I had an interesting headshot photo session in the studio this afternoon. The brief from the company was oddly specific about which #Profoto light modifiers need to be used, and the power settings and angles and position, etc.
As it would happen, when they contacted me and sent over the brief, I was all, "Sure, I have all of that." Because, you know, I do.
I'm always keen on reverse engineering photos anyway, to figure out the lighting -- but in this case they made it easy with the diagrams and notations.
The company is Read more inside...
Still exploring what the Profoto Spot Small light modifier can do in creating dramatic studio portraits, I had Lauren sit in for some test shots. I was curious to see if I could use this hard light source in a way that still work for a feminine portrait and be flattering. The best option so far for me is to add supplemental light that softens the overall harder lighting or the spot light. By adjusting the power on the big octabox behind me - see the pull-back shot below - I was able to control the contrast.
This way I could still retain the Read more inside...
video: Creative studio portrait session - two perspectives
Continuing with the loose theme of 'Two Perspectives', I invited my friend Dave Block into the studio during one of his visits to New York from Seattle. The concept behind the initial Two Perspectives video was that I get to meet upwith a fellow photographer, and that something might be revealed in the contrasting styles and ideas during some kind of photo shoot - hopefully informative and of wider interest. The 1st video was the intimate male portraiture shoot-out with my friend Cate Scaglione. The 2nd video was with Tracy Read more inside...
Shooting in the studio with Brian and Anette to do promotional portraits of their band, Cut Like This, this one sequence was really fun to shoot. The images directly out of camera had impact already with the swath of blue light against the wall. The lighting is fairly simple - I used a gelled flash to get that color effect. The flash, a Profoto B1 flash (B&H / Amazon), was bare, with just the turquoise gel taped over it. The main light (to camera right) was one I often use when I want that interesting combination of soft light Read more inside...
Photographing a talented dancer / model, Anna L Russel (Instagram), in the studio, I wanted to think further than just sequences. Recently I have moved more to thinking in terms of larger projects or longer-term projects, even if just over a single photo session. I liked the results from the first few jumps Anna did - explosive movements within which she momentally holds a pose before landing again. I don't know much about dance movements or what would be the perfect execution of a dance move ... which would then affect my timing Read more inside...
Shooting portraits in the studio has a challenge all of its own compared to shooting out on location - you are limited by the confines of the rectangular box that is the studio. You're also limited by your imagination of course. Part of the challenge is that when you photograph a new client, you have to shoot consistent with your style - that's why a client chose you - but at the same time, you have to bring some variety to the sequences of images. Even if it is just a slight tweak, I feel there has to be something else that you offer during every Read more inside...
Reflector for portrait & headshot photography: Eyelighter
I've mentioned before how much I like using the Westcott Eyelighter for headshot photography. The first time I encountered the Eye-lighter (B&H / Amazon), was at the After Dark Edu photography conventions, and I was fascinated by this lighting device and the results it produced.
There is a distinctive curved high-light that it gives to the bottom part of your subject's eyes. How much of a reflection, will depend on how you rotate and position the Eyelighter.
Read more inside...
With this portfolio shoot, we wanted to end up with sequences of photos that looked different enough - as if they were taken at different times, and even different locations. In between, Heather would change her outfits as well. We ended up with four distinctly different setups - two of which used studio lighting, and two which used available light only. With the two setups using studio lighting, the easiest way to make the lighting look different, was to use a big softbox or one setup (for softer light), and a gridded stripbox for another setup (for more Read more inside...
There are always many other ways to light your subject, whether on location or in the studio. With Fitness photography though, you do want to show off the physique of your subject - and this does mean strongly directional light. The main light can be a harder / smaller light source, or even a larger light source such as a softbox, but generally you do need to go for directional light that skims across the physique of your subject. Flat lighting is going to be a difficult approach here. This previous article - Chiaroscuro lighting - shows another Read more inside...
Flash photography - Changing the background color with gels
One of the biggest challenges when working in a studio, is that you're essentially shooting in a plain rectangular box. When photographing portraits, the two obvious ways out of that is to create an interesting (or complementary) background, and then to create interesting (or flattering) lighting.
The lighting itself need not be complex. For this series of portraits of Olive, I used the gridded 1' x 6' softbox. By swinging it horizontally or vertically (or diagonally), I can change the way the light falls on my subject Read more inside...
