Renard M.

More about Renard M....

What do you love about your job?

I love many things about photography.
With portraits it's showcasing one's beauty. Very few people like seeing themselves in photos - me included. I love the challenge of changing that perception. I love to hear my clients tell me how much they love their photos, especially after expressing so much fear and anxiety of being photographed.
With events, such as weddings, I love the story telling. I get to capture moments and emotions that will only be remembered through my photos. I always have couples come back and tell me that they don't remember this happening or ask how was I able to capture all of these moments. One bride told me that she felt my photos were like a movie about her day. Which is an incredible compliment since she had a videographer.

What types of shoots have you done and how did you make them special?

Newborns - I always ask parents if they have decorated their child's room with a theme, what their occupations & hobbies are. A fireman and his wife hired me and we created a beautiful portrait of their newborn son in the dad's helmet.

Weddings - One couple had no idea what kind of photos they wanted. I asked the bride to include me on her Pinterest page. I noticed that a lot of her pins were couples in vineyards. So, for their engagement photos I asked them to reserve an entire day and I took them to a vineyard about 2.5 hours from our city. Afterwards, we had wine then went to lunch and back to the studio. It was so much fun!

Head shots - I found out that UPS honors their drivers who have worked 25 years or more without an auto accident. I spoke with the Center Manager, who was an acquaintance, and asked if I could come in and take their photos. I presented simply as taking their head shots. But in reality I created a large poster in their honor. Everyone was delightfully surprised.

Seniors - One of my senior girls was extremely shy. I also got the impression early in the shoot that she did not feel particularly pretty. So I began to be more verbal in expressing my excitement with how the shoot was going. "You look awesome!" "This is phenomenal!" "You're getting the hang of this modeling thing!" In response, she lit up and we created what I still consider my favorite photos.

Awards, honors, and recognitions received

In 2012, I received an honorable mention in the SCPP contest for wedding photography.
In 2017, I photographed the cover image for Dental Sleep Practice magazine.

A fun fact about this photographer

I love learning and experiences different cultures. I speak 3 languages and have visited 4 different countries (shot weddings in 2 of those). I am always looking for the next adventure.