sessions are a rite of passage for many high school students. It's a chance to capture a moment in time before moving on to the next phase of life.
One of the most picturesque locations for senior portrait sessions in Canandaigua, NY is Sonnenberg Gardens. With its stunning gardens and historic mansion, Sonnenberg Gardens provides the perfect backdrop for capturing timeless senior portraits.
The present mansion was designed and completed between 1886-1887 by Boston architect Francis Allen
When planning a senior portrait session at Sonnenberg Gardens, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, it's important to choose the right time of year. The gardens are in full bloom from May through October, so scheduling a session during this time will ensure that you have the best possible backdrop for your photos.
Another consideration is the time of day. The gardens are open from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, so scheduling your session early in the morning or late in the afternoon will help you avoid crowds and ensure that you have plenty of time to capture the perfect shots.
When it comes to choosing outfits for your senior portrait session, it's important to keep the location in mind. Sonnenberg Gardens is a formal setting, so choosing dressy or semi-formal attire will complement the elegance of the surroundings. Soft pastels, floral patterns, and light, flowy fabrics are all great options for outfits that will look great against the backdrop of the gardens.
During your session, there are plenty of great locations to choose from within the gardens. The Rose Garden which features red, pink, and white blooms, The Japanese Garden which was created in 1906 with miniature detailing in the landscape, and The Italian Garden that offers over 7,000 gold and red annuals all offer stunning backdrops for photos. The mansion itself is also a great spot for photos, with its grand staircase and ornate architecture providing a dramatic backdrop.
Blue flowers mentioned in historical documents that are planted today include, blue ageratums, blue delphinium, and blue salvia.
Whether you're a high school senior looking to capture this momentous time in your life, or a photographer looking for a picturesque location for a portrait session, Sonnenberg Gardens in Canandaigua, NY is the perfect choice. With its stunning gardens and historic mansion, it provides a timeless backdrop for capturing memories that will last a lifetime.
White blossoms included sweet alyssum, campanula, phlox, hyacinth, and agapanthus.
The “Blue & White Garden” is located off the Northwest corner of the Mansion Veranda
This garden contains only blue and white blooms and was said to be the favorite of Mrs. Thompson, who purchased the property with her husband in 1863 as Newlyweds
Shooting in manual mode with a DSLR camera,
We get emails and questions at least a couple of times a year about camera settings. There is no easy answer! As the more you know about shooting in manual, the more choices you have to really create exactly the scene you want. BUT we want to post for the RECORD a quick guide to shooting in Manual. Now, after you read this? If you really want to learn? Email us. Let’s do a one on one class together!!! Join our mailing list! We will be doing shoot alongs and offering various ways to learn and grow!
DSLR cameras offer photographers the ability to shoot in manual mode, giving them complete control over the exposure settings of their photographs. This control can be overwhelming for beginners, especially when it comes to understanding the three main exposure settings: ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. In this blog post, we'll explain these settings and offer tips for shooting in manual mode.
ISO
ISO is the sensitivity of your camera's sensor to light. The higher the ISO, the more sensitive the camera is to light, which means you can shoot in low light conditions without using a flash. However, a higher ISO also increases the amount of digital noise in your images, which can make them look grainy and less sharp.
For outdoor photography in daylight, you can usually use an ISO of 100-400. For indoor photography or low light conditions, you may need to increase your ISO to 800 or higher. When shooting in manual mode, it's important to keep an eye on your ISO to ensure that your images are not overexposed or underexposed.
Shutter Speed
Shutter speed refers to the length of time that the camera's shutter is open. A faster shutter speed allows less light to enter the camera, while a slower shutter speed allows more light to enter. Shutter speed is measured in fractions of a second, such as 1/100 or 1/2000.
A faster shutter speed is ideal for freezing motion, such as in sports photography, while a slower shutter speed is ideal for creating motion blur, such as in long exposure photography. When shooting in manual mode, it's important to adjust your shutter speed according to the scene you're shooting to ensure that you're capturing the desired effect.
Aperture
Aperture refers to the size of the opening in the lens through which light enters the camera. Aperture is measured in f-stops, such as f/2.8 or f/16. A smaller f-stop number (such as f/2.8) means a larger aperture, allowing more light to enter the camera. A larger f-stop number (such as f/16) means a smaller aperture, allowing less light to enter the camera.
Aperture also affects the depth of field in your images. A larger aperture (smaller f-stop number) creates a shallow depth of field, with a blurred background and a sharp subject. A smaller aperture (larger f-stop number) creates a greater depth of field, with more of the image in focus.
When shooting in manual mode, it's important to adjust your aperture according to the desired depth of field for your image. For portrait photography, you may want to use a larger aperture to create a shallow depth of field, while for landscape photography, you may want to use a smaller aperture to create a greater depth of field.
Conclusion
Shooting in manual mode with a DSLR camera can be challenging, but it also offers complete control over the exposure settings of your photographs. Understanding ISO, shutter speed, and aperture is essential for capturing the images you want. Remember to keep an eye on your settings and adjust them according to the scene you're shooting. With practice, shooting in manual mode will become second nature, and you'll be able to create stunning images that truly capture the moment.
