Studio Lighting

[Capn Jack]

When starting a session with someone I’ve not met before, I’ll usually engage in some light banter with the model. I’ll have us sit down in front of the studio and ask about her. Who she is, what she’s about…. I do this for a few reasons. First, let her get used to the environment, Second, I watch the muscles in her face. After you’ve shot quite a few people, you’ll notice those very slight changes in the face. When we first meet, there’s typically some tightness in her facial muscles and as we talk - I’ll watch for her face to relax - that’s the person I want to photograph. Not the ‘tense’ person who just walked into the studio. Someone with whom I’ve earned some trust and confidence. I’ll also pick up some queues from her what and how she responds to - to bring out emotion in her eyes and face. Keep in mind the photographer and model are complete strangers. He’s in a position of implied trust but yet still needs to earn that trust.

Listen. Be interested, not interesting. I’ll always ask her to bring a girlfriend along. Someone who can help out and adjust hair, fix clothes. As a guy, I’m at a disadvantage. I never touch a model. Again, we’re total strangers. If we’ve shot several times and know each other well, sometimes, with permission - I may. But the never rule is one I take seriously. Uncompromising integrity and constant respect for the individual. Period.

Then we’ll start the session with her in studio but I’ll say something insane or crazy that she will laugh to. Forgetting she’s in front of me, a camera and lighting gear. You know - a regular nice person. And grab a shot like this one. A great way to start out.

Next - always give praise and comment. Nothing is worse than a photographer who takes shot after shot without any kind of information for the model to hear or make adjustments to. If she’s in a bad/poor pose, build it up a shot at a time to the pose that works in a positive way. Always be positive in front of the model. You’re the leader. Be one.

Here’s that first grab shot after saying something stupid (based on info gathered during our chat). It really sets the day off right!!

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Yes…. the poor sessions were mostly in the early learning years (actually you never stop learning). With much less experience on my part that taught me to improve what I was doing. I found I could never blame the model. It was always me that needed improvement. With improvement comes confidence in front of a model. She can see your confidence and responds in kind. I needed to self criticize what I was doing during sessions. What I needed to improve. Directing models. I read through fashion magazines, posing guides. After sessions I try to think about what went well and what I could do to improve. My repeat clients - I can ask them for feedback too.

Communicate, communicate, communicate. I don't think anyone has ever complained a photographer of over-communicating. But do so effectively. Place yourself in the models shoes if you will. What does she expect to hear. What type of direction. How to explain what you need from her, Do it with patience and confidence. Small changes not major shifts in poses.

As for relaxing - There’s nothing wrong with stopping her mid session and say “Im seeing that tension in your face”. (You’ve already discussed tension and facial muscles and you’ll stop her - in your chat session so she already knows about this). Maybe ask her to think about a shower and just feel the warm water rinsing away the tension. That works well. You’ll instantly see her face come back to beauty from the tension.

A challenging session I had - I discovered was one young lady had lost her brother she loved so much to suicide the past year. Saying the wrong thing triggered her during that chat. I can’t tell you how important a pre-session chat is. I had to take extra care to get the best out of that session. She did great. Played the right music and did my best to talk a lot during the session and what we would be doing and focused her on the task at hand.

Starting with full-length (the goofy grab shot posted just above) and half body shots - After a clothing change, I moved closer for headshots. Full length shots first was less personal from the beginning versus headshots up close. The expression in her face was so beautiful in this headshot.

Easy, relaxed, calm beauty. Pure love…. This is your goal as a photographer. She is not thinking about me or the camera or studio, She’s way past that…Reposted here as an example:

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This is really good advice, and this is stuff I need to improve upon with my people shots. You have excellent gear and you know how to use it, but this information is so important.
Thank you for sharing your invaluable information!

 

[ImageMaker]

This is really good advice, and this is stuff I need to improve upon with my people shots. You have excellent gear and you know how to use it, but this information is so important.
Thank you for sharing your invaluable information!

