Lifestyle

It's been a while since I did a photoshoot that was just to work on my ideas.

I wanted to produce the type of images you see in those lifestyle magazines included with the Sunday papers. The glossy suppliments.

It's not easy to find a good location, studio sets look too staged and a lot of houses don't have varied enough areas to make it interesting. I found a great model who had access to the perfect house; it all seemed to click.

You know it's going to be a good shoot when you both synchronise quickly and there is no initial awkwardness.

The garden is massive and seemed to go on for ever. With so many areas, with different looks.

The dogs were brilliant as well. Varying their poses from looking at Rose and then the camera like pros. Even looking away into the distance to keep it all looking natural.

The sun breaking out of and then disappearing into cloud made it tricky, but we worked to make sure  the scene was exposed correctly, filling in with flash when needed.

The house has an incredible number of rooms, again everyone a little different.

We could have continued shooting for a lot longer, next time I'll allow for a longer session.

The final room, didn't need extra lighting. I wanted a moody shot, lit by the window.

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The last photoshoot of 2018

The last photoshoot of 2018. And it was really productive, as it always is with a good team. They both had clear ideas about what they wanted, and came well prepared. You always have to adapt a bit if you're not in a controlled environment like a studio. But I think that adds to the challenge.

The plan was for two looks; one a bit edgier than we had previously shot and the second more editorial.

Xandria's mum found the location, a good call considering the weather. It's so much nicer working in the warm.

 The first setup wasn't particularly well lit, a dim stairwell, with one window. I think it worked for the theme though. I used a speedlight to add a bit of punch to the lighting. It was attached to a remote trigger and placed in a softbox. I try to use off camera flash as much as possible, it gives more control and options.

The second setup was completely different; against some big windows. It still needed the softbox to balance the background exposure and to give some depth.

We have started a search for a location for the next shoot.

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No photos at the weekend.

Today was a first for me. I got told I couldn't take photos, and had to leave a location. I did check the website beforehand, it said commercial photography needed a permit, this is a hobby so no problem. But oh no, the jobsworth (JW) had to throw his weight around.

I arrived and took pictures of the location, JW didn't like that. He told me I couldn't take photo commercially, I said it's only a hobby. Not convinced he loitered close by. I'm not sure what his problem was, maybe a "big pro like" camera meant I could only be a pro photographer. When Sam arrived JW's spider sense went into overdrive. He marched over and told us we needed a permit. And that would only give us a weekday pass, no photography was allowed at the weekend. Again I said it was just a hobby and there wasn't a commercial angle. He then said if you post on Facebook etc that was marketing and wasn't allowed. I had to laugh, I had seen plenty of pictures of this place on social media. It seemed to me the location would be benefiting from any marketing.

It was a weird situation, a tourist location that you can't photograph and certainly can't post on social media.

We left and started shooting just outside the walled off area.

 We chanced it for one sneaky shot with me on the other side of the fence and Sam inside.

Caught by JW, he then compared us to children. So it wasn't all bad.

Which one do you think looks better, the black and white or colour version?

Then one as we left the park.

I haven't photographed many men so it was a change to have to think about different angles and poses. Especially when JW had made a great location off limits.

But even with the change I liked what we achieved, and I had another photography experience.

What a tourist would have thought had they tried taking some pictures and been marched off, JW even threatened to call the police. I'm sure they have more important things to do.

At the end of the day no-one died, the structure didn't collapse or suffer any damage and I got some good photographs and a story to tell.

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Waverley Abbey photoshoot

I am always looking for interesting photographic locations and new people to work with. It's great to work with someone many times, but it's good to keep meeting and connecting with new people.

I found Waverley Abbey and a model I had wanted to work with was not too far away. It was arranged some time ago, the model Michelle hadn't, at the time modelled there. By the time our shoot arrived that had changed. Which was a good thing, she had some ideas about where to go, but best of all she was keen to explore more areas.

I arrived a bit early so I went for a walk to check out the site. I had a quick walk around the ruins and on the way back to the small car park I took some pictures of the ducks on the river.

It is such a peaceful place, and not too busy. This meant the size of the car park wasn't too much a problem. When I arrived I took the last space. I wondered where Michelle was going to park. But I needn't have worried, no-one was staying very long. If there hadn't been a space for the car I would only have had to wait five minutes or so and someone would have departed. When Michelle arrived there was plenty of space, so the shoot started straight away.

We started near the bridge, Michelle had no hesitation stepping into the river. I think the crop from the full length pose at mid calf works well, but the shot wouldn't have been possible without the paddling.

The rest of the shots contrasted Michelle's curves with the straight lines of the ruins.

I couldn't resist another headshot, a simple clean shot, that I hope shows a connection with a relaxed model.

It really was a great weekend with this shoot and perfect weather for cycling.

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Nikon D810 and a photoshoot

It was finally time to try the Nikon D810, it arrived from Hire a Camera on Friday, in preparation for some weddings later in the year. The intention being to get use to it.

The shoot was with a Hana, a model I hadn't worked with before. The shoot I had organised with a model I knew fell through. It gave me a chance to work inside. The original plan was to shoot by the Thames. But considering the weather was not as nice as it had been, the change in plan worked very well. And the 8th floor roof terrace was a bonus.

So what are my thoughts on the D810?

First there is memory. If you are going to use the largest RAW size; and why wouldn't you? A 32gb card gets you 394 pictures. And if you are backing up to a second card. That is a lot of storage. I have seen wedding photographers offer 600 or more pictures. So the number they must take has to be considerably more. It's a big jump up from my D700. I feel stupid admitting I didn't factor it in to my plans. I have a 32gb and an 8gb in both CF and SD and a 16 in CF format so only 689 pictures. I have never had a card problem, or lost any pictures to an accidental deletion, but if it did happen on the big day doubling up on the cards to provide a backup would be money well spent.

The shutter is as quiet as the reviewers say, if you set it to Qc. The standard setting is nearly as loud as the D700, which is surprisingly loud compared to my old cameras, the D70 and 90.

For me the improvements are not going to compel me to upgrade just yet. My D700 has a resolution sufficient for my needs. Having an immediate backup of my pictures isn't a concern. Focusing is still too centre weighted, being little better than my present camera. I know it's a technical limitation with the location and size of the mirror, it's something a mirrorless cameras don't have. Nikon are working on this technology, do I wait or not? The big question about changing will also be whether they change to lens mount. If they do, meaning I would have to buy new lenses, it could be time to jump ship to maybe Sony. They have full frame mirrorless cameras with lenses to match already. So second hand examples will be available. I never thought I would be contemplating this type of move.

The next wedding will mean I hire the D810 again. Second hand they are too much for me to justify buying at the moment.

Here are the pictures from the shoot. The look was lifestyle, editorial. Hana got the outfits right, the room suited my plan, and the roof terrace was a bonus. Although being eight floor up it was very windy and cold. We didn't stay there long.

 

Then just to show you need to keep your eyes open for possibilities, the stairwell and lift lobby were useful locations.

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Location shoot April 2018 update

The shoot could not have gone better. All week the weather report had said it would rain. Even the morning of the shoot I was thinking it might have to be postponed. I'm really glad it wasn't.

The diffused light was brilliant, it meant the light was soft and flattering. The grounds of Rosie’s house suited the theme well.

And then the sun came out and created a beautiful backlight/hair light, causing Rosie's hair to really shine.

Then when we changed location and Rosie into a white outfit, we needed the soft light again. We weren't disappointed.

Moving away from the house gave a nice contrast between the red brick and white outfit.

There are so many more pictures I could have used in this blog, really spoilt for choice.

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