Okay, so let me tell you about this thing I tried out – messing around with the “zoe ghertner hawaii” vibe. I’d seen some of her stuff online, and I was like, “Damn, that’s cool. Gotta try that.”
First off, I started by looking at a bunch of her photos. Really tried to soak in the style. It’s all about that natural light, you know? And the way she captures people just being themselves, super relaxed and effortless. So, I figured Hawaii would be the perfect backdrop, even though I was just messing around in my backyard… but I did visit Hawaii before.
Next up, I grabbed my camera – nothing fancy, just my old trusty DSLR. The key, I realized, wasn’t the gear, but the light. I waited for that golden hour, when the sun’s going down and everything’s bathed in this warm, soft glow. That’s the magic hour right there.
I asked my friend, Sarah, to model for me. I told her, “Just be you, girl! No posing, no acting. Just chill.” That was the hardest part, actually. People tend to get self-conscious in front of a camera. I wanted to recreate that feeling of just capturing those perfect moments where no one even knows a picture is being taken.
We started shooting in the late afternoon. I told Sarah to walk around, laugh, look at the sky, whatever felt natural. I mostly just snapped away, trying to catch those candid moments. The real trick was not directing her too much. I’d just say “walk over there” or “sit on that.” Keeping it simple was key.
After that, I went back inside and started editing. I didn’t do much, to be honest. Zoe’s style isn’t about heavy editing. It’s about enhancing what’s already there. I adjusted the brightness a little, warmed up the colors a bit, and added a touch of contrast. The goal was to make it feel warm and nostalgic.
I will say, it didn’t come out exactly like Zoe Ghertner’s work. She’s a pro, after all! But it was a fun experiment. I learned a lot about natural light and capturing genuine moments. Plus, Sarah got some cool photos for her Instagram feed. Win-win!
Things I learned:
- Natural light is everything.
- Keep it candid. Don’t over-pose.
- Less editing is more.
I might try this again sometime. Maybe I’ll get some better results next time!
