www.fayeturnbull.com
Follow Faye's Facebook Page Here
Our featured professional photographer for March 2016 is the talented Faye Turnbull, a Cape Town based photographer specialising in newborn photography. Her impeccable eye for detail, neverending creativity and seemingly magic-touch with little ones result in images that would make any parent’s heart skip a beat in the most delightful way! With undeniable passion, Faye has honed her craft and developed her signature style in such a way that every shot contains just the right amount of attitude, whimsy and charm.
The Interview
1. How would you classify your photographic style and who inspires you?
My favourite type of photography is newborn photography. In particular, I love to do the posed newborn style. The client comes to my studio, where we do a 3-4 hour newborn session.
I follow the big names in the international industry such as Kelly Brown, Erin Elizabeth and Erin Tole. My Facebook feed is full of newborn photographers to stay abreast with current trends.
2. What is it that draws you to pick up your camera and take a photo?
The outcome, the finished product and the happiness that the client receives from the images. When you are in the middle of a shoot, and the mom has a tear while she is looking at her posed newborn baby - that draws me to pick up my camera time and time again, to be able to create these memories for parents.
3. What type of gear do you use and do you have any favourites?
Canon, without a doubt! All my newborns are shot with a Canon 1Dx and a Canon 35mm mark ii prime lens. I really doubt that there is any better combination for newborn photography. Every time I use this lens I am utterly blown away by it. The skin tones, the clarity and sharpness, the speed in which it focuses, this is absolutely my go-to lens and is hardly ever off my camera.
I also have a Canon 70–200mm F2.8 mark ii for outdoor shoots. Along with a Canon fish eye. Another lens I use a lot for the newborn photography is the Canon Macro 100mm F2.8 - I use it a lot for the tiny details in the images of the babies.
4. What would be your ultimate shot and how would you shoot it?
To do a posed newborn beach/sunset image. To find a baby, at the right age, when I have the right amount of time and then to actually get the baby asleep and posed at sunset is quite the challenge. But it’s always been on my mind to try and get this image.
5. What is the most challenging part of photographing your preferred subject?
To get them to sleep. You can’t do the sort of photography that I do when they are awake. So this form of photography takes an extreme amount of patience. And you get pooped and peed on a lot…
6. What’s next on the horizon that you’re most excited about?
My new studio. It is in the process of being built. I have had it designed purely to shoot newborns, I cannot wait for it to be ready, and I have so many ideas that I can’t wait to try out.
7. If you could go back in time and offer yourself one piece of advice when you picked up the camera for the first time, what would it be?
To have found the balance earlier. I poured my heart and soul in to photography and learning all that I could in a very short space of time. I know so many photographers who are guilty of this. If I could do things again, I would take the breaks, take time with my family and learn the balance of giving excellent customer service, but still having time for yourself.
