I took advantage of the start of Spring and the kinder weather to kick off my 2014 Street Shoot season with a photo shoot with local model Yasmin. I took along my new X-Pro1 camera, with its small design and fast sharp lenses being ideal for this type of shoot.
We met at a predesignated point in Leicester and used a handful of side streets in the same area for the photo shoot. This reduces the amount of walking to each area and maximises shoot time. A mix of natural light and off-camera flash gave us a great selection of images against different urban backdrops, ideal for model portfolios, editorial portraits or family portraits with a difference.
We battled with the wind somewhat but had a great time,and produced a fantastic set of images. The X-Pro1 performed brilliantly, and as I learn how to get the best out of it, will become my go to camera for portrait photography. It is very easy to carry around, and the quality is amazing. It worked flawlessly with my pair of Nikon SB-800s and Pocket Wizard Mini-TT1 trigger and TT5 receivers.
My personal project I am currently shooting is based on tattoos. Watching the Miami Ink TV series way back sparked my interest in the subject, and especially the personal reasons why people decide to have a tattoo (or three), and why they choose a specific design with the amazing colours and artwork. Most tattoos will have a very specific meaning for people, either a personal tragedy or a connection with their outllook on life.
Some people have one small tattoo, maybe hidden in a discrete area of the body, and are done. Other people have one and get bitten by the bug, and have tattoo after tattoo after tattoo.
If you are interested in being photographed by me with your tattoos in my Leicester studio, give me a shout at paul@paulhurstphotography.co.uk
I spend a lot of time with test shoots, using models to try out new lighting setups and ideas which I can then bring to commissioned shoots. The image above was created using a single strip box – feathered to create a nice light fall off across the subject. A very easy one light setup which is nice and portable to homes and office locations.
Second image above was a bit more complex, with a a feathered Octabox as main and two gridded reflectors behind and pointing at the subjects shoulders to create a nice backlight.
Third and fourth images were created using a single gridded beauty dish against the graffiti covered shutters of the studio, an ideal setup for teenager fashion shoots.
For every studio shoot, I aim to use four or five different setups, with the subject changing clothes each time, so that the end result is an excellent set of images to choose from for model portfolios or portrait albums.
Email me at paul@paulhurstphotography.co.uk if you would like to arrange a shoot.
A recent shoot with the wonderful Alex (on her first ever shoot) allowed me to test a few new lighting setups within the studio. A rarely used pink paper roll has been hanging in the studio for a long time, watching me and begging to be used. I decide to see what I could do with it, so used a single gridded beauty dish to light Alex and throw a distinct shadow onto the pink backdrop.
Second setup was against the white infinity cove, using a single gridded reflector on a Bowens head and shooting through a standard set of window blinds. You can just see the shadow it creates on Alex’s shoulder and chest.
Third image is the same setup as above, but with different lighting levels to enhance the shadow effect from the blinds.
Alex is a great model and for her first time did exceptionally well. Looking forward to working together again soon.
It is great to be in the studio during the Winter season, escaping the poor and unpredictable weather. The studio allows you space and time to build a careful lighting setup that will meet your vision of the photoshoot.
Below are 3 examples from a recent photoshoot with an up and coming model to help build her portfolio to take to agencies. We did a handful of lighting setup changes throughout the shoot, along with outfit changes, to get a nice selection of images for the portfolio. A mix of Octabox, strip box, gridded beauty dish and reflectors helped create strong images showing the model’s potential.
I think I have probably completed my last urban shoot of the year now the weather is decidely more Autumnal. Cold, rain and wind are not a pleasant mix for a photoshoot. This was the first time I hve worked with Danielle, and we managed to find a small backstreet in Leicester which I had never used before. A quick bit of research on Google’s Street View helped me pick the location, as it appeared to have a few areas for possible backdrops within very short walking distance.
As it happens we were spoilt for choice and ran out of time before we ran out of street.