Late night available light portraits in Las Vegas
Late night available light portraits in Las Vegas
During a chance connection at WPPI photography convention in Vegas, Lupita and I struck up a conversation ... and later that evening we ventured out on the Las Vegas strip for a few late night portraits. With a fast prime lens - the Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM lens (B&H / Amazon) - we were able to use just the light on the part of the Strip we explored. Here are a few of my favorite images. It's always an adventure using random available light like this -- there is such a wide range of nuanced shades of colors Read more inside...Studio photography – Posing & Lighting
Studio photography - Posing & Lighting
A series of photos from the archives - a studio photo session with one of my favorite models, Claudia. I reposted these photos on my Instagram account, as a quiet celebration because Claudia has decided to re-enter as a model after a hiatus of a few years. When I use models during workshops, it is with the intent of teaching lighting techniques. There is also the strong underlying message that posing and lighting are interconnected. With that, there is a to-and-fro interaction between the model and myself (and the people attending a Read more inside...Tips for posing your subject during a photo session
Tips for posing your subject during a photo session
Too often, when I am being photographed, I notice one major flaw in how the other photographer interacts with me during the photo session -- they lose connection. They will take a shot, and then spend too long checking the image. Then after that, every other shot is interrupted by looking at the playback screen. Not only is it annoying to the person being photographed - the continuity is lost. Using this photo of Rozalinda as an example - while she looks magnificent, and is supremely easy to pose and interact with, it depends on Read more inside...Direction of light – Using available light in the studio
Direction of light - Using available light in the studio
This striking portrait of Rozalinda was lit by big window light in the studio. In using light - whether studio lighting or available light - you need to consider the direction of the light. You need to figure out how you want to place yourself and your subject in relation to where the light is coming from. Your own position in relation to the light and your subject, will significantly change the way the light appears on your subject. Check this article for an example: Change your position, change the direction of light. With Read more inside...Available light: Boudoir photography & Feminine portraiture
Available light: Boudoir photography & Feminine portraiture
The direction of light is an elemental part of portrait photography. We can control how we pose and position our subject in relation to the light - and we might be able even control the direction of light, as we did with this sequence of photos of our model, Adrienne. To start off this personal workshop on Lighting for Feminine Portraiture and Boudoir Photography, we used only the available light that was streaming through the large windows in my studio. This painted canvas backdrop is on a roller stand. Read more inside...Posing tips: Avoid foreshortening by seeing two-dimensionally
Posing tips: Avoid foreshortening by seeing two-dimensionally
There is this translation we have to do as photographers, from seeing in 3 dimensions, to realizing our images will be shown in 2 dimension. We might see the depth, but that information is mostly missing when the scene is flattened as a photograph. This is a stumbling block when we pose people - we might see their limbs and hands in 3 dimensions, but when your subjects hands extend towards you, there is foreshortening. The perspective changes, and makes the limbs look shorter than they are. This can be visually Read more inside...Checklist for portrait photography on location
Checklist for portrait photography on location
There's that algorithm that I most often use when shooting on-location portraits - find an interesting or complementary background, that also has good light on my subject. If there isn't good ambient light, then I add light. Then, my subject's positioning and pose is adjusted so that the photograph comes together. Find an interesting or complementary background, that also has good light on my subject. If there isn't good ambient light, then I add light. Then, my subject's positioning and pose is adjusted so that the photograph Read more inside...Connect with your clients for better engagement photo sessions
Mauricio is a photographer in Costa Rica that has consistently posted photographs that got everyone's attention in the Tangents Facebook group. One of the sessions was this engagement shoot - his lighting and post-processing are impeccable. But there's more to photography than the gear and camera settings - there has to be a connection with your subjects, and in this case, clients. There has to be a spark that you, as the photographer, help elicit. I asked Mauricio to share some of his magic through advice on how he connects with his clients as part of creating wonderful images that his Read more inside...
Gesture and posing – building up a photograph
Gesture and posing - building up a photograph
This striking photograph of Anastasiya, like some flying super-hero, didn't just happen on a first take in the studio. It started with an idea, and then through several iterations, finally took shape. I wanted to test the Profoto B1 flash's Freeze mode, where the duration of the flash is much shorter - perfect for freezing fast motion. However, with a jumping shot like this, the photo is timed pretty much at peak movement - and there isn't really as much blur as we'd need to show that the Freeze mode is effective. We're going to need Read more inside...- 1
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