New Equipment, New Portraits...

I ordered some new off-camera flash accessories just before the new year.

That accomplishes three things:

1. it gets me the new equipment I crave.

2. The new equipment gives my clients better photos.

3. I can deduct the cost from my taxes.

In this case, the stuff I craved were some EZY softboxes from Lastolite. They're 24x24". They fold up very small for transporting. They're light enough to take on location. They're durable, although kind of expensive. They're compatible and made for using with my SB-800 Nikon strobes.

And, they provide soft, wraparound light that complements a person's face.

Rachel Morgan graciously agreed to pose for me again. We did several setups with the lights. The shot above is with one EZY Softbox just off to camera right and fired by pocket wizards. The sun was setting at Boca Ciega Park and I positioned her so that the sunlight coming through the trees was hitting her hair, providing a great, natural hair light that gives dimension, depth and a bit more power to the image.

This second shot is at the same location, same setup, but with a different backround. She's looking directly into the light. The beautiful boardwalks at this park give some depth to the image, as well as a juxtapostion of a beautiful model and the rustic, wooden walkway.

These next two shots were done in the studio.

The one above is shot with a single 24" softbox with an SB 800 flash inside. It's positioned to camera left. A second SB 800 is behind the tri-fold room divider (doing secondary duty as a studio backdrop). It's got a red gel over it.

And, the last shot below is classic glamor lighting for a woman. It's a clamshell setup. There's one EZY softbox high and directly in front of Rachel. There's a second one low and pointing up at her. This image required almost no post-processing. Besides a contrast adjustment, there's not much else done to make this image appear as you see it.

These softboxes are ideal for me. Most of my shooting is done in the field, on location...weddings, events, portrait shoots. I can pack up my portable studio, drive to my shooting location and unpack and set up for the shoot in mere minutes.

Do you need new headshots? Modeling comp cards? Family portraits? Corporate portraits with power? Call me. 727.504.9425

Casting on Craig's List

I've never used Craig's List before, but I won't hesitate to use it in the future.

I had a great first experience by placing an ad there for models to shoot.

Model Rachel Morgan (click on any photo for larger view)
I had some free time from shooting over the holidays and wanted to work on my modeling photography. I've done some before, of course, but have been studying lighting setups courtesy of http://www.strobist.com/ and "The Moment it Clicks" book by Joe McNally. Both are great sources of information on photographic lighting. Both are also inspirational in their approach to photography and lighting.

As with any career, the times, they are a changin'. You must be able to grow, expand, improve and deliver superior products to your clients or they wont' be your clients for much longer.

With that in mind, I turned to Craig's List to recruit people who would pose for me while I tried some new lighting setups. In exchange, I'd give them a CD with some of the best images from the shoot to use in their own portfolios.

Rachel Morgan was the first person to answer my ad. Her response to my ad for "Free Modeling Photos" came in within 30 minutes of it being posted. I could have yanked the ad right then and had what I wanted: She has had some experience as a model, but she wanted to expand her portfolio.

She's 19 and a full time student in Sarasota. She's also a true professional who handles being in front of the camera with the confidence of a seasoned pro.

I have a feeling you'll be seeing a lot more of her somewhere in the public eye.

I'm almost embarrassed to tell you the simple setup for the top photograph. It's natural light, with a hair/separation, flash over her head. It's also a great headshot for opening doors.

I've seen a video of a casting director going through headshots. They go through them as rapidly as a Las Vegas blackjack dealer.

A vast majority of them are discarded rapidly. Why?

The photographs don't portray any personality....they aren't the kind of person they're looking for..or the photographs are less than top-quality.

If you're serious about pursuing acting or modeling, the headshot is the key to opening the doors for you. Don't try to use photographs that are shot by "my friend Willie, who's pretty good with a camera".

Hire a professional. It is the best investment in your career that you can spend.

Great headshots open doors that are notoriously tightly slammed shut.

Rachel's second shot above is lit with two umbrellas. One is high and to camera left. One is lower and to camera right. There's also a hair/separation light over her head.

This is an entirely different look for her, yet also a powerful photograph that will capture attention. I cannot help but think "Audrey Hepburn" when I look at it. It's a combination of the lighting and of Rachel's pose and appearance. Classic.

Rachel Morgan

Rachel wanted some 3/4 length shots for her portfolio, so we moved out to the front of my home. I think it's an effective, powerful photograph of an engaging model. Anyone want to hire her?

This photograph is lit with a mixture of natural light and a tungsten, continuous light softbox.

One last photograph of Rachel. Again, natural light with a hair/separation light. We shot about 300 frames in a few hours. She looked unbelievably beautiful in each and every one of them.

Ultimately, about 20 people responded to my Craig's List ad, but based on the results and experience I got with Rachel and Mike Hall (below), I was done. No more free photography for models and actors. I gained some confidence and experience with various lighting setups and some excellent portraiture for my portfolio.

Mike Hall is a professional kite surfer who has never modeled before, yet had a desire to try it.

He looks like he just walked off the pages of Central Surfer Dude Casting.

Mike Hall

Sunset at Indian Shores.

Mike is holding his kitesurfing board. He's lit from camera right with a mid-sized umbrella with a SB-800 Nikon flash firing through it.

He's actually much more intelligent than his appearance would lead you to believe. He's also warm, engaging and a very nice guy.

One of his desires for doing this photo session was wanting to acquire a sponsor for his kitesurfing career. He wanted photographs to send to potential sponsors and I believe that we shot some great ones. Looks and appearance are very important when a big company is looking for people to promote their products.

Mike, I think, is destined to be the poster boy/man for kitesurfing.

Mike Hall

This shot was natural light as the sun was going down. Mike's never posed before, but his confidence is high, rightfully so.

Mike Hall

I love the look of boardwalks like this one. I actually ride my bicycle on this boardwalk almost every day and think constantly what a great place to do some shooting. It winds through mangroves and ends poking out into the Intracoastal Waterway. Studio in a bottle, so to speak.

It's got color, foilage, rustic boards, soft light in some places. All it needed was a confident model to show up.

He's lit with a mid-sized umbrella in front and a bare bulb flash shooting straight up from behind him for a hair light.

This last photograph of him is his headshot. It's lit the same way as the shot above, but with the hair light is off to the side to give him some separation from the Mangroves.

Mike Hall

I didn't tell Mike what to wear for the shoot. I simply told him to bring a few different tops that he felt good in. This blue top is nearly the exact color of his eyes and the results are a dramatic, powerful headshot that shows confidence and marketability.

Mike and I have another shoot to do. We're anxious to do some action shots of him kitesurfing in the Gulf of Mexico. I'm planning on the action and power of these shots and how to shoot them for maximum impact. I do plan on shooting him silhouetted against a setting sun, as well as light him in the air with a strobe on the ground.

I've also ordered some new portable softboxes and plan on shooting Rachel again once these arrive.

I have to admit that I feel refreshed and invigorated again following these shoots and am quite anxious to work with some new models and actors.

I'll work with any aspiring actors/models for reasonable rates.

No more freebies, though.