Scharad Lightbourne 6/28/24 Scharad Lightbourne 6/28/24

Raj & Jamie Capture Stunning Babymoon Portraits in The Bahamas

Embarking on the journey to parenthood is an exciting and transformative experience, and what better way to celebrate this particular time than with a babymoon in paradise? Raj and Jamie did just that, choosing the breathtaking Bahamas as the backdrop for their unforgettable babymoon portraits.

My island provided the perfect setting for Raj and Jamie's photoshoot with its clear turquoise waters, white sand beaches, and breathtaking sunsets. The couple wanted to capture the essence of their love and anticipation as they awaited the arrival of their first child.

Jamie wore a fitting black dress that made her look like a goddess. In a crisp white shirt and trousers, Raj gave us "relaxed Dad elegance," his outfit perfectly matched the tranquil beach. Together, they walked hand in hand along the shoreline, leaving prints in the sand as a reminder of their journey. The gentle waves lapping at their feet and the sound of the ocean created a serene and intimate atmosphere, allowing their genuine emotions to shine through in the photos.

As the day drew close, the sky transformed into a canvas of rich purples, pinks, and gold, creating a stunning backdrop for their final portraits.

Raj and Jamie's babymoon photo shoot in the Bahamas was more than just a series of beautiful pictures; it celebrated their love and growing family and the new adventure awaited them. The stunning landscapes of the Bahamas provided the perfect setting to capture these precious moments, creating a lasting memory they will cherish forever.

Scharad Lightbourne 2/7/24 Scharad Lightbourne 2/7/24

A Romantic Couple's Photoshoot on a Stunning Island 📸

I met with Steffon and Melissa in October of 2023 at this intimate coffee bar on the western side of town. Melissa, who had initially reached out to me, wanted to take romantic, beautiful and editorial portraits with her beau, Steffon. So, in our early discussion, we went over a few concepts that would make them both happy. Melissa told me how long they had dated and that they had no images to speak for their relationship. She was focused on taking official photos to celebrate their love for one another.

During our meeting, I almost enforced that the photoshoot should be unique and different. I don't know what made me say it, but in explaining my creative process to the couple, I told them we needed to shoot somewhere different, not on the island (we all lived in New Providence) but on another island with a stunning backdrop. I almost jumped out of my seat when the thought hit me. I said, “Let's go to Exuma!"

The couple looked at each other, and while I thought the budget would not allow for such a production, they looked back at me and said, "Yes, that's an amazing idea!"

We worked together to figure out a date, styling and logistics for pulling this whole thing off. Luckily for Melissa, her cousin was one of the country's most talented stylists, so I didn't worry too much about that aspect. I had a few colleagues in Exuma who gave me insight on where to shoot and how to get there, and so, together with the couple, we made arrangements for a boat to take us to one of the sandbanks near Rolletown, Exuma.

This photo shoot had been postponed twice due to bad timing or bad weather, and by the time we finally got around the concrete time, it was 2024! January 16th was the new date, and everyone was sure this would be amazing due to all the previous setbacks. My assistant Tariq and I arranged to get there by plane, only a 30-minute ride, and we found an Airbnb only 3 minutes from the dock! The night before we shot, the team met up to go over the art direction for the shoot. Everyone chipped in and gave commentary to make the couple feel more confident going into the photoshoot.

Shoot day was nothing short of incredible. The weather was perfect, the water looked unreal, and the couple were perfectly styled. We found a sandbank when we left the marina and positioned the couple. I was shooting with natural light, so I had more time to focus on posing and positioning. The boat captain pulled us right up to the bank, and I even left him in some of my frames to show the context of where we were. Steffon and Melissa were amazing to photograph because they didn't pretend much to like each other. You could see that they genuinely enjoyed each other's space, and as a photographer, that helps when capturing portraits of two people together.

The couple had a second look, and we brainstormed on where to photograph them. The team agreed that we didn't want to shoot them out in the water again, so I suggested shooting them in a town near all the hustle and bustle of Georgetown's main settlement. I love locations like these because there is a lot of energy surrounding you. People, cars, dogs and birds are all moving around you. Georgetown gave me so many different spaces to capture Stef and Mel, and I loved that they stood out in stylish clothing against the town's backdrop. This shoot, if any indication of how the year will pan out, excited me, and I loved working with the couple to produce these images.

