Asking anyone to stand in front of the camera can be daunting. This is true even if they have substantial experience doing it. I have found that if you want someone to relax, give them something to interact with. This can be as simple as something to sit on or something to put in their hands.
The fourth outfit that Mumtaz brought was a printed white dress. Unlike the previous outfits this one was quite short so it was a good opportunity to show off Mumtaz’s legs. I brought in an adjustable stool for her to sit on.
I also gave her some props to work with. The camera is part of my collection has become somewhat of a theme in that I try to get an image each time with a different models.
The lighting did not change much from the previous shots. The main light was in 1.5 m octabox positioned camera right and at a 90° angle to Mumtaz.
The grid was placed back on the the 7” reflector that was positioned camera left.
All of the images in this post were shot with my Lumix G9. The settings were 1/200s f8 ISO 200. The focal lengths were at 24mm.
The second outfit that Mumtaz brought was a royal blue dress. This needed to be lit much more than the previous red outfit.
I brought in a 1.5 m octabox and positioned camera right and at a 90° angle to Mumtaz. This was a much bigger and softer light than the one used in the previous post.
The grid was removed from the 7” reflector and this was positioned camera left. In this position it acted as a hair light but also without the grid spilled on the background.
At the end of the session, I repositioned the hairlight. I put it on a floor stand behind Mumtaz, shooting upwards straight into the backdrop. This created definite separation and lighting pattern that I would not normally use.
All of the images in this post was shot with my Lumix G9 with settings 1/200s f8 ISO 200 with focal lengths at 24mm.
Mumtaz what’s the other model that had come to the portrait workshop held earlier in the year. At the end of that session, I had arranged for her to come to the studio. We could shoot under more controlled lighting.
She brought along a number of outfits. The shoot nearly lasted two hours that I will cover in this and the next three post. I have split the session into multiple posts because there were a number of lighting changes. I want to show the effect of these changes rather than confuse them in a long single post.
We started with a single light in a 7 inch gridded reflector positioned to camera left and at a 90° angle to Mumtaz. The grid was to control the amount of spill from the light onto the backdrop. This created a very dramatic light with strong contrast and dark shadows.
The disadvantage of such a small light source is that it is very difficult to get light in the models eyes unless they are looking directly towards it.
I shot all of the images in this post with my Lumix G9. The settings were 1/200s f8 ISO 200 with focal lengths at 24mm. The setting ensured that I had full control of the light while also giving me a good depth of field.
The focal length enabled me to shoot full body in my relatively small studio. The camera was tethered to the computer meaning that I could see them much larger than on the back of the camera. The computer also enabled my subject to see the images and make adjustments on the fly.
I used software developed by Panasonic for the tether. In addition to the memory card in the camera, the photos were transferred to the computer as they were taken. They were stored in a specific folder that I had said up Adobe Lightroom to monitor. As each image came in then appeared in Lightroom.
Lightroom does have a tethering function but at the time it was not available for my camera. I have also found it was not all that stable at the time I was shooting.
As I have mentioned before ideas for photoshoots can come in many ways. The concept for my Barbie shoot actually started when we bought a new treadmill. It arrived in a very large box that I realised was big enough for a person to stand inside it. That got the ideas flowing.
I had shot a model as a doll a number of years before. I did not want to repeat exactly the same concert. Then the idea of Barbie in a multiple outfits came to mind.
I knew that I needed someone who could embody the doll, so Devon was the obvious choice. Her acting experience meant that she could pull off the expressions I wanted.
I have a large collection of gowns so I selected a number for the shoot. But when Devon arrived in a colourful outfit, she had made herself, there was no hesitation that we would use it as well.
The shoot was relatively simple. I placed the camera on a tripod ensuring that all of the angles would be the same. I then positioned the box and took a series of images in each outfit.
As with the previous images on this shoot day, there was no need to change the lighting. The main light was in a beauty dish positioned above the camera. A second light was positioned camera right. This was shooting into a 7′ umbrella with diffusion to fill in the shadows.
Having shot the main images I now had to shoot the background plate. This had to be done in a toy store. Therefore, there was no way that I could go to a full set up including lights. Also I had to be somewhat inconspicuous so I could not shoot with my camera.
