Costumes, Props and Accessories for your Studio Photography

Something that is often overlooked and you might not think to include is placing props into a photo… take this photo above… if I just shot Morgan standing there it would have been just another photo. But taking that black shower curtain and draping it over her head added a new dimension and gave the photo a voice… that photo now has emotion and evokes a sense of peace.

So consider scouring through your house and consider picking up a bunch of props. If you take portrait photos for clients in your studio, having props there make the situation a less boring process for many people and having silly stuff for them to dress up and play with can be a great way to loosen everyone up and inject a little fun into the situation. Even if the ultimate goal of the shoot is a serious portrait, starting off with some funny props encourages your subjects to relax, become comfortable with you and be themselves.

You’ll also want to consider some more practical props as well. Such as a few pieces of stylish furniture you can quickly move in and out of the scene. Anything you can do to break the typical mould of studio photography will help your photography stand out.

If you are just shooting for your portfolio and for the experience of taking photos… take a trip down to the local costume shop… they have an abundance of costumes and cheap accessories you can pick up to enhance your photos. I am doing that next week. I will be picking up a replica dress from the movie, "The Seven Year Itch" and photographing a model with a fan placed beneath her so we get the blown dress look. While the photos are for a client, I also intend to have a little fun and try some new ideas.

Check back tomorrow when we address the main subject of your studio set up… lighting. There are a variety of lighting options, each coming with a different price tag and allowing you the creative control that will separate your images form the average photographer.

Please check out our lighting workshops that we hold 8 times a year. http://www.photographers-lounge.com/canadian-workshops/lighting-workshop-series/

Umbrellas, reflectors, softboxes... essential tools for your studio

So, now that i have you thinking about the space you would want to use for a home photography studio, and gave you some information on backdrops... lets look at lighting tools...

There are a few basic tools you can use to modify your light no matter if you are using natural light, flash, strobes or constant lighting. I could get much more indepth, but I figured we should look at the basics first to et you started.

Photoflex 5 in1 reflector

Reflectors are a great tool whether you are in the studio or shooting outside using abient lighting to light your subject. Reflectors do exactly what you would think; they reflect the light. Reflectors come in multiple sizes, can be white, silver, gold, black, or come in a multi disk kit where one reflector will have all these surfaces in one.

I would tend to go towards a multi reflector as it gives you all the necessary surfaces and somes in one convenient kit... they are also easy to stoare and collapsable so you can easily take them with you.

They also come in a variety of sizes and shapes. A search online will show you what options are available. Chances are you will be shooting without an assistant so you might want to look at a square or rectangle reflector. Thce and position than the circular ones. As for size of a refelctor for a studio... go with something larger than a 40" square... it casts more light on your subject that the smaller reflectors.

If you have been looking at various lighting kits might have you wondering whether you should go for an umbrella or softbox setup for your studio.

So which is better? There’s no absolute solution to this question as they both have pros and cons. Both essentially modify and filter light to make it softer and less harsh when it hits the subject.

Photoflex silver lined umbrella

Umbrellas are usually cheaper and fairly versatile. They often come with a reflective cover that allows you to shoot light into the umbrella and have it bounce back out or simply filter the light right through the material with the cover removed.  They come in different sizes and can be purchased with different colored canopies, each effecting light.

Umbrellas can spread light out over a wide area and are therefore great for large rooms or groups of people. Finally, umbrellas are quicker to setup and tear down than softboxes.





Photoflex strobe softbox


Softboxes tend to be a little pricier but they allow you to focus and control your light in a small area a lot better than umbrellas. These are perfect for when you’re shooting a single subject or are confined to a smaller area. Softboxes also make for much less distracting reflections than the shape you’ll get from the umbrella.









Photoflex Grid for Softbox

Light modifiers can be attached to both your umbrella or softbox. Modifiers can be diffusers, grids, egg carton style modifiers, etc… they take your lighting to a new level and should be something you consider when you get more experience with using a lighting source to photograph a subject.




Most professional photographers would prefer to have a few different sized umbrellas or softboxes to be used in various situations. Softboxes for example come in a variety of sizes and depth; each used for different techniques.... soft focus for just head shots, large, even lighting for models that are standing... the applications are numerous and you should consult your sales person at your local camera shop to get more information about what is right for your needs.

But if you have a limited budget and are just getting started, umbrellas are a perfect first step. check out Photoflex's website to see the variety of products that you can choose from.

A few other essentials for your home studio...
1 - fans to circulate the air or to use for effect in your images
2 - a low playing radio to create some ambient noise. Music creates a better mood.

Come back tomorrow when we discuss props and costumes for your model.

How did the photographer take that photo?

 

I have had a few emails asking how I took this photo since it went up on my Canadian Sigma gallery this month so I thought I would write a quick tutorial on how to achive this type of image.

But before I begin I have to give credit where credit is due... Rick Sammon, one of the Canon Explorers of Light, is where I learned how to take this type of image. I invited Rick up to run a seminar and workshop in Canada for my company, The Photographers Lounge. During that seminar I watched him instruct our students how to take this type of image.

Gear Used To Take This Photo 
Photoflex StarFlash® 300watt strobe - you can also use a speedlite as well.
Photoflex medium softbox - A softbox with a recessed front diffusion panel should be used for optimal light. This will allow you to control the light better than you would receive with an umbrella.
Black backdrop and backdrop stand
Nikon D7000
Sigma 24-70 f2.8

Camera Settings
F-stop was f/10
Exposure time was 1/200th of a second
ISO was 200

You need to experiment with subject positioning and the strength of the flash you use to get the shot you are after. But as a starting point... position the subject slightly in front of the soft box and have your model look straight ahead. The softbox is positioned so that it is facing opposite to the direction that the model is looking. Please see the diagram below for an idea of positioning...