It is great to take advantage of an opportunity to do a photoshoot with a special theme and costume, and for me the idea of a Warrior Princess themed shoot with a small group of collaborators in local woodland was too great to pass.
The wooded area is very popular with locals, especially on a nice day, but there is so much space that we could easily find a few areas to work away from the crowds.
The outfit, and especially the head dress, supplied by Sandalwoodpictures.co.uk and worn by local model Tracey was outstanding and made the shoot extremely enjoyable and quite different.
Collaborating with local creatives can bring a completely different dimension to a group photoshoot – a theme that would not normally be possible on a commercial / editorial shoot, a relaxed pace and the sharing of ideas and equipment, along with new locations you would not consider as an option. Leicester based Solo Studio hosts regular group shoots with an amazing collection of photographers and models.
Images below are from a recent Steampunk themed group shoot in a local industrial area within Leicester.
For this shoot I used my Nikon D800 with off-camera SB-800 speedlight with an Octabox modifier, trigged with PocketWizard FlexTT5 / MiniTT1.
I think one of the best subjects for a photoshoot is a person with lots of dimensions to their character. Luke has this in abundance, with tattoos, a very well looked after beard which I am sure has been grown with great pride, and penetrating eyes to focus in on. Nose ring and shiny necklace add to the richness of the look.
Luke was almost picked off the street to model for a small group of photographers in the Leicester studio, and we used a dark background with minimal light to create a moody portrait.
From my previous post on Tae Kwon-Do, my subject is also Head Chef at a local hotel in Leicester. So of course, we took the opportunity to photograph Chef in his working clothes. I planned this portrait as for an editorial piece within a magazine – a one light setup against a plain background, creating a quiet, simple but powerful image.
I had a great opportunity recently to spend some time in the Leicester studio with a local Tae Kwon-Do sportsman to capture some portraits and actions shots using minimal lighting for that lovely moody style which I am always drawn to. We tried out a few different lighting setups and created a great set of images suitable for an editorial piece.
American football is obviously not something synonymous with UK sporting traditions, but as a kit became available to use during a recent photoshoot in Leicester with Louisa we put it to good use with some carefully positoned lighting and a black background.
I do prefer this style of portraiture – partially lit with rich colours and shadows. Painting with light. It makes for an interesting image. Great for an editorial in a sports magazine.
Laumina was visiting the UK recently and contacted me to arrange a photoshoot in Leicestershire. I had done a photoshoot for Triathlete’s World a while back at Beacon Hill. I had always wanted to go back for another photoshoot as the location is ideal with its backdrop of large rocks, rugged terrain and open skies. I used a combination of natural light and off-camera flash to create dramatic images to suit the landscape. It was windy on the day of the shoot, but we persevered and captured a great set of images.
Robbie Lewis is a Leicester based DJ. We met in the studio in Leicester to do a photoshoot for a set of publicity images. Robbie was after strong images with shadows that would fit well with nightclub promotional material. We moved though a variety of lighting setups during the hour shoot to get a good set of images to choose from. Shot with the Nikon D800 and 24-70mm Nikkor lens and Bowens lighting.
I recently had the pleasure of photographing Lizzy Rushby and fellow musical entertainer one evening in Leicester for a set of publicity shots. I setup a small studio area in Lizzy’s home, and we spent an hour shooting with a variety of setups. You do not need a lot of space for this kind of portraiture, and it can certainly be more convenient for the sitter to shoot in the home where outfits and props are to hand. All shot in colour, with conversion to black and white in post production where appropriate. Shot with Fuji x-Pro1 with 35mm and 56mm lenses and Bowens lighting.