Featured Photographer - Courtney Larson

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN PHOTOGRAPHY?

I’m sort of a serial entrepreneur. It’s never been enough for me to make something, but I find the most fulfillment in making money from it, so when I found myself more in love with photographing the jewelry I made, at the time, than actually making it, it was very natural for me to move into photography and immediately start a business, too. It wasn’t long after that I documented the birth of a dear friend and decided that was my “thing.” I documented birth stories full-time for 4 years before my own growing family did not allow for the on-call lifestyle. Wedding photography was the next best thing - but really the best-best thing. I found my niche within photojournalism and the birth world, and brought that same desire to authentically document someone’s story with me into the wedding stories I tell. It’s been an amazing experience as I now enter my third year in weddings.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE?

So, this is two-fold -

First, I would describe my frame-to-frame style as honest, immersive, and daring. The images that speak most to who I am as an artist will have a balance of those three keywords.

My approach to storytelling is important, too. I describe my storytelling “style” as “Honest Moments; Killer Portraits”. That’s the boiled down version, but, really, it means I let the day happen naturally with no interruptions from me except when it comes to designated portraits… and then I’m after that killer shot!

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN AN IMAGE?

Every great image needs three key things: light, moment, and composition. While I tend to see moments first, and thus make the light and composition complementary to that moment, I still know that I need to nail all three to have the most successful image possible.

WHAT INSPIRES OR MOTIVATES YOU?

I’m fascinated by people - how they move, act, love, feel. I know that’s partially why I felt so at home within births, and now weddings. I have an opportunity to view some of the most intimate moments of a person’s life … their most critical decisions. That opportunity, to observe and then document the beautiful mess of humanity keeps me inspired.

WHAT CHALLENGES YOU?

Technically, I have two areas of improvement: off-camera lighting and composition. I’ve been really challenging myself to be more daring with both this year and still feel like I am scratching the surface.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOMENT OF A WEDDING?

I love quiet moments - times when the subject(s) are soaking it in and immersing themselves in their environment.

OF ALL YOUR IMAGES, DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE ONE?

I could definitely choose a Top Ten, but not a Top One! The images from the first wedding I ever shot will always have a huge amount of sentimental value (that makes up for the growth I still needed to do).

ANYTHING ELSE WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT COURTNEY?

As an introvert, saying this much was too much already!

TELL US ABOUT DVLOP

DVLOP gave me a head-start. It offered me a solid preset that complimented my images and made my work that much stronger. Beyond that, it’s also given me time, the most valuable thing I own! I know the presets I use will work on ANY image, in nearly any scenario with very little tweaks needed from me. I get to focus on doing the part I love best- documenting moments-- and watch as DVLOP takes my vision and finishes it off perfectly.

For those still trying to discover who they are creatively, explore presets! They can tell you a lot about what you are drawn to. What presets don’t work for you? What about them do you not care for? What about the ones you uses do you love? Especially study how the presets are affecting light/shadows, the HSL panel, and if there’s split-toning. How you utilize both of those (light/shadow and color) in camera and in post-production is so important to honing your personal style.

MY GEAR

Cameras:

• Canon 5D Mark IV
• Canon 5D Mark III
• Canon 6D Mark II

Lenses:

• Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L
• Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L
• Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L
• Canon EF 85mm f/1.8
• Canon EF 135mm f/2L
• Canon TS-E 45mm f/2.8
• Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L

Lighting:

• Godox AD200
• Godox V850 II

Other:

• Magmod Modifiers

DVLOP Presets:

• Susan Stripling's The Show Series
• Gabe McClintock's We Roam The Earth
• Jose Villa's For the Love of Film
• Davina + Daniel's Passages
• Jonas Peterson's Destination
• Fer Juaristi's Visbons