Thanks for the appreciation. Soft skills like these seem often overlooked or not considered as important as they truly are. We photogs do tend to center our world on the gear side and technique. But the person/model at the other end of the camera is so very important too. I’ll try to add more comments along these lines as this thread grows.

 

[ImageMaker]

Well, tried to edit the background. For the life of me couldn’t find a decent color this evening. Will try again tomorrow. Maybe a pastel. Rested eyes might just work better.

Oh… This past Friday, went out and purchased a Broncolor Para 88 to round out the collection. Been needing it for just a bit more bite for certain shots. These things are expensive but really produce results. I’ll get my money back soon enough. So now we’ve got a Para 88, 133 and 222. A substantial weapons system for anything.

WOW!! I wont bother them, there’s a wedding dressed couple just outside in front of the coffee shop I’m at. They’re using the Christmas displays and lighting for some nice pics from their photographer. Beautiful long flowing white dress with shimmery shininess to it and such. Ah, they just wrapped up so too late anyway. Gorgeous dress though. Wonder where she got it.

 

[LtDave]

Well, tried to edit the background. For the life of me couldn’t find a decent color this evening. Will try again tomorrow. Maybe a pastel. Rested eyes might just work better.

Oh… This past Friday, went out and purchased a Broncolor Para 88 to round out the collection. Been needing it for just a bit more bite for certain shots. These things are expensive but really produce results. I’ll get my money back soon enough. So now we’ve got a Para 88, 133 and 222. A substantial weapons system for anything.

WOW!! I wont bother them, there’s a wedding dressed couple just outside in front of the coffee shop I’m at. They’re using the Christmas displays and lighting for some nice pics from their photographer. Beautiful long flowing white dress with shimmery shininess to it and such. Ah, they just wrapped up so too late anyway. Gorgeous dress though. Wonder where she got it.

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i dont think it looks all that bad. maybe a pastel would suit you but this is nice.

Broncolor 222. is that what, about 7-1/2' across?

 

[ImageMaker]

i dont think it looks all that bad. maybe a pastel would suit you but this is nice.

Broncolor 222. is that what, about 7-1/2' across?

Thanks. A goal would be to have a warmer look on the model and a cooler look for the background. That adds dimension to pretty much any shot. I just couldnt get there. Maybe it was the blue dress that threw me off. Not bad for editing off my iPad at the coffee shop. If it wasn't for all the coffee shops here, I'd get nothng done at all...

The Paras are named based on the size in CM. So 222 would be around 7.5 feet. The Para 133cm is around 4 feet. 88 is 2.8 feet (34.5 inches)

 

[ImageMaker]

Not the best example maybe…. White background replaced with a cooler blue. Helps her warmer look come forward in the pic. Don’t quite have the right color of blue coming out from this iPad. Probably just me not figuring it out just yet.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

White background replaced with a cooler blue. Helps her warmer look come forward in the pic. Don’t quite have the right color of blue coming out from this iPad. Probably just me not figuring it out just yet.

Maybe I misunderstand, Don, but did you change the background on the iPad? Or do you mean the blue doesn’t look quite right on it?

 

[ImageMaker]

Maybe I misunderstand, Don, but did you change the background on the iPad? Or do you mean the blue doesn’t look quite right on it?

Editing with the iPad. I was having trouble getting just the right color/tone… of blue while editing on my iPad. On my PC and CaptureOne or PS would be easier to create the right blue. I need A bit more practice to get it right. So, iPad/coffee house edit is my current challenge. Maybe I’ll read a manual. Always helps.

 

[ImageMaker]

Here’s an example of this pretty lady coming in for a session. She came in with a fairly stressed/nervous look. She mentioned she’d never had studio shots done. So, I had us both sit down and talk. Who she was, where’s she’s from, eventually segued what her goals were for today’s session. I watched her face start to relax as we spoke. I mentioned facial expressions and when folks wake up in the morning and head to work, they look just fine, coffee with friends - they look so cheerful. Bookstore browsing, they look their best. Then get in front of a camera and all bets are off. They then have a rigid, inflexible stoic soldier look. My job is to bring back her natural beauty she has the rest of the day.