Fortunately everybody today carries the camera in their pockets so I used my cellphone. I knew that I did not have to worry too much about the resolution. The overall image would not be large enough for anyone to pick up the differences.
The boxes provided a very easy border in which to mask the studio images into the composite. I then had to some graphics to go over the front of the boxes.
The studio images in this post were shot with my Lumix G9. The settings were 1/200s, f10, and ISO 200. The focal lengths ranged from 26mm to 50mm. The setting ensured that I had full control of the light while also giving me a good depth of field.
The shoot was only in ever intended to be a bit of fun and I was happy with the results. Obviously, it would have been better if the box had been white. However, when you work with found props, you often don’t have the luxury.
The third series of images shot with Devon was a play with lengths of sheer materials. I love how you can create quite dramatic images using simple materials.
You can get even better results when the model simply plays with the fabric.
As with the previous images on this shoot day, there was no need to change the lighting. The main light was in a beauty dish positioned above the camera. A second light was positioned camera right. This was shooting into a 7′ umbrella with diffusion to fill in the shadows. The only change that was made was to drop the white fabric used as a backdrop in previous images.
All of the images in this post were shot with my Lumix G9. The settings used were 1/200s, f10, and ISO 200. The focal lengths ranged from 26mm to 50mm. The setting ensured that I had full control of the light while also giving me a good depth of field.
I entered the veiled image (above) into a camera club competition and it did very well.
At the end of the session I had my wife help me in creating a more dramatic image. I set the camera on a tripod. Then, I got her to throw the fabric while Devon moved her head.
Then in Photoshop I was able to combine several of the images to create what you see at the start of the post. By having the camera in a fixed position these composites are very easy to achieve.
In addition to the vogue idea Devon had also expressed an interest to shoot jewellery style images. These are typically close up as the purpose is to show the jewellery rather than the model.
She had brought along a number of pieces to wear and I added to them with a dragon ring that my wife had given me as a Christmas present. It made for a very interesting image.
In order to focus solely on the jewellery it is fairly common that the models do not wear anything that will distract from the items. Devon was happy to shoot topless although we insured that nothing showed in the images.
For this series of images there was no need to change the lighting. The main light was in a beauty dish positioned above the camera. A second light was positioned camera right. This was shooting into a 7′ umbrella with diffusion to fill in the shadows.
All of the images in this post was shot with my Lumix G9 with settings 1/200s f10 SO 200 with focal lengths ranging from 26mm to 50mm. The setting ensured that I had full control of the light while also giving me a good depth of field.
I genuinely believe that model shoots need to be full collaboration events. Therefore if a model is coming to help me with a concept I am more than happy to shoot whatever they want.
After working together successfully at the workshop in the previous post, I asked Devon if she was interested in helping me with a concept. I also asked her if she would had some ideas she would like. She told me she wanted to do something like a vogue fashion shoot. She sent me a series of images on Pinterest.
As we were going to be shooting several shoots in the one day I layered up the backgrounds to save time. Devon brought several outfits starting with a suit so we shot that first. In typical vogue style she elected to wear nothing under the jacket.
Beanie, our cat, loves checking in on studio shoots and as usual managed to photobomb into them.
Fashion shoots typically use punchy lights so to achieve this the main light was in a beauty dish positioned above the camera. A second light was positioned camera right. This was shooting into a 7′ umbrella with diffusion to fill in the shadows.
In addition to the suit Devon had brought some other outfits. They had a late 1960s vibe to them so we did a series of images using them.
All of the images in this post was shot with my Lumix G9 with settings 1/200s f10 SO 200 with focal lengths ranging from 26mm to 50mm. The setting ensured that I had full control of the light while also giving me a good depth of field.
In May 2022 my camera club was hosting a one day portrait workshop being run by Wellington commercial photographer Lindsay Keats. They were having problems getting models for the session so I offered to help them find some.
I posted a casting call on Wellington Facebook group and subsequently two models Devon and Mumtaz agreed to come along. Devon had experience as an actress and Mumtaz had modeled before.
