A magazine I work for a lot sent me to a clinic where they are specialized in x-raying dogs, and the vet above is well known in Sweden for being very good at positioning the dogs right, which is important, I have learned.
The assignment was for an article, and usually I try to deliver realistic photos using only available light. But, for some photos, it is nice to bring your own light and not have to rely on the dark skies of Sweden or the un-flattering light from fluorescent lamps.
Every now and then, I wish for more comments and more interaction on this blog (as well as the Swedish photo blog I post more stuff on). Sometimes I even complain that it is too silent here. Thousands of readers, but only a few comments.
Then, all of a sudden, I get this e-mail from a guy:
Hi Stefan,
I think reading your blog, the day before my first corporate assignment, may have saved my life
.
First of all, the clam shell technique proved the be very flattering for the sales and management team and they quite liked the results.
Secondly, when I entered the offices, I saw that all walls (no exceptions) were (very) dark grey and I was instructed to have a white background. Your simple trick of using white paper sticked to the wall, was all I needed.
So, thanks for that.
What can I say? Even if I don’t think I really save lives in my profession, it is very satisfying to know that with just by sharing a few tips, I can help others learning a thing or two just by writing it down and posting it here. The same way I learned studio lighting, and still do. By reading, and asking. And trying.
But, there has been an increase of communication I think, and that is fun. Maybe because I have posted things that are easier to comment lately, even if I really don’t know exactly how. It is a lot easier to comment on my Facebook-page, or even on Flickr, but that’s the way things are.
If you have any suggestions on how to make this blog more comment-friendly, please let me know. I would love to have more communication, and less just me talking.
Trying to control light in my small studio is something I wrestle with all the time. With white walls close in and a white cyc light usually bounce around everywhere if you don’t stop it.
In the studio, we have large bookends to block light, but I felt we needed something flexible that won’t take up so much floor space.
This will be the last photo from this portrait session I did for a guy wanted to get into the modelling business as a male model. Last I heard from him, he had signed for an agency so I guess the pictures did what they were for. Showing his potential.
First we started with a one-light setup using only a Profoto D1 250 Air and a Magnum reflector, together with a reflector for a little fill.
Very often my clients want photos taken in their office, but to make it look a little better, often with a stock photo as some kind of visual reference. Trying to imitate something very polished, sunny and designed, in an ordinary office has its challenges. Especially when the sky outside is covered with dark clouds.
That is exactly what happened to me lately, when shooting portraits for a client. We had just shot the ordinary portraits against a medium grey background in one of their rooms, when they asked if I could take a couple more. If I could use their office as background, they would be delighted.
