Newborn portraits
I had the opportunity last month to photograph Lauren and Joe’s newborn Jacob. He was about two weeks old when we did the session. He was young enough that he was still in that calm, sleepy, pliable stage.
We spent about 4 hours on and off during the session and came away with a ton of great shots. For most of the shots I used the 3×5 large softbox with a white foam board reflector.
More newspaper staff portraits
Here are more portraits that were taken recently. The setup was: one main studio light camera right, reflector camera left in close. One studio light with grid aimed at white background. One umbrella with sb25 at full power behind subject camera left for fill light.
Wanaksink Lake sunset portraits
I had a client hire me to take photos at their summer home on Wanaksink Lake in the Catskills. Going into the appointment I didn’t realize they wanted shots on the lake. When they told me that and got to the dock I realized I needed to think pretty fast. It was late in the evening and the light was coming in hard from the west. The first set of shots used the sunset as the backdrop. I needed to blast the with the lights in order to stop down the exposure on the sunset. For the second appointment, the sky was clear and I ended up using the sun coming in from the side. I was very happy with the results.
Baby Jacob
We had a great photo session last weekend with baby Jacob and his parents Joe and Lauren. We ended up with a ton of great images. We ended up mainly using the giant softbox along with a reflector. I am liking the one light setup more and more.
Here is my favorite image from that session.
Testing the new softbox
A test portrait with my new 3×5 softbox and grid. Shot with softbox and monolight 3 feet away from subject. Desaturated in post processing.
New Portraits
I was tasked recently with taking portraits for some of the editors and reporters at the office. Was able to get 2 done with studio light and 2 were shot with strobes. I was pretty happy with all four shots (but especially happy with the first). Setup info below:
2 lights. One large softbox camera right up high very close to subject. One gridded light on background. Large reflector camera left close in to subject.
2 lights. One large softbox camera right up high very close to subject. One gridded light on background. Large reflector camera left close in to subject.
3 lights. One sb25 on background. One in a small softbox camera right as rim light. One in umbrella as main light high camera left. One reflector camera right close in to subject.
3 lights. One sb25 on background. One in a small softbox camera right as rim light. One in umbrella as main light high camera left. One reflector camera right close in to subject.
Little Tommy
I recently had a photo session with Tommy, who just turned 1. One-year-olds are a lot of fun…but very very difficult to have sit still and photograph in a traditional setup. We spent about an hour photographing him. The photos turned out very cute and a number of them where he sat still we were able to get fantastic detail on his face.
I used 3 lights for this shoot…a key, fill and hair light.
Take a look.
Mr. Poppins – Self Portrait
Shot with 1 sb25 at 1/2 power bare in front of the subjects. I underexposed the background to give it a saturated look.
I ran and jumped off the hill toward the flash with the umbrella open to give the illusion that I was taking off and flying.
All about the timing of the jump.
Fashion portraits (clam shell lighting)
We shot a few fashion style portraits a few weeks back. Finally got around to posting them. I was THRILLED with the final product and the way the light wrapped around both of the subject’s faces.
Setup: Clam shell lighting. Used 2 sb25s and a reflector. One directly behind subject with a shoot through umbrella angled slightly up and a few inches behind subject. Second was in a shoot through umbrella angled down directly in front of (about 8 inches) and above subject. One reflector was held by subject at chest level.
I think it is safe to say these are my two favorite portraits I have ever shot.
Pet portraits
This weekend I had a client want a photo shoot for his pet chihuahua. This was the best behaved dog I have ever met. We have a great time and ended up with some wonderful photos of Ravi (the dog) and his owner.
Family photos
It was about time I got around to taking updated photos of my kids. Recently we ran outside for what was looking like a great sunset. Well, that didn’t happen, but I was able to get some nice photos.
Engagement session with Renee and Michael
A few weeks back I was able to spend time with Renee and Michael at the arboretum at Thomas Bull park. It was a beautiful day. Renee and Michael were getting married a few days later and we needed to squeeze in the engagement session since Michael was stationed in Texas and had just arrived in NY for the wedding.
They were both a pleasure to work with and we ended up with some wonderful photos. Look for some of their wedding photos in the next couple weeks.
First Communion
Had the chance to visit some friends in North Carolina last week for theirs son’s First Holy Communion. When we got to the house right before the party I was able to throw up the backdrop two light stands and umbrella’s in a matter of minutes. Got a few great shots too.
Beth Quinn Portraits
Had a fun photo shoot last week with local author Beth Quinn. She was kind enough to go along with a few of my more creative ideas for portraits…as well as do the standard head shots.
Thanks for playing along Beth….
Portrait experiments
I have a portrait session scheduled later this week and have the opportunity to get some very creative shots done. So I needed to test a few of my ideas before I tried them in a live situation. I saw this shot on the Strobist Flickr pool and had to try it out. Pretty simple really. One light up in the umbrella at full power.
I think it worked out pretty well, but will be trying to to use a second light for some weak fill light on the book next time.
This was also my Week 15 shot in my 52 week project.
Week 15/52 – Christmas light portrait with the black foamie thing
I wanted to try some creative portrait options this week. Went for a telephoto lens and some Christmas lights on this one. I was pretty happy with the results. I will be playing with a better telephoto this weekend and maybe my 50mm….for more of these shots and maybe use this idea for a grandparent portrait I am supposed to do.
Used on camera flash at full power and the black foamie thing (credit the name to Neil Van Niekerk) bouncing off the wall. Worked out great. I think this concept will work perfect for wedding portraits too. Thanks for the concept Neil.
Check back later in the week for more test shots and maybe the grandparent shot too.
New Self-Portrait (Week 10/52)
I was going for the Batman, superhero, James Dean sort of look.
4 lights. 1 sb25 camera right with 1/4 ctg gel off an umbrella. 1 sb25 pointed at white reflector camera left. 1 sb600 up high camera left rear of subject with full ctb gel. 1 sb25 snooted pointed at black background.
Post processed with a high pass filter.
Christmas Portraits
Ok, I know this is really really bad of me..but I finally got around to editing and posting our Christmas portraits….better late than never.
Eye portrait reshoot
I finally got around to reshooting Jason and the eye portrait. I was much happier with the results. Thanks Jason.
Winter practice
I wanted to spend some time last week practicing environmental portraits. So…that means out in the cold and snow. Normally I hate snow, but it turned out to work well and we incorporated a little in a few of the shots….
