Lumpkin Photography

Nature

About
I am a freelance photographer from the South, living in Southern California and loving it. After traveling the world for years, camera in hand, I am continually amazed by the thousands of communities here in the L.A. area; each one a microcosm of their home. I am excited to continue exploring stories of the millions of people that converge in this place.

Matt Lumpkin | 501-749-6777 | mattlumpkin@gmail.com

Portraits
We all have a camera-smile: the easy, mechanical face we learned to make at an early age whenever someone said "Cheese." The problem is that this is not the face that those we love see when we're laughing out loud, smirking at their bad jokes, or quietly digesting the events of the day. I want my clients to have an image that is a window into who they were at the moment the picture was taken. This can only happen in the context of an informal, relaxed atmosphere where we are working together toward the goal of pictures that show true personality and authenticity.

But we've all had pictures taken with the tired, assembly-line type photographers who say silly things and pose us in awkward ways to get a "good" portrait. A portrait session doesn't have to be this way. We'll spend time talking about your goals for your photographs, how you want to use them, what you want them to say or show about you or your family. We'll collaborate to make the photos you want.

The right environment is crucial. Because of this I shoot exclusively on location rather than in studios with artificial lighting and false backdrops. The background sets the stage for the story.

I use a minimalist approach to gear. If you can't carry your equipment with you easily, you won't have it when the moment for the perfect shot arrives, and passes. I have a selection of high quality cameras, flashes and lenses and I bring what is necessary. But electronic bulbs are a pale replacement for warm sun and elaborate reflectors for that special glint in the eyes.

Black & White vs. Color, Film vs. Digital
It is hard to beat the convenience and speed of digital. Indeed, it has become a large part of my photography. However I still shoot a great deal of film. As you may have seen, many of my weddings request film, especially Black & White. There is a timeless quality to film that is somehow lost in the high-res world of digital. I have noticed that, especially in wedding portraiture, many are excited to have continuity between the visual style of their photographs and those of their parents and grand-parents. By hand-processing my B&W negatives, I enjoy a greater control over the nuances of exposure and tint. There is a particular beauty to be found in the imperfections of photographs with a little grain, a little dust and a little more soul.

Regardless of whether you choose film, digital or both, all images I shoot will be made available to you in high-resolution digital files on disc for ease of printing. Negatives are available by request.

Prints, Reprints
Many photographers charge exorbitant rates for prints and reprints. I take a different approach. I charge a set rate for the session and then the images are yours to use as you wish, printing as many or as few as you like at your convenience. I retain only the copyright and copies of the images.

Contact
Good photography opens the door to the broader narrative of the subjects. Some cultures still believe that photographs steal a portion of the subject's soul. Though that may be a bit over-stated, my goal is to create photos that are a window into the subject's soul, their life, their story.

For more information, consultation or price quote, please call or write.

Matt Lumpkin | 501-749-6777 | mattlumpkin@gmail.com