The workshop was based out of the clubrooms which are in the grounds of the Gear Homestead in Porirua.
Devon 1/125s f2 80mm (63mm equivalent) ISO100
I had not planned on shooting but rather helping the others and assisting Lindsay. I had packed a portable backdrop and some lights which were set up in the clubrooms.
Lindsay is a Fuijifilm ambassador and when I got there I discovered that Sam from Fujifilm had also come along. He had brought with him some gear to play with. I immediately grabbed a GFX50s which is a medium format camera.
While we were waiting for everybody to arrive I noticed that Devon was standing in a pool of light. So I tested the ability of the camera to shoot indoors without flash. It was fitted with a f2 lens set at 80mm.
Devon 1/200s f2 80mm (63mm equivalent) ISO2000
With full medium format cameras, the crop factor works on reverse. The 80mm lens was the equivalent of 63mm lens on a full frame camera. I did have to crank the ISO up to 2000 but that did not present a problem.
When everyone had arrived Lindsay decided that we would actually outside and shoot under natural light. I only had to adjust the ISO on the camera.
1/200s f2 80mm (63mm equivalent) ISO100
Most of the participants stayed with Lindsay and one model. So I was able to take the other one away and capture them. This was also to guarantee them that they would get usable images.
I did have to share the camera so my final shots with Devon were back with my Lumix G9.
1/80s 24mm (48mm equivalent) ISO400
It was a fun afternoon and all of the participants enjoyed themselves. Devon and Mumtaz were excellent models and I arranged other shoots with them later in the year.
My style of photography generally involves one or two models and myself. Therefore, when the opportunity arises to shoot with other photographers, I will take it for the social aspect.
I saw a post on a local Facebook group. It was about a meet up starting at the Photospace Studios in Courtney Place. I was not sure what the plan was but I thought it was a good opportunity so I went along. The studio had been booked by a couple of the photographers who were practising their techniques. They are also arranged for several models to come in and were happy for others to join in.
The studio has a large bank of windows at one end. I took this as an opportunity to practice blending natural light with flash. While it had a number of backdrops and lights I was happy to let the others use that area.
I had taken my Godox V1 speedlight. I also took a small 26 inch soft box. I positioned each one to camera right every time.
The first model I shot was Natalia. We did a series of shoots images utilising the light coming in from the windows. As this was changing I was having to adjust the shutter speed on each image.
She had brought a white shirt. I asked her to wear just that to create a different look. All of the images in this post were shot on my Lumix G9 at f5 with ISO400. The shutter and focal lengths did change as shown against each image.
1/125s 36mm
Also present was Armish. I don’t normally get to shoot with a male model so this was a good opportunity. We did a couple of images of him initially with Natalia and then by himself.
1/125s 24mm
The final series of images where with Sean and Libby who were a couple and photographers as well. They were more than happy to pose for the others. It was good to be able to capture images of a couple who were comfortable interacting with each other.
1/80s 36mm
When I processed the images deal with several that looked much better in black-and-white than colour so that is how I presented them to them.
1/125s 24mm1/125s 24mm
All of the models appeared to have a good time and I got positive feedback when the images were sent to them.
As I mentioned in the previous post I love playing with reflections in camera and also water. After the practise session Sian joined me to do the actual shoot. She was not feeling the best but she was willing to try it.
The pool was constructed using a long length of black polythene sheeting and several lengths of 4 x 2 timber. The water was approximately 2″ deep. I placed a paving stone that was just below the water surface so that Sian appeared to be walking on it.
The test shots had shown that the best lighting position was two gridded soft boxes on either side, with a single softbox camera left. . To remove the reflection of the plastic, the fabric backdrop was run down into the water. The backdrop was well anchored as it was an outdoor shoot.
The camera settings were my usual when I wanted to control light and have a decent depth to the field. (1/200s f8 ISO200 using a 50mm equivalent on my Lumix G9).
The shoot only lasted 30 minutes and we shot a variety of poses.
The final images were pretty much strait out of camera except for removing the lights.
I was grateful for Sian’s help with the shoot and the images came out just how I wanted.
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