I love the one-on-one focus and interraction with an individual photoshoot. It allows me time to get to know the client a bit more than I would with a small group family photoshoot.
I had the pleasure of recently photographing the same client in two different environments – the first in a lovely local park for an environmental photoshoot, and then again a couple of weeks later in the studio to create more dramatic imagery, which can only really be created in the studio where full control of lighting is possible.
1st image is from the studio photoshoot, lit with a single Bowens head through a gridded beauty dish.
2nd image is from the environmental photoshoot, lit with a single Bowens head through a brolly, powered by a TravelPak.
I did a test shoot recently in the studio with Grace, a new local model with a great look and who is very easy to work with. I used the opportunity to try out some different lighting setups with Octaboxes and gridded beauty dishes, whilst Grace was able to start building up her modelling portfolio.
We had a very successful couple of hours in the studio trying out a mixture of low and high key lighting with a variety of poses in a relaxed environment. I am looking forward to working with Grace again in the near future.
I spent a few hours last weekend testing out some new lighting setups with the wonderful model Nicole who I have worked with previously.
We had a great big room to use so we could really spread out and go to town on the lighting. The image above was one of my favourite from the session, and was a simple one light setup with a gridded beauty dish to control the light spill. This particular setup can be created in a very small room, including a living room in a home.
Second image is the same location and same background, but lit with multiple lights to give a completely different look. this lighting really makes Nicole’s skin glow.
This last image had a subtle change to the lighting to create a completely different look to the previous image.
A great session completed, and I am really looking forward to trying these lighting setups in photoshoots over the coming weeks.
Professional portrait photography is constantly changing and adapting to new trends. This means test shoots are vital to try out new lighting setups and ideas without the limitations that a client photo shoot brings.
Charlotte is an experienced model who responded to my casting call on a model website at the last minute, and we managed a very successful three hour studio shoot in Leicester creating a set of new and dynamic images which can be translated into exciting client shoots.
Many more test shoots in the pipeline this year.
Last family photoshoot of the year was in the Leicester studio to celebrate family member birthdays and new arrivals. This photoshoot was great fun to do as everyone was relaxed and radiating great big smiles. The baby was the most relaxed 14 week old I have ever come across and a joy to photograph.
This image was created with a single gridded softbox, camera right.
I purchased a small vintage Union Jack flag from ebay a while ago with the express intention of using it as a backdrop to some studio portraits. Really wanted a very large flag for full length portraits, but this is just about suitable for half length max. Its made from cotton and doesn’t have the horrible sheen to it that new cheap flags seem to have.
The opportunity to use it only recently came along when I did a fashion shoot with Penny in the Leicester studio. Hung from a backdrop stand with black cloth behind to soak up the light. Lit with a single EZYBox softbox with grid on a C-Stand.
The Olympics may be just about on us but I will keep hold of this flag for the studio. Will be great for dynamic child and family portraits as well as fashion and beauty photoshoots.
I regularly undertake test shoots with new and established models to try out new ideas and lighting techniques in a relaxed environment.
Below are three images from a recent test shoot in the studio – Katie, Beth and Ellen were the models and we captured some great images from the day. I will be working with Ellen again soon on an urban shoot, so I look forward to posting some fantastic images from that session.