Please enjoy.

Photography & Art Direction: Scharad Lightbourne

Styling: Shan Oliver ( The Style Group)

MUA: Valincia Rolle

Hair: Tara Miller (Metamorphosis)

Stef’s Hair: Tilly Balinese

Grip: Tariq Cartwright

An aerial view of us on the sand bank with the couple.

Scharad Lightbourne 3/20/23 Scharad Lightbourne 3/20/23

Old Master's Portraits with Olivia Dorsett

Olivia is the type of client who gives me 100% creative control when she comes to me with another opportunity to photograph her. This occasion was no different. She asked if I had anything new I wanted to try because she was “in the mood” for another portrait session. I told her I always wanted to recreate a portrait similar to that of the old portrait masters like Rembrandt, Caravaggio and Da Vinci.

I had to research the lighting extensively because I knew those painters used a specific style of light in their portraits. My setup was simple, where I only used a 2 light layout; a largely diffused modifier for fill and another large modifier for my key (leading) light.

Olivia trusted my vision, and I put together an incredible team once I knew the direction I was taking. I was very direct and specific. I knew what I wanted from makeup and hair, and even the colour dress and design of the gown I chose were intentional.

The table and background were already in the studio while we imported other props. The fruit we used was sourced locally, which was a challenge because, initially, finding the pomegranate was challenging! Once I completed the set, and we got our tethering setup, the shoot flowed seamlessly. The lighting was ideal for the direction of the shoot, and I was so happy that we had put so much time into our pre-production.

Olivia was a great muse. She knew her angles and followed my direction to the letter. Below is the hard work of a team of passionate people who came together to bring this vision to fruition.

Let me know what you think of our work in the comments below.

WATCH THE VIDEO

Photography: Scharad Lightbourne

Muse: Olivia Dorsett

MUA: Cody Rolle

Hair: Denise Francis

Designer: Ria Smith

Cinematography: Emmanuel Petit Homme

Assistant: Shavonne Strachan

Scharad Lightbourne 10/3/22 Scharad Lightbourne 10/3/22

Lisa Nichols and Marcellus Hall Engagement Shoot on the island of Eleuthera

I remember getting a call from Lisa Nichols quite early one Sunday morning. She told me that she'd been approached by several publications to use her and Marcellus Hall’s official engagement photos. She said, " Scharad, before I start, I just need you to say yes!"

I didn't hesitate either. I said, "Lisa, whatever we do, we can't shoot in Nassau. We need to go to Eleuthera!"

I told Lisa that shooting in Eleuthera would give me a playground of different locations that I'd photographed before but not enough. Eleuthera is in my top 3 most beautiful islands in our archipelago. Lisa told me she’d never been, but she trusted me with her vision.

On day 1, we took Lisa and Marcellus near the Hatchet Bay Silos. It was a beautiful sight to see this couple move alongside the road. They were talking and smiling together, embracing and overall having a great time with these impressive structures in the background.

This was one of many locations we used on the island. We shot in Gregory Town, Queen’s Bath and on the beautiful Gaulding Cay Beach. I don’t know if my team were more excited about the images of the couple or about discovering all these picturesque pockets of Eleuthera.

WATCH THE BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO

📸: Photography by: Scharad Lightbourne

🎥: Videography by: TandT Media

👗: Stylist: Anastarcia Palacious

💄: Makeup: Torkel Dawkins

✊🏾: Grip: Tameka Petit Homme

Scharad Lightbourne 3/22/22 Scharad Lightbourne 3/22/22

Olde Town Lady: A Historic Collection of Modern Day Portraits.

OLDE TOWNE LADY is a series that brings the stories of different generations of Bahamian women out of the shadows and analyzes how they collectively contributed to the culture and traditions that are common and upheld in our Bahamian society today. We aim to theorize and construct the historical knowledge of Bahamian Women through Oral Histories and Creative Interpretations.

These women existed in everyone’s family, but their narratives are often overlooked and under-valued. They carried out the underappreciated and undermined labor that was key to sustainable development and the well-being of the family and community. They also protected and transmitted the cultural and social heritage of The Bahamas, with hopes that their labor and stories were not in vain.

Francine is a Co-Principal of The Heritage Partners - a professional services agency specializing in Heritage branding, research, and management.