Living Room Studio for Christmas Portraits

My parents were in need of new portraits of themselves to share with family members for Christmas this year. Once we agreed on a day where we were all available, I brought my studio cases to them and set up my lights and backdrop in their living room. I had about five feet from left to right for the width of the room with the sofa on one side, and for length it was about ten feet from where I could stand to my backdrop stands. Not a large studio shooting space for any photographer, but we decided that full length poses would be impractical, so we focused on 1/2 to 3/4 length poses. We started with my hand-dyed fabric backdrop and some simple poses both standing and seated. 

I photographed both my parents individually as well as together. I also shot portraits of my brother and sister and my nieces and their friend who happened to come over unexpectedly. Once we were finished with the fabric backdrop, I brought out my seamless white paper for some high key closeup portraits. The white paper is not wide enough for multiple people, which is why I only use it for individuals. I rearranged my lights several times throughout the session, moving them closer or farther and up or down to change the direction of the shadows. My kit for this session included two umbrellas, one large soft box, a home-made strip light, a collapsible silver reflector, two backdrops and backdrop support stands.

I Offer Quality In My Photography

"TULIP" © Adam Telford

I don't take on many photography jobs anymore. I have set my priority as quality over quantity. For me its all about the quality of the content rather than having a  higher volume of photo sessions under my belt. I like to spend time thinking through and planning a photo shoot, rather than just put up a light and snap a few portraits. I will scout a location days or weeks in advance, check the weather report if we will be shooting outside, and even consult a sun-calculator to see the direction the sun will be shining during a certain time of day. I put a lot of effort into every photo shoot before I even take my camera out of it's case.

Dining Room Studio Setup for Kristie and Her Girls

I have photographed Kristie and her girls before, and it is so much fun to photograph them as they grow up. Watching them change in photographs is a privilege and is a big part of why I enjoy taking portraits for others. This session was set up in her dining room complete with a low hanging light fixture which we tied up higher to the ceiling. I brought a white paper roll as well as a full length black fabric to use as backdrops during this session. I set up with four lights this time using a large soft-box on the main light and a white umbrella for the second. The third and fourth lights I initially set up facing the white paper in order to get a nice bright background. I also added a square white reflector below the main light to help fill in shadows. All the portraits using the white background were shot this way. I included a set-up shot below, but the space was so tight, I couldn't get all my lights in the wide-angle setup shot. That didn't stop me from getting some beautiful images though.

I changed things up a little bit with the black fabric by putting the two background lights into my DIY-made rim-light modifiers. The soft-box and umbrella were brought closer, and the white reflector remained in place to fill in shadows. In the final closeup portraits I brought the main soft-box to the center of the room with the white reflector tight up underneath it with a very small gap between the two, which is where I was shooting through. The two rim lights were aimed at their hair and the white umbrella I kept further back and to the right of the camera to add  more dimension to the reflections in their eyes.

Below are a few of my favorites from this session.

Living Room Studio ::: Family Portraits

After premature labor and delivery prevented us from holding a maternity photo session, we were finally able to schedule a family photo session when the baby was four months old. He was born two months early and stayed in the hospital for nearly as long. Two months after coming home he had his very first formal photo shoot. To keep things as simple as possible, I arranged to bring the studio to them in their own home. We moved the coffee table and a few chairs from the living room into the kitchen, and then I set up a fabric backdrop on one end of the room along with a few strobe lights to complete the location studio. 

I brought a few small props with me including the alphabet blocks which spelled out the names of the two boys, my small white step-ladder for sitting and climbing, and the soft white blanket used to photograph the baby. All this fits in the trunk of my car and is accessible for anyone who wants to schedule a session. I have more props, modifiers, and backgrounds which I can bring on a case-by-case basis, depending on the desired outcome of the photo shoot. If you are interested in scheduling a session with me, you can contact me by following the link below the photos. 

Headshot Lighting Setup

This session focused on the play of light and shadow as it travels across facial features. I have included a wide-angle setup shot for the final portraits with placement and modifiers labeled within the image. Power settings were adjusted up or down depending on the dramatic effect I was trying to achieve in each portrait. Please also note that the exposure settings for each setup shot may be altered from the finished portrait to allow for better visualization of the lights and modifiers within my shooting space.

