This is the story of a senior portrait shoot… for Atlas. She’s graduating early from Park City High School, Class of 2018. She’s full of life, confident, smart and fun. I’m quite fond of her.
We began the shoot in downtown Salt Lake City, the ‘west side’ as they say. We were on 4th West somewhere between 7th and 8th South. She wanted a bit of an ‘urban and gritty feel.’
I like to look for texture and framing. We got both with these bricks.
The light was nice and soft. It was around 4 pm. So, we started off with some easy portraits.
I immediately noticed her AMAZING hair. Look for what stands out with your clients and then highlight his/her great features!
And those eyes!
My assistant (yes, it’s true.. in this case it turned out to be her mother – but use what you got!) was helping me with a reflector (the BEST photographic bang for your buck on the market) …to get the light to glow a bit.
Then look around at your surroundings and see what may make a great photo. Texture, reflections, color, scenery… use it.
Use windows or mirrors for great reflections… this first one also has some great leading lines.
Yes, I could have edited out the goo on the window but I thought it was kind of interesting. Personal choice. “Capture the moment” is SO cliché but do it anyway. Look at her hands. 🙂
Ooh, we see color! I told her to stand there and have fun. She did that nicely. Then I noticed the sunglasses over her head and made her wear MINE. I’m sure the eyewear of a 51 year old is not that great, however, she embraced it! And… notice the way she posed her leg? PERFECT.
Just having fun. A taxi? With a ‘native American’ head on the side? Lots of red. Yes, it’s a bullseye. And, ya got that little 45 in there to remember our political era! Ha!
And those ever-so-interesting railroad tracks. If ya got em, use em. Great leading lines and usually interesting background. Also, notice I played with the toning a bit.
I think your digital image is really only half done at the shoot. Use your LR and PS to play around! Tone! Fix! Edit! Process! Whatever you want to call it. Do it.
Okay, we are losing some light and we know we want to head out to the Great Salt Lake. But first, we need cookies. The BEST cookies ever. Shout out to Ruby Snaps.
We are heading out to the stinky lake. It’s starting to rain. No worries! Make it work. We start out with natural light and the reflector. Beautiful and soft. A totally different look than downtown.
I love her hair. And look how it mimics the natural grasses. Amazing.
Playing with toning again.
Okay, time to change outfits and pull out the lights! Here’s the scenario. Using my awesome Profoto B2’s which are completely portable and so easy to use. I make the background look dark by using a low ISO and a high shutter speed. Taken 5 minutes after the above scene but totally different look and feel.
Result with a blue toning.
Okay, clothes change again, to her ‘most favorite outfit’ according to mom.
Let’s shoot!
Behind-the-scenes photo… ugh. those funny yucky spots are rain drops. I edited them out of the final product but definitely annoying!
oh my, pretty sweet.
Catch them when they aren’t looking too. Love those. Look, she was snapping her fingers. 🙂
That hair! See how she’s getting comfortable and having fun! Me too!
Just stunning. Toning again. Tried to match the sky with her eyes. I kept her ‘messy’ look cause it works.
Next few. Just toning options. Trying to get a sunset feel even though it wasn’t really happening.
One more focus on the hair. I just kept seeing how it matched the grasses. And, toning again. Changes it completely.
And, yes, the real outtakes? Me. Looking pretty awful but pretty real. Always have several pairs of glasses on my head.
The best compliment I could get? Received this just today from Grammy. THANK YOU! Damn. I love what I do.
Hi Julie: