First Published May 2nd 2018
Portrait Photography…What the heck have i got myself into.
I’ve been an Astroscape and Landscape photographer for a good while now, and last year, thought i’d dip my toes into Portrait Photography.
I felt i needed to expand what i could offer as a photographer, and i knew it would help me with other projects i wanted to do.
How i got into it.
First of all watching Youtube, There are so many people out there who do natural light and flash photography and give you hints and tips it’s unbelievable.
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My First Shoot with Nix Brown back in April 2017. This was my first real experience of Studio Photography. I felt quite awkward as i was unprepared for how any of this worked including the lighting.
Nix really was so easy going, it was a great first experience of studio photography.
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Join a local photography group. Most will make you welcome, and are happy to help with questions. I’ll highlight a couple of the groups i go to at the end of the blog. They have helped immensely with practical experience and building confidence.
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I decided to go to a studio night put on by xyz studio in Leicester.
Another eye opener for me, as the lighting was a lot more professional and i got a little guidance about angles, light positioning and general workflow.
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Soak it in like a sponge.
Watch everything, take it in. Look at where people put the lights for different effects, take notes, ask questions.
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This is the session i decided to really start branching out and learning a lot more. Late April 2017.
It was mentioned by someone at this studio session that i didn’t know anything about lighting setup, and i should leave it to ‘the professionals’.
The thing is he wasn’t wrong. All i wanted to do was learn, and this was the push to do it.
I felt this club was not the environment to do that.
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If you think it’s a silly question, it probably isn’t. Different people learn at different speeds and in different ways. Some like the theory side, i generally go towards the practical side. I’ve always liked to get in and do something to understand the basics, and just keep refining the process each time you do something.
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Minnie Milk. Burlesque Dancer and Pinup.
This was a studio evening at the Obscura Club, Leicester.
Went High Key with this shot.
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Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
We’ve all made them, every single one of us. It helps us develop, and understand. And hopefully, if you go to a supportive group or club, it will one of those things, where someone who’s made those mistakes already, will help.
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Starting to find my feet now. May 2017.
I began going to a weekly shoot with Click Group Shoots.
What i have learnt here really built my confidence and technique
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Studio and Location shoots. Getting an all round knowledge. This was lit with one speedlight in a 40cm softbox only.
My first experience of having to setup and position my own lighting.
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One from a local studio in Leicester. June 2017.
Having fun with doing this sort of photography now. Starting to learn new techniques and starting to get exactly what i want out of a shoot.
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Start doing your own thing.
Get out and do your own shoots with your own lighting. Don’t worry about mucking it up, because it’s all a learning experience. If your using a model, tell them what you want to do and why, and they will completely understand if you take your time. Everyone has to start somewhere.
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My First solo shoot with a fantastic model, Misty La Malice . March 2018. It took me that long to build up the confidence to know my technique, direction and lighting would be good. Very happy with this shoot.
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Don’t overcomplicate. Just build it up as you go.
Start with one light and a small modifier for portraits, then start building up for different effects and styles. Add in a hair light to give contrast from the background. Use the natural light with just a reflector, mix it up and play with what you have available.
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Eloise on location at Pirate Studios Leicester. July 2017.
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Develop your own style
This will always develop and change as you improve. Over time you will start to understand how you want to shoot, and you will start building up a good portfolio of images. It is good to try a lot of different techniques and styles.
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Any Location can be a shoot location.
March 2018 with Zoe at the top of an NCP carpark at sunset.
Just practising a few techniques i wanted to try.
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Practice practice practice.
The more you do, the more you understand and improve. There is no substitute for actually doing something. Take photos of your family and friends, build up your technique and experience.
Give yourself weekly challenges and make a situation as difficult as possible, and see if you can overcome those challenges. I have been doing this, but not as much as i should.
A recent shoot involving Holi Powder. I do really like a close crop, that still gives a feel for the environment of the shoot. April 2018.
Where i feel i am at.
I went in both feet first with my portrait photography about a year ago, and i’ve not looked back. Each shoot, each mistake, each great photo just drives me to the next shoot, client and project i want to do.
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April 2018. A small group shoot on the bank holiday weekend.
Different Locations and a great model.
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Pip The Gentleman. An absolutely great bloke and a lot of fun to shoot with. July 2017
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One from a blast of a night at Biscuit Studio in Coalville with the Photography Digest(ive) Club.
Tanya modelling with one of my custom built steampunk guns and hat. March 2018
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This is a little of what i’ve been doing over the last 12 months or so, and there is a lot more happening in the next 12 months and onwards. I will be putting up more posts about specific shoots, as and when i get round to doing them.
I’ll always be trying something different, but also doing the basics over and over again.
Right now, if you want a damn good portrait shoot, i can do it. I’m happy on location and in the studio.
I’ll always want to improve my photography, and will continue to work as hard as i can to do that.
The Main Thing
Enjoy it. Whether your shooting a family portrait, boudoir, pinup, landscapes, wildlife, just enjoy what you are doing. Enjoy the shooting, the process of editing and the people your working with.
Water Splash Shoot
A Quick overview of the kit i use.
There will always be lens, camera and lighting i want to buy, but you can do portrait photography with pretty basic kit. I’ve built up over the year and now have a nice kit to work with to give me different options.
50mm F1.8 Lens.
These are made for pretty much every camera make out there. The 50mm lens is usually a fantastic sharp lens and a good cheap starter lens for portraits.
Nikon D750 Full Frame Digital Camera
Everyone will tell you a different make and model of camera to go for. I’m not going to do that. Just going to tell you what i use, and that it is fantastic for all the jobs i want it to do.
Outstandingly light and portable. You can (and i have tried) put this in your back pocket. It has an interchangeable head for Fresnel lens and bare bulb. It packs a lot of punch and works in High Speed Sync as well.
An awesome light Very powerful and portable as well. The first one i picked up of the Godox range. Mainly because of the rechargeable battery, built in HSS trigger and portability.
3m air adjustable lightstand I picked up a couple of these and they are worth it. The old lightstands i had have hit the deck a couple of times, but these are way more solid.
godox light mount allows the use of a speedlight or any flash to work with bowens mount modifiers. This is a very common mounting system, so very useful to have the option.
Godox 120cm umbrella A big modifier which gives a really nice even soft light.
Beauty Dish I use this a lot. One of my favourites. Very versatile and, again portable.
Tokina 24-70 f2.8 Lens. I use an older version of this lens, and it is fantastic. Most of the companies that make this focal range of lens are pretty good now.
105mm Macro Bought for Macro, but a sharp portrait lens as well. a nice one to have in your bag.
There is more, but i think the blog has gone on a bit now.
Click Group Shoots Hold a weekly shoot in Leicester and put on some weekend specials as well, which are not to be missed.
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Jadah at a recent Click Group Shoot.
March 2018.
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From a Weekend Special Peaky Blinders themed shoot put on by Click Group Shoots.
An awesome day with some great people.
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Photography Digestive. A Studio and Facebook group based in Coalville that do a bit of everything. I will probably do a bit of a blog on a few of the shoots here. These guys are a very supportive and knowledgeable bunch. I am very proud to be part of this group.
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Chloe at a recent shoot at Biscuit, with Photography Digestive.
There was more than one model and setup this night, so i got the AD360 out to give it a shakedown. Used with a 42cm Beauty Dish.
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Please contact me if you have any ideas for shoots you want to get out there, and i will be happy to discuss your requirements.
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One of my favourites of 2017.
Zita is a great dancer and model. This shoot was a lot of fun.
September 2017.
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As always, have fun, stay safe, and enjoy shooting.
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