1. Lighting ControlIn the studio when I click my first test image before turning on any lights the image is completely black. What does this mean and why would I want that? Because each stroke of light that strikes the image as I build it is deliberate. The light on the subject, backdrop and any props is completely controlled. This is what I mean when I say I'm building up the image, it's a similar process a painter would have building a finished painting. It's deliberate brushes and strokes, of both light and shadow. This is the reason I call this style Fine Art Painterly Portraits. Click Read More to Continue Reading 2. Background Control and CoordinationI choose a backdrop according to several things. Your clothing color and skin tone, the mood of the portrait, and whether it will be a color or black and white image. For color images I try to create a color contrast as discussed in the previous blog post. For Black and white, it's all about texture, do it fit well with your wardrobe or is it overpowering the clothing? The backdrop sounds like a minor thing but it deserves a lot of attention as it's literally the canvas upon which the rest of the portrait will be fashioned. 3. No Light Stand Ever Blew Over in the StudioShooting outside can be fun but on location there can be perils. When shooting with lights and modifiers our nemesis is the wind. It's best to have an assistant to hold on to the light stand so it doesn't blow away or tip over, but sometimes assistants aren't available or cancel. In the studio there is no danger of the wind kicking up randomly. Once the light stands are secured there is no danger of them getting blown over. This may seem silly or trivial but one of the things that helps a shoot is confidence bought by peace of mind that everything on set is going to stay set up as you designed it. In short, it's less to worry about. 4. More Focus On the Subject- That's You! The backdrop is meant to compliment but not overshadow the subject. That means the portrait is all about you and everything in the portrait is there to support and highlight you. I concentrate on expression and style as well as flattering poses. If I had a nickel for every time I saw a tree growing out of someone's head in a park, or green skin from the reflection of the grass or trees, or deep unflattering shadows because of bad lighting conditions, I could buy a nice new camera. I prefer to shoot in studio because I can control every aspect of the portrait so the end result is an image that showcases you, your personality, connection and story. Many of the most famous images of our favorite celebrities or movers and shakers are done in studio, and there is a good reason why the best photographers would choose to do that with all the resources at their disposal. Comments are closed.
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AuthorDarian Rundall, Fine Art Photographer Archives
March 2022
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