Mira Lehman’s professional experience is detailed below.
After viewing a sample of Mira’s portfolio, a client reached out to request a photo shoot, after which followed two more. Below are the details of each experience, during which time Mira not only pushed herself to think imaginatively about possible portraits, but learned how to work with a paying subject.
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Space.
This was the first of three shoots. It challenged Mira to work with Adobe Photoshop–an unfamiliar tool, at the time–and to direct a non-familial model. Inspired by the idea of ‘space’ introduced by a Smithsonian youth photography competition, this image plays with the ideas of light and weightlessness in a comprehensive frame.
The lighting was specifically designed to draw attention to relevant parts of the image, among them the golden hue of the flourishing ponytail, around which the photograph revolves.
The photograph also explores the effect of movement and how it can drastically change the aura of an image.
Below is the uncropped photograph.
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Beauty.
The second of the photo shoot trilogy, this one explores the concept of beauty. It prompts a series of questions, among them: how can it be conveyed in one frame, and what elements emphasize such elegance? Beauty holds special relevance in fashion photography, as a quality that is valued for its commercial benefits.
In fact, turning to fashion-related inspiration, Mira was influenced by fashion photographer Jingna Zhang in her use of floral decor to accentuate the beauty of the natural world.
The flower wall was hand-made by the photographer specifically for this shoot.
Similarly to the last, below is linked the uncropped version of this image.
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Graduation.
The client then reached out for a graduation photo shoot to take place at Balboa Park and the neighboring rose garden. This project in particular challenged Mira’s photographic skills, for it demanded a series of photographs as opposed to one meticulously planned portrait. In addition, it was to take place outdoors in a faraway location, meaning that fewer factors–among them, the lighting–were controllable.
One notable challenge that Mira faced during this photoshoot was the harsh shadows cast by the noon sun, which notably differed from the diffused lighting that she generally favors. Such dramatic lighting could scarcely be mitigated by the small diffuser that Mira had on hand. Therefore, she instead used the shadows to her advantage, such as in the image above.
Below is the uncropped version of this photograph and part of the finished product: the completed series taken in no more than two hours.
