Tag Archive for: studio

Some great shots from the open house

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The results from the mini workshop

Today the results from the mini workshop I did with our model Linda during our open house.
We used one background where I showed the differences between several of our Geekoto softboxes  and how to use them for some portraits with impact.

For a larger softbox like the Lantern it means using feathering and being able to light the background and the model without any problem, and for a smaller softbox that has soms great focussing like the Quicky it’s a matter of placing the light further away and aiming it much more precise. All softboxes/lightshapers will give you different look, but it’s also possible to create similar looks with most softboxes when you use the right techniques.

In this series I have them all looking almost the same, but when you pay close attention to the background you can probably guess which is which.

 

Behind the scenes during our open house

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Always wanted to see our studio?

Besides the workshops, our open house is the perfect opportunity.
It’s also aa great way to test our products with your own setup, and get advice for your specific situation, all in a relaxed atmosphere.
Of course I also teach a mini workshop during the open house to show my personal favorite setup and backgrounds.

During the open house we also filmed a small behind the scenes video.
Make sure to check fotografie-workshops.nl and our social media for the next open house.

 

A very glamourish photoshoot

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Digital classroom is a live “classroom”

But there’s so much more to it. When I first started digital classrooms a long time ago, the setup was completely different. In this blog, I tell you more, because this year is the 10th anniversary of the Digital Classroom. Thanks to our sponsors BenQ, Calibrite, Rogue, and Cascable, you can watch for free.

How we started the Digital Classroom

We began the day early in the morning with a webcam aimed at the makeup room. After applying makeup, we moved the camera to the studio for the shoot. Occasionally, I would also aim it at the screen for retouching. We had people watching from all over the globe, and sometimes, we lost someone because they fell asleep. It wasn’t because the stream was boring (it was) but because of the 8-hour streams and the time differences, of course.

See all our episodes and short explainer videos on YouTube

one of the first digital classrooms 

Present

Nowadays, we approach things differently. With the internet being much faster, we’re broadcasting in 1080P (maybe 4K in the future). Our studio features four different camera angles, which are live-switched with picture-in-picture scenes. This allows viewers to see the studio setup and the photos being transmitted. Of course, you can join us live during the broadcast to ask questions.

Digital Classroom has become one of my favorite educational tools, and this always motivates me to push myself and the team to create more engaging episodes. We’ve done dedicated product photography, pregnancy and newborn episodes, and soon, we’ll be shooting some motion.

Digital Classroom: “Glitter and Glamour with a Royal tint”

Today, I would like to share some images from the recent digital classroom episode featuring our model, Claudia.
These images were captured during the live stream, and three of them were also retouched during the broadcast.
At the bottom of this blog post, I will post a link to the recording of this digital classroom episode.

But first, let’s take a look at the results.

digital classroom Digital Classroom: Glitter and Glamour with a royal tint

I believe Claudia did an excellent job. 😀

I hope that after viewing the results, you’ll also be interested in seeing how I did the setups and retouching. So here is also the link to the recording.
Feel free to ask questions on YouTube.

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It’s all about angles

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Angles can make or break a shot

We probably all experienced it one time for the first time.
You have this perfect set or location, and you look at your images and you think “What went wrong?”
Well, it can be many things, but one of them could very well be the angle. So this blog is about angles

Now, of course, the first thing we have to look at is composition. But that is something for another day. Today it’s about angles.

During the workshops, we always try to talk a lot about techniques and why some images work and some don’t.
But most of all, why you should always try to push further instead of just stopping when you think “got it”.
When you always stop when you think you’ve got it, the road to improvement will be a lot longer. So, always push yourself further.
Although at one moment you’ll have to stop, of course.

So let’s take a look at how I built a shot during the workshop.

Model: Lisa.
And this was actually her first workshop. She has been the model for an earlier Digital Classroom about photographing in small spaces 

Photo 1

Nothing wrong with this shot.
We have one light with a colored gel shining through the pallet, and because it’s placed far away, we get the nice shadows.
On the other side, I’m using a large silver reflector from a distance for a very, very slight fill (hardly visible).
And from the right side of the image, I’m using an extra strobe for my main light.

The image is not wrong, and I think that when I started with model photography, I would have published it.
And that’s not wrong but it can be stronger. MUCH stronger.

Photo 2

Going slightly closer to the model and zooming out already gives me a much nicer and more unique look.
This is also one of the reasons I’m always using a zoom lens as a preference above prime lenses.
With a 24-70, I have almost all the different “looks” lenses can give me, except extreme wide angle and compression, which, both for my work, are nice but not necessary.

Photo 3

Now I’m getting somewhere.
Slightly lowering the angle makes the image a lot more interesting.

Photo 4

Slightly more distance and a slightly lower angle. It was now time to add some smoke (and use some Photoshop to extend the pallet)
Also, letting the light creep through is always fun.

We are almost there.

Photo 5

Very close and shoe very close to the lens for the “cool” effect.
Some smoke and more light are creeping through.
Between this photo and the previous one is not a lot of preference difference. I like them both, although the final one is a bit more intense due to the closeness of the model.

 

Conclusion about what you should know about angles

First of all, always think about composition.
But, always take into account the angle and the way you shoot it; this goes for everything from models to architecture and everything in between and outside. Choosing the “right” lens and angle can dramatically improve a shot.

 

Also want to visit a workshop (this is just one of the 4 sets we do during a day)?
Visit www.fotografie-workshops.nl