When it comes to photography I’d say I cover most of the basics on a fairly regular basis so when I was approached to do a Thor themed shoot for the Make A Wish Foundation I jumped at the opportunity. Getting to work on a project like this is one of a kind but it also left me feeling a little better about the world we live in and that’s not something that happens everyday.
When it comes to this kind of photography it is completely different to weddings or standard portraits. Instead of trying to look natural and sweet, the subject has to do extreme poses and really has to pull them off. Power poses are absolutely vital but with good power poses comes a lot of technical skills as far as photography is concerned! I was constantly on the move getting into the right position and while my subject was amazing, it was a tough shoot in terms of staying alert.
Although it was a technically challenging shoot I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun in my life! Coming up with the best poses and watching someone transform into their character before my eyes was a joy to watch. As much as I enjoyed the shoot, the real fun began when I got home to add the special effects on to really complete the Thor themed feel to the character!
As a photographer I try to do as much of my work in the field. By that I mean I try to make sure I keep my touch ups to a minimal when I get home. Reducing red eye and adjusting colors is one thing but you want to make sure that the photo still looks realistic. Well, that completely went out of the window with these photos and you can see how much fun I had in post production! Lightning was definitely a strong theme that we picked out to complete the Thor theme and I feel like I’ve done the Foundation proud with this shoot.
One of the biggest factors for me was to make sure that the hammer really got the attention it deserved. Kids love that hammer and making it a focus point in the pictures was vital for bringing the whole theme together. By ensuring that lightning was bursting out of it in these natural wave I really feel like it draws the eye towards the hammer and completes the atmosphere of ultimate power!
Working with something as special as the Make A Wish Foundation has really given me a whole new outlook on life and I feel incredibly lucky to have been involved in this shoot. As much fun as I had shooting the photos there’s no denying that the small part I played by taking these photos is nothing compared to the hard work the guys and gals at the foundation do on a daily basis. They’re the true super heroes!