Studio Portrait

[ianpinion]

I'll put in a good word for you if you like, Dan... Least I can do in return for your kind comments.

I wonder if anyone else would care to offer a critique?

[Drew Smith]

Well done Ian. Sounds like you really enjoyed it.

One thing I'd stay away from at first is over processing any of the pics or applying 'effects' in post until you've really understood the lighting composition.

What was the lighting set up in the studio? There's no shadow so I'm guessing it's lit a light constant light source from both sides of the model and from the front with/or maybe a reflector thrown in for good measure.

To me it all seems to straight on 'filled' light, a little like a 'school photograph' rather than a portrait where character comes from the shadow on the broad side of the model's face. Unless of course this was the desired effect.

Drew

[ianpinion]

Thank you for your comments Drew. I must confess I am a bit of a novice where studio portrait photography is concerned, particularly when it come to the positioning of lights etc. All I can tell you is that we had two set ups, one for low key and one for high key. The low key lighting consisted of two 160W lights, with a reflector umbrella mounted around one and a reflector box around the other. These were set at about 30 - 45 degrees from the model on either side. The high key had two lights trained on the white backdrop/infinity curve and two 1500W lights trained on the model from again about 30 - 45 degrees on either side, but one light was set about one light stop brighter than the other.

Not really knowing much about studio work, as the last time I did any was over 20 years ago and that was just still life work, I found it a really challenging day. There's so much to think about, the lighting, the model's pose, your camera settings and your positioning to ensure you don't see the edge of the background in your shot. I think for what was effectively a first attempt I did okay, though any tips, hints and helpful pointers would be greatly appreciated.

[Drew Smith]

Lighting a subject is a bit like playing golf or squash - you don't really get much better if you only do it once in a while, the trick is to be finding opportunities to get your kit out every week.

What about investing in a portable system Ian using flash?

[ianpinion]

I don't have any studio equipment of my own Drew, I was invited by another photographer who had just bought a load of studio lights, backdrops etc. and set up a shoot to try it all out with a few friends. I got a bit of coaching on a few of the basics, but not much on how to light your subject, sadly. Still I think I did alright for a first attempt and the lighting isn't completely flat on every shot. I've managed to get a little shadow on a few.

If I do it again, I'll think more about how I want the lighting and experiment a little more.

[Nigel Powles]

Lighting and technical stuff aside I dont understand what the picture is about. What is a photo shoot all about? Yes it is a good photo of a someone but she does look a bit severe as if she is thinking "just get on with it". Dunno, enlighten me.

[ianpinion]

Hello Nigel and welcome to the forum. The premise for this shoot, as I've mentioned in a previous post, was that I and five other photographers were invited by a professional photographer to christen his new studio gear for a day for a very reasonable charge. He had invited along four pretty models with no previous modelling experience, who had expressed an interest in doing some modelling and were looking to put together a portfolio. All the models were known to the photographer in charge of the day.

We each took it in turns to set up and and a series of shots of each of the models during the day, with a variety of different props to aid us with the poses using either high key or low key lighting set-ups.

This was the first time I had ventured into a studio in over 20 years, the last time being to photograph some still life objects, so my skills of working in this environment were a little rusty. The whole reason I attended this shoot was to brush up on these skills and hopefully learn a few tips and tricks along the way from some of the other more experienced photographers present.

I'm aware that my inexperience show in some of the shots I got from the shoot and have posted here. What I'm looking for is some honest critique and advice on how I can improve for the next time I go into a studio for a similar shoot. So Nigel, if you have some tips, please feel free to share them. Your fellow forum members would be very appreciative.

[Drew Smith]

Hi Ian

I'm a member of this site:

www.phototraining4U.com

As are some of the other regulars on here. Despite the really corny name it really is an excellent, down-to-earth site that has really helped me in many areas.

Particularly they have oodles of stuff on lighting techniques. Once you start messing with off camera flash/lighting systems, you'll never go back. And wonderfully it opens up a whole new way to spend money! : )

Take a look.

Drew

[Nigel Powles]

Thanks for the welcome Ian.
This sounds more like the commercial side of photography of which I have no experience. I have only just returned to photography myself after a similar break to yourself. One of the reasons that I stopped taking pictures was the question of why take photo's which prompted my original question, thanks for the explanation.

[ianpinion]

Thanks for the link Drew, it could be useful. I know two photographers who both run great courses on how to take studio portraits, that if I ever want to follow this form of photography I would enrol on to give myself a better understanding. I find a course that mixes both the theory with a chance to practice what you've just learnt helps to cement it to memory. I think I'm going to continue as a landscape photographer as my main pursuit, though for where I work I'm going to be taking photographs of kitchens we've just fitted to build up a portfolio of our work to show new customer's what we can do, which I suppose shares a few similarities, as far as lighting techniques go, with the lighting for a studio shoot.

Nigel, I'm not planning on doing fashion shoots etc. for a living. Photography is just my hobby and has been for the last 28 years on and off. I had a quiet spell for about 5 years back in my mid 20s, but I found when I turned digital about 8 - 9 years ago it reignited my interest in the artform. My only wish is that I had more free time to pursue it, but that's work for you!