This month my challenge was to shoot an out of focus portrait well. That is in the featured image as you see, but I did want to try and capture a few more that conveyed the ‘constantly in danger’ motif many post-apocalyptic movies have. Check out my full archetype series here! May the light be with you. Follow Save
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As my biased title reveals, I truly enjoy this lens. Unlike the nifty fifty, the praise surrounding the 85mm 1.8 is well deserved in my opinion. PROS – Very flattering for portraiture – The quality is excellent on both cropped sensor & full frame – Affordable CONS – Chromatic aberration – Focus is occasionally slow – Heavy The 85mm has been deemed THE portrait lens. And for good reason. This focal length is not so close that you make your subject uncomfortable, but far enough away to still hold a conversation & create flattering compression. I’ve used this on my cropped sensor for years (made the focal length around 128 which was bokeh-licious) and on my full frame this past year. I love that it consistently performs well in various situations. The biggest disadvantage to this lens is the chromatic aberration when shooting out on bright days. Purple fringing is unavoidable and must be fixed in post. Sometimes it takes a while to get the auto focus just right and this is a weighty lens due to all that glass. Currently this is my favorite lens & I definitely recommend picking it up because the […]
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Next to portraits, fashion (or more accurately style) is my favorite subject matter to shoot. Whether you’re shooting your own outfits or other peoples’ here are some tips! If you’re shooting yourself you’ll need… A tripod Camera with a self-timer or remote shutter 35mm-50mm lens (avoid wide angle because of distortion & telephotos because you’ll have to stand further away which will make previewing more difficult.) Patience It would be helpful (though not required) to have a camera that has an articulating screen or a way to connect it to a different screen so you can set up your composition quicker. Setup Once you’re at the location, set up your tripod facing your background. Many like to shoot in front of a wall because it makes focusing easier. Finding a wall that compliments or matches your outfit is usually recommended too. Turn your camera to portrait orientation & take a few test shots. Settings In order to get your entire outfit in focus, you’ll need to have a smaller aperture. 5.6-8.0 should be just about right. Due to this however, you will need to have adequate light. Keep your ISO low and make your shutter speed […]
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There’s nothing quite like seeing an aesthetically pleasing outfit for me. The majority of my style inspiration comes from the countless people that post their looks online. Here I’ll narrow them down to my 5 favs. Pinterest This was beyond obvious right? Not only am I able to search for specific looks, I can also quickly save them to my style board for later reference. This is my fav site of all time and I spend (probably) too much time here. Style Bee Not only do I love Lee’s images, I also love her style as well as her blogging voice. I really like seeing what she does with her 10×10 challenges & how she styles one piece multiple ways. Death-by-elocution This is a tumblr that has an endless supply of minimal fashion goodies. I particularly appreciate the consistency of the photos. They all feature a faceless person rocking a few key pieces in some tried and true poses. Tarmarz I found Tara through youtube years back & love the way she (and her photographer friends) capture her looks with the environment. Un-fancy Caroline is definitely known by many thanks to her capsules she started […]
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In this fast paced world we live in, it’s always smart to have a plan ahead of time when you’re preparing for a shoot. In part 1, I’ll talk about what I do before shooting a client’s headshots. Typically, someone has reached out asking me to take some shots for them. Whether it’s for their acting website, model portfolio, or professional profile images online, I follow the same process. Date/Time Figuring out a date in which to actually go out and take the images may be the hardest part. With different schedules, I try and pick a day I have off and at a time later in the day (after they’re done with work or class.) I make sure to allow myself at least an hour as we may move to a couple locations during the shoot. Location I pick a place we both have been to before & that is relatively close to where they’re coming from. In this case, I’d rather keep things easier for them so that they may focus on getting their headshot done. Attire If a client ever wonders what to wear, I suggest picking their 3 favorite tops that […]
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This month I may be cheating a bit by reusing a previous challenge (silhouette) but I don’t care! These challenges are supposed to be fun, not restrictive, so I’m going forward with them even if they recycle techniques. This was from an impromptu shoot that I didn’t initially plan on making a challenge, but found some real gems. I learned that sometimes some of our best work comes by accident when we’re just out shooting for fun. Check out my favorite here! May the light be with you. Follow Save
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If I had to pick only 1 way to light my subjects for the rest of my days, it would be natural light. Though artificial lights like flash & softboxes can be useful when continuous control is required, I still find the quality of light provided by the sun to be the most appealing. I’d like to share the different types of natural light as well as a couple pros & cons for each. Natural light based on location: Window light (the easiest way to use natural light. Simply place someone beside a window and you’re set) Pro: located in most buildings & easy to access. Con: Can cause a harsh shadow on the opposite side of the subject. Open Shade (having a person under the shade and facing towards the sun) Pro: Gorgeous shaping of facial features and soft shadows. Con: I honestly can’t think of any! Closed Shade (when your subject is not only under a shaded area, but also when they are facing away from the sun) Pro: Even light without harsh shadows. Con: Flare is a possibility which may wash out your image. Backlit (when your subject […]
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Much like any other professional setting, there are a few universal guidelines to abide by. Presentation, preparedness, articulation, & confidence are all paramount when having someone in the field critique your work and/or consider you for a position. Here are a few tips to help you next time. Presentation It seems obvious, but dress to impress (especially for an interview.) Even though this is a creative field, it’s still important to look put together. Dressing professionally shows the interviewer that you take this opportunity seriously and respect them for sparing some time for you. Your portfolio should also be top notch and ready to view with no torn/dirty/disheveled bits. Preparedness Do your research! Look up this individual/company’s work. Pick out certain aspects of it that you like or have questions on. Write down those things to bring with you so that when they ask if you have any questions you will have some you’ve really thought about. If you wish to display a digital portfolio instead of a printed book, bring your own laptop or tablet fully charged & ready to go. There’s nothing worse than expecting the reviewer to find an electronic device to […]
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Over time, you have probably learned many fail-safe methods for a successful photograph. When I first started, I abided by many of the following rules: stay in focus, use the rule of thirds, refrain from cutting off your subject’s limbs, maintain even exposure, among others. It is helpful in the beginning to really get a handle on the technical aspects of an artform so that you can work more efficiently later on. Here are a few “rules” I continuously enjoy breaking with some examples. Cut that subject up! Deciding what to include in an image is more important than being afraid of what’s removed if it makes that image stronger. If this means amputating someone, so be it. Make that subject feel like they’re in a J.J. Abrams film! Oh lens flare. The technique that has grown so popular it’s actually less of a thing to avoid & more of a thing to embrace. There’s something inherently mystical about the golden glow it provides. Center that subject! Something they teach every visual artist in every medium is to avoid putting the focal point in the middle. I say bump that. Centering a person reinforces symmetry as […]
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I’ve chosen voyeur to be the challenge this month & incorporated that idea into my “Candid Creature” shoot. This character is inspired by woodland fairies or sprites and tries to capture a lighthearted innocence. Click here to see the rest from my archetypes series! May the light be with you. Follow Save
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