When is the best time to take maternity photos?

::: If you're looking for the quick answer its 30-32 weeks :::

In my professional experience photographing pregnancies, the best time to plan your maternity photo session is when you are 30-32 weeks, which is  approximately 7 ½ months into your pregnancy. At this time, the baby's gender is typically known and can be utilized in choosing colors and props for your session. The size of your tummy increases the most in the third trimester, and for most women at 32 weeks, it is symmetrical and round. If you wait until your belly is larger, the baby tends to sit very low or rests on one side creating an asymmetrical appearance. You also don't want to wait too long to schedule your session in case of early delivery. By taking your photos earlier in you pregnancy your energy will last you through a longer photo shoot. My maternity sessions typically last between one and two hours with multiple wardrobe changes and lighting adjustments. 

My New Open-Air Studio

When I was arranging a portrait session with Dylan and Melissa, it became clear that we would be unable to find an indoor location to hold a photo shoot. I knew I wanted more that just natural light portraits, so I simplified my kit even further than usual to include two cameras, two lights, and a shoulder bag for my backdrop. My usual kit includes a hard case for holding my light modifiers and stands, a separate bag for backdrops, my backdrop stand bag, and my camera bag. An extra case for props can be brought along if the need arises. I still prefer the control an indoor space provides, but it is no longer a necessity. I can create a studio within minutes of arriving at a location.

We agreed to shoot in a local park along the river, and shot some portraits at a pond using the natural landscape as our background. For those shots, I alternated using one light, two lights, and all natural light. We then walked the nature trails until we found an area just off the main path with enough space to set up a backdrop without being interrupted by passers-by. A light-weight backdrop support  with a fabric backdrop and two lights created my brand new open-air studio. The part I like best about the images shot using this technique is that, until you see the wide-angle view, you wouldn't know the images were shot outdoors. Can you tell the difference?

I had a very simple setup for my lighting. I placed one light on my left hand side with a plastic diffuser that softens the light like an umbrella (without the bulk and kite-like behavior in the wind). My second light was set to my far right without a plastic diffuser, but using a blue gel coating that gives a coolness to the rim light you see on their hair and shoulders. With the shaded location, I was able to achieve very dramatic shadows by using the main light at a higher angle and from the side. The rim light helps to separate them from the black background and offer some definition on that side of the image. To amplify the dramatic look in some of their individual portraits, I turned off the rim light so that the shadow side of their faces merges with the background.

I have included several set-up shots taken during this session so you can see how I was able to achieve these looks. On the behind-the-scenes shots I also include a break down of my equipment and settings for anyone who is curious about my techniques.

Below are samples and behind-the-scenes shots from our first two shooting locations. We continued along the nature trail taking more shots along the way, but I will save those for another post.
Enjoy!

Revisiting Maternity Favorites with Chenisse

I am looking forward to new photo sessions and opportunities to provide beautiful photos to new clients. One of my personal favorite subjects to photograph is maternity. Whether it is fine-art or a photo-journalistic style, capturing the moments in a woman's life as she is transforms into a mother is a pleasure and an honor to be made a part. I like to capture the emotional interaction between a woman and her unborn baby.

As an artist, I am a trained observer who gently directs classic poses which help her be more natural without feeling self-conscious or awkward. My goal is to create images that go beyond snapshots and would not feel out of place in a coffee-table book. For anyone who is seeking a photographer to document her pregnancy, please contact me through the link at the bottom of this post.

In the mean time, I am revisiting my work from a progression series of maternity photos with re-edits and new favorites. Every now and then I go back through sessions from years ago and I am drawn to different images than I had initially culled into my favorites. I continue to learn about and experiment with new editing techniques. In my revisits I find images that fit well into these new, varied techniques and am able to apply them. This brings to light new and expanded perspectives within my portfolio.

Below are many newly edited selections I have added to my portfolio. Enjoy!

JC Penney Spring Fashion Show

JC Penney hosted a fashion show for their Spring collection at the Animas Valley Mall on Saturday, April 11, 2015. I volunteered my time and my photography skills to document and share this event. In total, I shot over 300 images from start to finish. I have chosen two images of each volunteer model to share with you here.

