Photo shoot for Make-up artist

[SaraJane]

Ok, so a friend has asked if I can do some photos for her to use for her portfolio. These are the examples she sent me of what she likes:

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

So these look like they're all taken in a studio with lighting etc. I on the other hand only use natural light. I don't have lighting equipment. She wants a white background so I would just hang some white material up as a backdrop outside and was thinking of having it in the late afternoon bc I love that light. Will I be able to get the same effect??

Any tips??

I will be using my Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 lens.

What material is best for a white backdrop??

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by SaraJane

Will I be able to get the same effect??

No. Not really. Look at the lighting, the highlights, shadows, the direction of the main and and fill. There is a lot going on there that window light isn't going to be replicate...even with an army of reflectors. Then there is the background...for it to be white, it needs to be properly exposed - in this case it needs to be equal to or greater than the main light - that's not possible. Without additional lighting on the backdrop, a white background will be gray.

Originally Posted by SaraJane

Any tips??

See if you can work with your friend to come up with an equally pleasing but completely different approach using the natural light your comfortable using.

[SaraJane]

Originally Posted by zona5101

See if you can work with your friend to come up with an equally pleasing but completely different approach using the natural light your comfortable using.

Yeah, I guess that's what I'm meaning to ask. I know I can't recreate exactly those pictures. But what she wants isn't about the lighting. She just wants some shots that showcase the makeup, the skin is nice and smooth, white background. So what I'm really asking is, can I do a good job of it in natural light?

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by SaraJane

Yeah, I guess that's what I'm meaning to ask. I know I can't recreate exactly those pictures. But what she wants isn't about the lighting. She just wants some shots that showcase the makeup, the skin is nice and smooth, white background. So what I'm really asking is, can I do a good job of it in natural light?

OK maybe... If you had to have a white background and only had sunlight I would suggest you try this: put up a white seemless or other white background that will be lit by direct sun. Place the model several meters in front of that so that any wrinkles/imperfections would be out of focus and no shadows from the model or rigging would fall on the background. You would want to rig a scrim to prevent the direct light from falling on the model. By blocking some of the light on your model it should also ensure your background is brighter than the subject and create the white background you want. You should have a reflector (or two) (and an assistant) available in case you needed to punch up the main or fill shadows. That would be my approach under the constraints given.

Additional thought...the scrim can be a gazebo or awning that you can shoot through. place your background on the far side, the model on the front side. bam. practicallly no gear except the background and the reflectors.

[SaraJane]

Thanks for your help!!

I'm doing it at my friends house and she has a little outdoor patio area with cover so I should be able to somehow work it out there. Need to get a reflector...

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by SaraJane

Thanks for your help!!

I'm doing it at my friends house and she has a little outdoor patio area with cover so I should be able to somehow work it out there. Need to get a reflector...

If you're on a budget, white foam core / project boards will work file (art supplu store) Or even white poster board although it doesn't hold up as well as form core.

If you are going to buy a reflector by a big one. a 20" reflector is not going to be very useful. Ideally, you want a reflector as big as your subject so doing full length shots you want one about 5' high. Most reflectors aren't that big because they would be unweildy...a 42" or 50" might be just the ticket.

[SaraJane]

Well, did the shoot!! We're all very happy with how they turned out!! Got lots of pics, I'll share a few of my favorites.







How do you think I did?? Any tips for improvement for next time??

My friend was happy anyway. She said they were exactly what she was after and asked if I wanted to do some more!

[SaraJane]

bump!!!!!!

[private]

Sara,

These are all lovely. However, there are a few things I would do differently. And I am totally nit picking!

In the second one, the eye on the left is out of focus, you just needed to step back a few inches or close your aperture - just a tad. In the first and second one, you could duplicate the layer and play with curves and levels, so you can "create" a white background, and then erase back what you liked in the original - that way you won't have soft edges around your subject.

[CiiVii]

I don't want to sound mean, but I really don't care for the model. The posing is really lackluster and her hair looks sad and limp. Pic #2 is really nice, but in the other two it looks like she'd rather not be there. She needs to go Tyra Banks on us and be fierce or something :-P