More Studio Portraits with Ophelia

 

I had the good fortune to work with Ophelia again recently and created a wide variety of looks for her beginning with this cute outfit of daisy dukes and a gray tanktop. I used a three-light setup with two gridded softboxes on either side of the camera and the third light was a small gridded spotlight high to the right used as a hairlight. I have included my favorite shots of this first look below:

A Few Words About Me

OK, maybe more than a few words. I feel as though my interest in photography needed a little more explanation, so I created a biography of my photographic journey.

I have been a photographer since I was seventeen years old. Since the first time I picked up a camera with the intention of documenting an event, and capturing a moment in time. And, even twenty years later, I am still in love with photography. I have dedicated my time to understanding the intricacies of exposure and composition, so that each session flows naturally. I have studied the use of flash to achieve studio quality portraits with or without a dedicated studio. I have become more experienced controlling light in my photography sessions to achieve a wide variety of effects. I know how the light works from different angles, and which modifiers to use to create the outcome I desire. I have been an artist longer than I have been a photographer and I still find joy in many other art forms. Through my college years, I studied figure drawing & painting, color theory, sculpture, and film photography with the darkroom as my playground. I found a passion for the process and a lifelong drive to create.

  

My style of photography is different from many others, in that I like having shadows in my pictures. I prefer when shapes are described with light playing against shadows. A single light shining from one side, leaving the far side in complete shadow is one of my favorites (content warning NSFW). Or a full silhouette with just a rim of light coming from behind to amplify the edges of a person. I also like combining the two concepts into one image. By directing one light toward the side of the face and a second light from behind on the opposite side aimed on a person's hair, I can get a beautiful portrait that glows against the background. I am not exclusive to this technique either, there are many occasions where a brightly lit portrait is just as flattering as a dramatically lit portrait.

Light is the paint I use to illustrate my portraits.

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.

Portable Studio - Living Room Setup

This is the second of a two-part photo shoot. The first was shot outdoors at a local park. Then we went inside to their living room to set up a studio using portable lights and backdrop. Moving some of the living room furniture into the dining room gave us just enough room to get everything set up.

Using a client's own living space is great, especially for smaller children. They are already comfortable in their own home, they just need to get comfortable with me being in their space. It also makes wardrobe changes simpler. There is no forgetting anything for your photo shoot. It's all in the next room.

Here is a selection of my favorite images from this shoot:

Outdoor Portraits

This is the first of a two part photo session with this lovely family. The second half of their photo session took place in their living room. I brought my studio to them by setting up a background and lights for them, in their own home.

Outdoor portraits can be very tricky to capture natural expressions and bright faces. I used a small light and a modifier to keep the light very natural looking. By using an extra light, I was able to turn them away from the sun which allowed them to keep their eyes open. We moved around the park and shot individual and group sets using sand, grass, and a tree as simple backgrounds.

Below are a few of my favorite images from the park:

New Maternity Photos for Christie

Maternity photography is one of my absolute favorite genres. This session was a baby-shower gift for a friend. This session was held shortly after I closed my studio but I am still able to get studio quality images on location. She didn't have a lot of space, but we cleared her dining room furniture and created a studio in her home. We were also able to include her husband and son to capture the memories she wanted to preserve.

Here are some favorite images from her session

Yes! I still take portraits

I have been asked a lot recently if I still take pictures for people. The answer is absolutely YES!

The main difference now is that I no longer rent a permanent studio location and I don't have to charge as much to cover operating costs. I will do favors for friends and trade services as long as both sides feel they are benefiting from the session. Now if I want to take portraits for someone, I will. I just bring along my portable studio kit and use any open room to create a shooting space and start your session.

For now I will continue using the name, Natural Images by Adam to describe my portfolio and document my journey into new genres and techniques as I continue to grow as an artist. Photography is still very much part of who I am.

I am happy to help you plan your next portrait session, wedding, or maternity progression. I have had the pleasure of helping many families over the years document milestones in their lives. 

As I build my portfolio, I am also looking for models to collaborate on new ideas. I love experimenting with dramatic lighting techniques to create bold and striking portraits. For more about me and my history in photography, click here.

Have Camera ... Will Travel

This summer, I moved out of my studio.
It was not something that I ever wanted to do.
I was simply unable to continue using that space, given my current budget.

I am not giving up on photography. I am also not selling off my studio equipment.
Given enough time and patience, I will be able to set up a permanent studio again in the future.

I am still scheduling portrait sessions, only now I have the opportunity to set up a portable studio in the homes of my clients. I have offered this service in the past, and have been able to provide beautiful results. For those unfamiliar with this idea, I bring a background support with a fabric backdrop to set up in your home. I then set up several battery operated lights to create an in-home studio for you.

I also shoot outdoor portraits in natural light as well as natural light enhanced with battery powered strobes. There is nothing quite like having your portrait shot outdoors with the addition of controlled light that  allows you to be part of your surroundings. When shooting with natural light by itself, you tend to get backgrounds that are blown out, or silhouetted portraits. With battery powered strobes, I can balance the light to bring you into your environment instead of separating you from it.

An additional service I have recently begun offering is lessons in photography lighting either as a studio setup, or learning on location. I will share my knowledge with you to help you understand the basics that took me years to understand. There are so many circumstances that can cause your camera to misinterpret the existing light, and a pop-up flash is not always the best solution. I can provide insight from my years of experience to help you eliminate bad exposures and improve your next photographic outing.

Erika

Erika is new to modeling but was willing to pose for me in a variety of setups at my studio. She brought some items of her own wardrobe, as well as utilizing several pieces from my boudoir case. We also raided my prop box and played with some of the hats and other outfits I keep at my studio.

I have found that the best way to help someone get comfortable in front of the camera is to give them directions, but not commands. Erika was great at taking direction and after a short time she was falling into some great natural poses without the need for me to tell her what to do. Especially as she started playing it up for the camera.

Narrowing a full session of images into a handful of favorites is a challenge in itself, but here are a few of my picks from Erika's time at the studio...


Click here for the full set on Eden's Edge Studio

Learn Photography One on One

Have you ever wondered what settings you should use on your camera but don't know who to ask? And when should you use a tripod or a flash? I am now offering one-on-one time to teach you techniques, composition, exposure, and whatever else you've been missing in your photography. Discounts are available for multiple lessons or group workshops.

Book a time with me using the links below and I will help you improve your photography after your very first lesson.

Hollywood Glamour featuring Cherry Brandi

Cherry Brandi came to me with an idea for a photo shoot emulating classic Hollywood glamour. She had a few samples of the type of photos that she wanted, and after studying them for a short time, I was able to engineer a lighting setup to match the style she wanted. They looked good in color, but converting them to black & white changed them into the vintage shots she was after.

I have worked with Brandi twice before, and each time we have come out of our sessions with so many great photos, its hard to pick favorites. This session lasted only half as long as our previous meetings, but produced just as many fantastic shots. I have selected several favorites to share here, but there are even more that will have to wait for another time...