Soft Constant Studio Light

Two of the most asked questions are how do you choose your lighting? And how do you manipulate it? Sue “sheds some light” on how to create soft constant studio light that’s the warm, muted tone she’s going for. Watch her do this as she prepares for Caitlin’s shoot.

Items Used:

• Constant Light, Kino Flo
• Two Vflats (available at your local camera supply)

Key Things to Take Away:

• Make sure there is more light on the client than the backdrop, creating that contrast is key in keeping your client the main focus of the portrait
• Shooting a little underexposed can help you get that muted tone

Watch Sue play with the Kino Flow constant light with Felix Kunze while shooting Caitlin in a vintage outfit on a backdrop Sue painted!

Items Used:

• Kino Flo constant light
• White Vflats (available at your local camera supply)
• Vintage outfit: Top $12, Shorts $10, Skirt $32

Key Things to Take Away:

• When blowing hair with a hairdryer, always aim to the throat and not the face
• Move around your client, and your lighting away from the backdrop to get the appealing drop-away

Watch Sue work through this sequence of images from Caitlin’s shoot. Listen to her thought process on how to work through different poses for different body types, be assertive in your direction, and get a vintage-inspired outfit on a budget.

Items Used:

• Vintage outfit: Top $12, Shorts $10, Skirt $32

Key Things to Take Away:

• Be thrifty in your wardrobe finds. Don’t be afraid to buy white pieces and tea stain them.
• Different body types pose differently, work through what works with each client.
• Be assertive and confident when changing the pose. Language is so important, if you’re in control they will do just about anything
• This vintage look works well for bridal portraits, boudoir, or even children’s portrait with a vintage flair