We teamed up during my recent visit home to central New York.
I always try to do a photo session or two when I’m home visiting family and friends. This time, I had the distinct pleasure of teaming up with Veronica R for a beach sunset session on the eastern shores of Lake Ontario.
I met Veronica a few years ago during an event in Rochester put on by Kristen Bauer-Gross. We chatted and made a promise to work with each other one day. The life stepped in for a few years. You know how that goes. However, Veronica never left my mind.
It was actually Kristen who reconnected us earlier this year. She told me that Veronica wanted to do a beach session and my name came up in the conversation. Kristen mentioned that I usually come home around the fourth of July, might be available, and reached out to me.
Connection re-established.
So we held a few video conferences between the three of us and came up with a game plan. Veronica made it clear that she wanted to do a beach session at sunset.
Now, some viewers might not know this but I started my off-camera flash journey on the shores of Lake Ontario way back in 1995. Yeah, way back in the late 1900’s. Jeeze, that makes me feel ancient saying it like that. Anyways, that’s where I honed my skills.
Now, Lake Ontario has benefits that no ocean will ever touch. Fresh water instead of salt being the biggest difference. There’s also much calmer water most days which really adds to a mirror effect. Finally, a limestone-based floor means I’m not finding sand a week after a session and it allows for shallow areas, like an inch deep of water, to play in and around.
Sadly, the water levels have been high for several years so my most favorite place to shoot has literally been under feet of water so I’ve had to use other, less than optimal, locations to shoot while there. However, a quick check the day before our session showed that the water level was down and my favorite spot was available.
It was a perfect night. Veronica was amazing. She was ready to rock and blew me out of the water, metaphorically speaking. Kristen was there to help coordinate things and assist where needed. The conditions were stellar. No wind, no ripples on the water, and there were clouds in the sky.
Clouds in the sky are absolutely vital for these sessions by the way. Otherwise it would a lot less dynamic backdrop.
It was an amazing time and we’ve already agreed to team up again the next time I’m home so stay tuned.
Mark Knopp is a professional portrait photographer with over 40 years of experience behind a camera and teaching photography. He covers Hampton Roads, Richmond, parts of North Carolina, and central New York when he’s home visiting. Contact him at mknopp1(at)cox.net to book your portrait session today.
Photography by Mark K 