Capturing Love in Quidi Vidi

An absolute dream session with these two! Mansukh and Parminder fell in love with Newfoundland through books and decided to travel here, immersing themselves in its unique charm. I’m so grateful that Mansukh discovered my work, loved my photography style, and decided to reach out.

We chose Quidi Vidi for their session, and it couldn’t have been a better fit. The traditional fishing village, with its colourful houses and rugged coastline, provided a stunning backdrop. But even with such breathtaking scenery, I focused on making sure the love and connection between these two took center stage.

One of my favorite moments was seeing how naturally they interacted with each other. Whether it was sharing quiet moments on the rocks or laughing together as the wind whipped around us, every frame told a story. It’s sessions like these that remind me why I love capturing authentic connections. For those curious about the creative process, I’m sharing some insights below—from the gear and techniques I used to the little details that made this session stand out.

Educational Tips for Photographers

Gear and Camera Settings

I used my Sony A7IV paired with my 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN lens for this session. The versatility of this lens allowed me to easily capture far-away, mid, and close-up shots without needing to swap lenses. I also shifted around the couple to capture the same moment from different perspectives, which added depth and variety to their gallery.

If you're new to photography perhaps you rely on auto-mode, however learning the settings of your camera and shooting manual is a game changer. My settings for this overcast day, at about an hour before sunset, in Quidi Vidi included:

• Aperture: f/2.8 for shallow depth of field and a creamy background blur.
• Shutter Speed: 1/200 - 1/300 to keep their movements crisp.
• ISO: 200-300 to maintain image clarity. Bumping it up slightly as the sun got lower in the sky.
• White Balance: I shoot in Kelvin mode (typically 5500K) to ensure my colors are true to life, especially for skin tones.

Ideal Shooting Time

Golden hour, typically an hour to an hour and a half before sunset or shortly after sunrise, is the ideal time for photography. The soft, golden light avoids harsh shadows, enhances skin tones, and creates a dreamy, ethereal atmosphere. I also love shooting on overcast days, which provide even, diffused lighting perfect for moody images. Even light rain or falling snow can add a unique and magical touch to a session.



For the session we're focussing on today, it was an overcast day - with some of the glowing sun poking through in a few images. The overall even light meant I didn't have to worry too much about moving the subjects around to avoid the harsh sun, and I didn't need to change my camera settings too much throughout.

Posing & Perspective

The images above showcase how I maximize the potential of a single pose to create three unique and dynamic shots with minimal effort from both myself and the couple. To start, I positioned Mansukh and Parminder facing each other, holding hands in the center of the frame. For the first shot, I stepped back to capture a wide-angle view, setting the scene and highlighting the stunning surroundings.

Next, I prompted Parminder to gently lift Mansukh’s hand and place a soft kiss on it—an intimate and tender moment that I captured as a close-up shot. Finally, I encouraged them to let go of their hands, embrace one another, and lock eyes. This created a beautifully authentic mid-range shot that balances the couple’s connection with the breathtaking backdrop.

This simple approach of shifting prompts and perspectives allows me to build variety into the gallery while keeping the session relaxed and enjoyable for everyone.

Dynamic Composition

Depth of field and dynamic composition plays an important role in making subjects stand out against their backdrop. The goal is to showcase the background scenery, but ensure it is not the focus.

Take, for example, the image above of Mansukh and Parminder standing in front of a vibrant yellow building. Instead of positioning them flat against the wall, I used the corner of the building to create a dynamic composition. By having each of them stand on opposite sides of the corner, their connection is framed beautifully while adding an artistic, dimensional element to the shot. This approach avoids the static feel of a flat background and draws the viewer’s eye naturally toward the couple.



Depth of field also played an important role in making the subjects stand out against the backdrop. Shooting at a wide aperture (f/2.8) softened the details of the building slightly, ensuring that while the structure added vibrancy and context to the photo, it didn’t overpower Mansukh and Parminder’s connection as the focal point. The creamy blur subtly guides the eye to their hands and expressions, balancing the composition effortlessly. The two portraits below also show how using depth of field, and bokeh (which is created from the lens), being shot at about 50mm creates a dreamy out of focus look to the background. The use of a subtle prop, such as the bouquet in Mansukh's hand, further acts to draw your eye to the subject without it overpowering her natural beauty.

True-to-colour

True-to-colour editing is at the heart of my photography style, and this session was no exception. The true-to-colour aesthetic begins in-camera, with settings like Kelvin white balance (5500K in this case) to ensure the colors remain natural and accurate. The vibrant yellow of the building pops just enough without feeling oversaturated, staying true to how it looked on that day while complementing the tones of Parminder's soft blue blazer and Mansukh's elegant blush dress. In the editing process, I focus on fine-tuning these tones, balancing vibrance with authenticity. I dulled the yellow slightly to keep it from overwhelming the couple but preserved its richness to add character and warmth to the scene. This delicate balance is key to true-to-colour editing—enhancing what’s naturally there without altering it beyond recognition. True-to-colour editing is about preserving the integrity of the moment and the environment while ensuring my clients remain the stars of the image. While this blog gives a glimpse into my approach, the editing side is a craft in itself—one I’ll dive into in a future post!

Posing Prompts

To bring out authentic emotions, I rely on natural, playful prompts. Prompts are useful because rather than telling them the direct pose you want them to do, you're naturally leading them into it - this makes sure the end result feels like something they would do themselves. It's always the in-between images that end of being my favourite like some of the images above - it's when the true character of the couple really shines through.

Here are a couple prompts from this session:

• “Take a slow walk along the wharf and tell each other your favorite thing about this trip so far.”
• “Parminder, lean into Mansukh, and tell her a secret (bonus if it’s something funny).”



These prompts not only relaxed them but created beautiful moments of genuine laughter and connection.

Creating a Relaxed Environment

One of the most important aspects of a session is creating an environment where your clients feel comfortable and natural. I spend time chatting with the couple about themselves, sharing a bit about myself, and finding common ground. This breaks the ice and helps them loosen up.

When you’re yourself, they’re more likely to be themselves—and that’s where the authenticity and genuine connections really come through. For example, during this session, we laughed some of their adventures in Newfoundland, how difficult it is to walk in heels (see pic below), and how the wind added a touch of drama to their photos. It made the session not only productive but also fun and memorable.