There was a great turn out for both the volunteer models, and support from the public who gathered at center court to watch the fashion show. The photos posted are low-resolution, but may be shared with friends and family. For high resolution images or prints please contact me to purchase.

Please follow this link to visit my facebook page.


Thank You for visiting and click below for the photos:

Fire Spinning

 

My brother, Joe, has recently taken up the hobby of fire spinning. To get these photos, I brought two strobes with me and put an orange colored filter over them to keep them from contaminating the orange glow of the fire with the traditional white light of a flash. I slowed down my shutter speed to allow the spinning of the ring of fire to show up in the exposure. A tripod is an absolute must for a session like this. I triggered my camera with a remote to eliminate any shake I might have caused by pressing the shutter manually. The spinning fire was exposed first, followed quickly by the flash to freeze his movements and so you can see who is doing the fire spinning. There were a few shots where the flash did not fire because I did not allow it enough time to fully recycle/recharge before the next shot. In those images, the flame is clearly visible, but his face is shrouded in darkness. I anticipated this effect, and like the effect it offers. I just wouldn't want an entire session shot this way.

Before we started shooting with fire (and before we lost daylight) I set the lights and adjusted the power on each unit to allow for the lighting effect that I wanted. I used a small strobe with a grid and orange filter above and behind where Joe would be standing. My second light was set inside my DIY strip light and placed to the right of my camera position. With the orange gel and the size of the light modifier, I had to push this flash up to full power. This also is what kept some of the shots from getting a full exposure. When the flash is set this bright, it takes longer for it to recycle. I also wanted to get the shutter speed right before we started playing with fire. Joe owns a double ended light saber replica, so we started spinning it and adjusting the shutter speed faster and slower to get different levels of light blur. We ended up in the range of 1/3 to 2/3 of a second. While that doesn't sound like its long enough, with the staff spinning it is long enough to create a full circle light blur.

Check out my favorites below including a bonus animation at the very bottom of the page: 

Bizzell Family Portraits

Family portraits can be difficult to get for anyone, but when you have a special needs adult child, it takes more preparation and careful timing. It has been years since this family have had a portrait including each family member. I was more than happy to come to them and photograph their family.

For this session I was able to set up in the basement. I prepared the backdrop and lights and brought in the dad and other children to be ready before the mom brought in the adult daughter. I stood at the far end of the room away from the family, and used my zoom lens to get up close. I started snapping away with my camera and it was about ten seconds before the daughter realized what was happening and started to shy away. She may only be in a few photos with her family, but that is an accomplishment we could only have hoped for going in to this session. Once the family photos were done, we continued to take individual portraits and combinations of the children and parents. I have added a few composites in the mix as well.

My favorites are included below: 

Wyatt at Six Months - Location Studio Setup

I photographed Wyatt and his parents when he was about one month old last year. Now he is over six months old and sitting on his own. I brought my lights and backdrop with me and set up in a living room space with hardwood floors and a lot of windows. I had a few hiccups with my lighting, but I was able to tweak the settings and pull out some great images. Wyatt sat very well for nearly twenty minutes just watching all the fuss that was going on around him. He needed a few breaks in between his outfit changes, and after a nose-dive into the floor. I moved between sitting and laying down on the floor to be at his level in order to better interact with him. I was able to capture a wide variety of expressions from him with the help of his family, who were all doing their best to get him to smile; so I have to thank them for making my job so much easier.

Below are my favorites from this session:

Family Room Studio Setup for Angela & Hank

I have shared several times about closing my studio and working with whatever space is available to shoot photos. Today was another example of how not having a studio does not reduce the quality of portraits I can make. A studio is nothing more than a space to take pictures, and today it was in a family room with low ceilings. I brought my studio kit, complete with backdrop and lights and had a working studio setup within fifteen minutes of arriving.

In order to get the best expressions from the kids, we had to work quickly. Shooting a few individual shots of them, and rotating them in and out of the room to be photographed with the parents, grandparents, and auntie. I used two large umbrellas for the entire session, and brought in a third light for some of the smaller group shots to add a little more contrast to the portraits.