What’s Your Preference?

PhotoJunkieJen · #1 (**permalink**) 07-23-2009, 03:39 PM

Unfortunately, I have a bride on a very tight time schedule tomorrow and she has to do her portrait shoot in the middle of the day... outside. Ugh, I've warned her about harsh shadows but unfortunately it's a time issue. We've also only got a few minutes to shoot... like 45 tops. I generally like to plan for a couple of hours.

Anyway, I need help! I'm guessing the first thing is to find a shady spot to combat the harsh sun?? Any tips you can give to make this successful would be crazy appreciated.

kencaleno · #2 (**permalink**) 07-23-2009, 03:50 PM

Concerning portraits, It is better to use a non-directional (Diffused) light source, due to the gradual gradation of its shadow, which doesn’t mar the portrait. If you’re shooting outdoors, for the best modelling you will want the light to strike the model’s face from the side, at 45 degrees vertical and horizontal. First get out of the direct sunlight, either in the shade of a building, or under the shelter of a tree. This will result in your model being lit by a diffused, non-directional light source, skylight or reflected light from surroundings. If you position your model looking towards this light source , the face should be lit with soft, delicate light. All you need to do is to move your subject, or your camera, to get light crossing the face.. What you want to achieve here is to have one side of the face brighter than the other by two stops exposure, giving a 3-dimensional rendering to the portrait. In case there is no tree, or building, you may need to resort to scrims, reflectors or blacks to modify the light to suit. Scrims are sheets of translucent material that are held between the sun and the subject to diffuse direct light. Reflectors are panels of card or material that reflect light, providing a soft quality of light. Usually white, silver or gold in colour, light bounces off the surface and into the shadow areas of the face. Blacks are the opposite of reflectors and they absorb light, instead of reflecting it,(They actually reflect 10% of light)
Or you can use fill-in flash as a last resort if reflectors, scrims or blacks aren’t immediately available. Set flash to ¼ power for head shots at 4 feet, (1200mm) or ½ power for head and shoulder shots at 6 feet (1800mm)

greeneyedmonsterphotog · #3 (**permalink**) 07-23-2009, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhotoJunkieJen

Unfortunately, I have a bride on a very tight time schedule tomorrow and she has to do her portrait shoot in the middle of the day... outside. Ugh, I've warned her about harsh shadows but unfortunately it's a time issue. We've also only got a few minutes to shoot... like 45 tops. I generally like to plan for a couple of hours.

Anyway, I need help! I'm guessing the first thing is to find a shady spot to combat the harsh sun?? Any tips you can give to make this successful would be crazy appreciated.

A VERY shaded spot would be the best place. Where is the prettiest park or yard you have access to?

PhotoJunkieJen · #4 (**permalink**) 07-23-2009, 09:01 PM

My bride is being a bit complicated. She's willing to go to the park during the midday... but it's not shaded until later in the afternoon.

Later in the afternoon, she won't go to the park where it's shaded (which I've already had a successful shoot at and know the layout). She wants to go somewhere more open. Seriously. :|
I'm afraid no matter what I do for her, it won't be right.

Anyway, there's a small chance we may be able to do a late afternoon shoot... around 5-6. What's the best way to combat the orangey, late afternoon sun light? More shade?