My blog, although I don’t see myself as a blogger but as a Photographer I will try to blog some interesting material during the weeks.
Expect at least 2 updates a week.

Just a bit of hairspray

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Spicing a shoot up can be done in many different ways, add some smoke, water, flower but if you don’t have that available you can always opt for something that the model/MUA always has with them, hairspray.

 

I do have to add that the model will have some very sticky hair after this, don’t light a fire in the studio (especially close to her hair) and keep it away from the strobes. But if you take care (or in other words just use common sense) it can be a great addition to a shoot. Lighting it from the back will give you a little bit of extra pop to the spray.

 

In these shots I added a bit of Clarity from topaz (get it here http://www.topazlabs.com/716.html and use Doorhof99 for a cool 15% discount) to really make the image pop, something I think Clarity really is great for.

 

Model : Manon
Shot during the workshops in Eersel at Studio76

Manon October 5 2013 Eersel-53-Edit

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Simple props and weird angles

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Creating new ideas and looks is always a challenge.
When you start out often you will shoot following the rules, meaning a certain lens, a certain light setup etc.

 

Today a very simple light setup with some cool results, this series was shot during the workshops I taught at Studio76 in Eersel last weekend with Nadine. But most of all I post this series to trigger you to not over think your light, often the most simple light setup works best, but also add some small props which gives you a lot of options for expressions and posing, and finally…. think about shooting with a wide angle from different angles for a unique look. Having an expressive model helps a lot of course.

 

Point is that styling and the proper use of props/story telling will make a shot much more interesting than just placing a model with jeans and tank-top in the same scene.

Nadine October 4 2013 Eersel-170-Edit

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Model photography tips

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A small tip for starting shooters:

 

I get a lot of questions about finding models so let’s give a bit of attention to this topic.

 

1. Friends and Family
Believe it or not but these are often the best choice if you want to start.

 

2. Websites
There are many websites offering models browse through them and find one you like and mail/PM them.

 

3. On the street
If you see someone you think could model just slip them a card and do a QUICK explanation of what you do, don’t take too much time. I found out that quick works much better, just before that moment that the “model” would feel like her personal time is consumed by you.

Nadine Juli 27 2013 12802-Edit

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Workshops in Eersel at Studio76

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Teaching workshops on location is always fun, but it gets more fun when you are welcomed as warm as we were this weekend in Eersel.
Edwin the owner of Studio76 approached me a few months ago if I was willing to teach some workshops at his studio located a small 2 hours from our studio, this weekend it was time for these workshops.

 

Sometimes you arrive on location and are literally asking yourself “oops, what to do here” that’s why we always carry at least one of the Lastolite backgrounds, but Studio76 was a well organized and very modernly decorated studio. The Studio is also available for rent and I have to say if you ever need a studio in that area make sure to contact Edwin because you will love it, even after the first night it already felt like home. Visit their website at www.studio76.nl and make sure to check out their animated tour (it’s in Dutch).

 

The first night it was time for the seminar “Travel and street photography”
Day 1 contained two workshops that I normally teach in 1 day, but due to the huge interest we decided to cut down the time and teach the same workshops twice on day 1, the first group from 10:00-14:00 and the second from 15:00-19:00. This was repeated on day 2. Because there was a lot more interest we have already booked three more dates in 2014 which you can find on the net soon via our and the Studio76 website.

 

Today at the blog some images from Day 1 with Nadine.
Many thanks to CameraNu.nl for supplying us with the props 😀

Nadine October 4 2013 Eersel-7-Edit

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