Find the light
Dani Vest is a lifestyle photographer who spends her days in the Rocky Mountains of northern Utah with the love of her life and two beautiful daughters. She shoots with a Canon Mark III and a collection of prime lenses.
We asked Dani for her advice on photographing those closest to us and she explained, “When you begin to focus on documenting your family, especially in lifestyle photography, it’s important to understand and anticipate the light in your own home. We recently moved stateside after spending a few years in Hawaii and I knew we’d be spending a big chunk of the year indoors. I spent the first few weeks in our new place just observing the light; what times of day it was best in various rooms and how furniture placement would affect compositions or block lighting. Backlighting is one of my favorite sources of light so I purchased airy, flowing drapes for rooms I knew we’d be spending a lot of time in.”
For this photo, she waited until she knew the light was best in her chosen room and suggested to her husband that he move his weekly “toe painting” ritual with their daughter into her bedroom. That’s when she captured this image of her sweethearts. Because this activity is one that they frequently share, it was important for Dani to document it and showcase the emotion as authentically as possible, which she says couldn’t have been achieved without proper lighting.
Dani’s final words of advice for us? “Study the light. It will enhance your everyday moments into works of art.”
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