I told her she’s free to relax and if I start to see that tension, I’d stop and have her relax again (the close your eyes and imagine a shower rinsing off the tension and relaxing the face statement). I had explained the tension with an example - And said it was an example - I stood up and pointed at her face and took a step forward towards her. Then asked do you feel that tension in your face?? She said yes. I sat down again and said thats what I look for. That small amount of tension. A relaxed face gives a more beautiful look.

As she finally relaxed, I mentioned that this is the person I want to photograph. Not the person who walked in the door 15 minutes ago. She understood. As she got ready and stood in studio, I mentioned the first 10 shots are just a warm up. They don’t count. Usually I’ll get a pretty good shot in during the warm up. Again, I joked quite a bit. Point your elbow at the Eiffel Tower. She said huh? I corrected, oh, if you don’t know where that is, try the Statue of Liberty…. Anything to get their mind off the session. I’ll be ready to capture the confused expression.

I shoot tethered and have a large monitor that immediately displays the last shot. We have a good laugh. I usually edit and give that shot away no charge…. She may not remember what we said during her session, but she will remember how she felt - with a smile. That’s good for repeat business and also positive reviews and an enjoyable session for the both of us.

Also explained the purpose of a photo shoot. To convey a message. Most cases business cases - the eyes show confidence and the mouth shows approachability - friendliness. A customer, stockholder would want a CEO/boss to be confident yet have a sense of approachability. So a photographer needs to understand the goals of a shoot and express it through the client.

Yes, had a small fan blow her hair on the second shot. I mean, why not….

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Here’s an example of this pretty lady coming in for a session. She came in with a fairly stressed/nervous look. She mentioned she’d never had studio shots done. So, I had us both sit down and talk. Who she was, where’s she’s from, eventually segued what her goals were for today’s session. I watched her face start to relax as we spoke. I mentioned facial expressions and when folks wake up in the morning and head to work, they look just fine, coffee with friends - they look so cheerful. Bookstore browsing, they look their best. Then get in front of a camera and all bets are off. They then have a rigid, inflexible stoic soldier look. My job is to bring back her natural beauty she has the rest of the day.

I told her she’s free to relax and if I start to see that tension, I’d stop and have her relax again (the close your eyes and imagine a shower rinsing off the tension and relaxing the face statement). I had explained the tension with an example - And said it was an example - I stood up and pointed at her face and took a step forward towards her. Then asked do you feel that tension in your face?? She said yes. I sat down again and said thats what I look for. That small amount of tension. A relaxed face gives a more beautiful look.

As she finally relaxed, I mentioned that this is the person I want to photograph. Not the person who walked in the door 15 minutes ago. She understood. As she got ready and stood in studio, I mentioned the first 10 shots are just a warm up. They don’t count. Usually I’ll get a pretty good shot in during the warm up. Again, I joked quite a bit. Point your elbow at the Eiffel Tower. She said huh? I corrected, oh, if you don’t know where that is, try the Statue of Liberty…. Anything to get their mind off the session. I’ll be ready to capture the confused expression.

I shoot tethered and have a large monitor that immediately displays the last shot. We have a good laugh. I usually edit and give that shot away no charge…. She may not remember what we said during her session, but she will remember how she felt - with a smile. That’s good for repeat business and also positive reviews and an enjoyable session for the both of us.

Also explained the purpose of a photo shoot. To convey a message. Most cases business cases - the eyes show confidence and the mouth shows approachability - friendliness. A customer, stockholder would want a CEO/boss to be confident yet have a sense of approachability. So a photographer needs to understand the goals of a shoot and express it through the client.

Yes, had a small fan blow her hair on the second shot. I mean, why not….

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Great post and beautiful images that show your point.