Professional Portrait Lighting
Lighting may be considered the secret sauce of good portraits and professional headshots. It can enhance, compliment, detract, and set apart one portrait from another, as well as one photographer from another. We all know how important lighting the area of photographing sunrises, sunsets, scenics, and landscapes. Without good light none of those will stand out as remarkable. The spectacular sunset photo is memorable primarily because of the rare and special lighting.
When it comes to portraits, the variety of lighting styles and sources can be mind-boggling. Daylight, flash, ambient, LEDs, room lights, reflective surfaces, overcast sky, spotlights, streetlights, overhead lights, white umbrellas, and softboxes are just a beginning. Exploring and learning how they can be used in getting good professional portraits can occupy a photographer for years, whether amateur or professional. Putting that knowledge into practice and creating good looking headshots and portraits is the sweet reward for those involved in the craft.
The mood and message of a portrait can be enhanced by the right kind of lighting. Determining the right lighting technique to use is both enjoyable and challenging. Some lighting styles work better than others. No one style is good for every person and every portrait. Look at portrait photographer’s work, and observe how adept they are in handling a variety of lighting styles.
Painters such as Raphael, Michelangelo, Francisco de Goya, Caravaggio, Leonardo da Vinci, and Albrecht Dürer captured the essence of their subjects through their artistry, use of composition, and masterful understanding and use of light. A good photographer also understand the good use of lighting and its many variations. Examine the photographers you’re considering with an eye to how comfortable they are on the subject of lighting. Good luck!
HOW DOES IT WORK?
STEP 1
FIRST TALK ABOUT AIMS, NEEDS, FLAVOR, STYLE, OUTFIT, ACCESSORIES, DEADLINE & COMPLEXITY. THEN MAKE A PLAN & ALLOW CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO UNFOLD AS WE SHOOTA plan or direction for the shooting session can be simple & straightforward, more complex and involved, or something else, depending on your needs for the photo. We collaborate to get good results.
STEP 2
THE STUDIO IS SET UP BEFORE YOU ARRIVE, DO A QUICK CHECK IN THE MIRROR, SHOOT A FEW TEST SHOTS, MAKE ANY NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS: THEN WE'RE READY TO SHOOT!When you’re ready, I’m ready. Our session is neither rushed nor stretched out unnecessarily. I describe how we aim for the goal, and keep a sharp eye on lighting, background, and wardrobe as we shoot. I coach and guide as we go. It’s my job to make you look good.
STEP 3
SHOOT, REVIEW IMAGES ON THE CAMERA, TWEAK, SHOOT ADDITIONAL BATCHES UNTIL SATISFIED WE HAVE ENOUGHThe preliminary edit on the back of the camera is an essential step. Some shots and expressions inevitably look better than others. Keep the good ones, delete the not-so-good ones. We shoot until we’re both satisfied we have good shots from which to choose.
STEP 4
CALL IT A WRAP WHEN WE HAVE A GOOD SELECTION, PROOFS & FINAL PREPPED JPEGS EMAILED TO YOU 1 TO 2 DAYS LATERViewing the proofs on your computer or device will give a truer indication of how they’ll look when used online, in profiles, and on websites and social media. You also have more time to look them over, plus share with anyone else if you care to do so.
WHAT’S IT COST?
STUDIO
LOCATION
ADDITIONAL CONCEPTS
CUSTOM PROJECTS
PAYMENT IS ACCEPTED AT END OF SHOOTING SESSION
6.35% CT STATE SALES TAX ADDED TO ALL TOTALS – UNLESS TAX EXEMPT, OUT OF STATE, OR RESALE