Sandra Jolly is an Irish photographer based in Sweden. Sandra loves to be in her own world of motherhood, Yes being a mother of two beautiful kids makes her photography even more interesting. Her photographs are brilliant in expressing the love for kids and emotions sparkling amongst them. In her words”What really fascinates me about children is that they really live in the moment. They are present in whatever it is they are doing. They have a lot to teach us adults.”
Please check this wonderful interview and amazing photographs from Sandra.
Hi Sandra, can you please introduce yourself?
My name is Sandra Jolly and I’m an Irish photographer, currently based in Stockholm, Sweden. I specialize in photographing children on location. You can find more of my work at www.sandrajolly.com/.
What fascinates you to capture these precious kids?
What really fascinates me about children is that they really live in the moment. They are present in whatever it is they are doing. They have a lot to teach us, adults. They remind us that life is supposed to be fun, that we are supposed to enjoy our time here. I love how raw their emotions are. I love to capture that natural expressesion, be it a sulky moment, a frown or a sudden hysterical giggle. It’s the emotions that get me every time.
How difficult is it to capture the desired picture, how is it possible for you to achieve this magic flavor?
I work fast when I’m working with children. You can have an idea in your mind for how you want the shoot to go, but you have to make it fun/interesting for the child. Don’t make it about you.
Your Inspiration?
I am very inspired by emotions. Some people wouldn’t dream of photographing a child when he/she crying, they only want to capture the happy moments, but the reality is that children experience a wide range of emotions every day. Life is made up of all the little moments, so why not capture the real, honest, tear-jerking emotions, too? I am also very inspired by new locations. Every weekend I try to get out of my own built-up neighborhood and find some new areas. I love finding fields with rocks and old wooden fences – it’s the country girl in me going back to my roots.
One memorable moment with Kids?
My two little daughters have been fighting a LOT lately. One evening two weeks ago I took them for a walk, hoping the fresh air would do them some good. We went to a little field where we often see hares running around. The girls ran on ahead of me and suddenly there was a shift in their energy. Maybe it was because it was a warm summer evening and they relished the freedom of being outside, but suddenly they started to just have fun together and before I knew it they were giggling and hugging. It was a beautiful sight. And thankfully I had my camera in hand to document it all!
What camera and lighting gear do you use for a typical shoot?
I shoot with a Canon 5d Mark iii (I love being full frame!) and my favorite lens for outdoors is the 85mm 1.8. I love a longer focal length whenever possible. For an indoor shoot, I will typically use the 50mm 1.4. I am mainly a natural light shooter, but here in Sweden, it is very difficult to be a natural light shooter all year round as there is so much darkness in the winter. I will, when needed, pop the 430ex ii speedlight on my camera and before winter comes this year, I hope to invest in some continuous lighting. The 135mm f2.0 and the 35mm f1.4 are next on my lens wish list.
Any tips/advice for aspiring photographers?
For the aspiring photographer, I would say read and practice, read and practice, rince and repeat. One of the most helpful photography-related books I ever read was Understanding Exposure by Brian Peterson. And, of course, learn to see the light! Observe the light and shadows on someone’s face when you’re talking to them. Walk into every room in your home and see how the light falls. Look for great catch-lights in your subject’s eyes. Make light your new best friend.
You can find Sandra Jolly on the Web:
Copyrights:
All the pictures in this post are copyrighted toSandra Jolly. Their reproduction, even in part, is forbidden without the explicit approval of the rightful owners.
