Lightroom Ambassador series: capturing nostalgia with MEG loeks

Lightroom Ambassador Meg Loeks

Meg Loeks Growing up in rural West Michigan , Enjoying the traditional American childhood .“ I spend most of my time outdoors building fortresses with my brothers , Play baseball with the children nearby ,” She recalls. . As a teenager , She picked up Pentax ME Super 35mm The camera .“ My favorite part of this process is the development of prints . I clearly remember the strong vinegar smell , Waiting excitedly for my photo to appear .” Her parents subscribed to 《 National geographic 》, She studied every question carefully .“ I have a dream that one day I will become a photojournalist and be sent to perform tasks ,” She said .

Meg's image is full of American style

contrary , MEG found inspiration closer to home . Now ,Lightroom The ambassador has become a hot portrait and lifestyle photographer , Have more than 350,000 name Instagram fans .“ My greatest inspiration comes from my children . They are my muses , Most of my portraits come from them ,” She said . Her photography is full of American style , Capture the moments of rural life in daily life , Such as baking 、 Farming and family time . The children explored the sunflower fields ; A toddler dipped his fishing line into the cold lake ; A newborn baby dozes in the arms of a US Army soldier . She was attracted by color and low light , The created images remind people of the paintings of ancient Dutch masters .

“ My greatest inspiration comes from my children . They are my muses .”

“ My work revolves around nostalgia and family ,” Meg said .“ I have always been attracted by the middle moments and the daily chores . Of course , The first milestone is significant , But there are some good things about small things , For example, my toddler tried to help me fold clothes , Or my eldest son helps my sister put on her shoes . I live for those moments . They are my reasons . I like being able to turn simple events into artistic portraits .”

Meg said , Nostalgia is the reason why she picks up the camera every day

When she started having children , She switched from film to digital , Today she took Canon R5 Or SONY a7R IV, Equipped with Sigma Art Prime The lens , Range from 24 Mm to 105 mm f1.4.“ I am mainly a natural light photographer ,” She explains . In the winter months , When the night comes on Michigan's Upper Peninsula , She will build some Profoto lighting , But the magic is done in post production .“ My favorite part of the process is still the end , When I polish my photos later ,” She said .“ I like it best in Lightroom See photo transformation in .”

Use Meg The free Lightroom Preset , You can add rich painting colors to any photo

“ The rich colors in my works attract me , And mine is free Lightroom Presets show this ,” Meg said .“ I like to keep my skin warm , At the same time, my color is simple and energetic . My green is usually deep and cool , My yellow is warm and unsaturated , My red and blue are colorful . My presets also tend to add a lot of depth and contrast to the image . To create a more painterly look , I like to finish my photos by slightly reducing the dynamic range and the highlight .”

They say “ Never work with children or animals ”, But MEG lives for the unpredictability of toddlers and their furry friends .“ I never know what they will throw at me ,” She said .“ I may have an idea , But eventually my child , Especially my toddler , Will drive shooting . I often find , No matter what they finally do when I take pictures of them , It's better than my original idea . This is one of the reasons why I like to shoot with a telephoto lens outdoors . I like to give my children space , And try not to control the environment too much when shooting them .”

This is how she catches her children doing what she likes to do , Build forts and play baseball .“ It brings me a lot of happiness ,” She said .“ That nostalgia is the reason why I pick up my camera every day .”