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Tag Archives: CT Model Photographer

September 17 Lighting Workshop Update

14 Wednesday Sep 2016

Posted by Bob Harrington in Uncategorized

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Tags

CT Actor Photographer, CT Headshot Photographer, CT Model Photographer, CT Photography, CT Photography Workshop, CT Workshops, Interfit S1, Interfit S1 Monolight, Location workshop, Nikon, Photoflex, Sony

Hi Everyone,

Here is an update to yesterday’s post.  I forgot to give specific details.

Location: Courtyard behind Shubert Theater in New Haven, CT.  This area is isolated from foot traffic and very graphic so we’ll shoot in a fashion/editorial style.

Date: September 17

Cost: $100.00

Time: 11-3

Look: fashion/editorial

Model TBD

Gear:

Two Interfit S1 battery monolights

Pocket Wizards

Sekonic Light Meter

Umbrellas and grids to show how to use the most basic gear to get amazing looks

Location image: you can park in the Crown St garage or on any adjoining street:

screen-shot-2016-05-31-at-10-18-12-am

For more information, call or text: 203-540-8821

Bring your cameras as this, as always, is a shooting event!

 

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The Importance of Styling

08 Monday Aug 2016

Posted by Bob Harrington in Uncategorized

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Beauty Headshot, CT Headshot Photographer, CT Model Photographer, Headshot, Model, modeling, natural light, NYC Headshot Photographer, Sony, Sony A7 II

Hi and welcome back.

I took last week off during the lazy days of Summer.  I’ll be posting only a few times a week until September and the kids are off to school.

For today, let’s take a look at the importance of styling.

If you are a going to a photoshoot, no matter who you are or what your need, styling is very important for a few reasons:

  1. You look great after pro pampers your face and hair
  2. It makes the photographer’s or retoucher’s job so much easier when post processing
  3. If you are a model, male or female, and you can do your own styling, you will sometimes get hired over other models who can’t do this.  So as budgets shrink, learning to do it yourself is beneficial.

Now on to hair, makeup, and nails.

For hair, if you are doing a concept shoot or beauty shoot that requires you to have crazy hair, then keep it simple and clean but add body so if a fan is added you have the volume to move around.

For makeup, stick to neutral tones that enhance your eyes and overall tone.  Again, unless you are doing something specific, keep it simple and elegant.

Nails are a pet peeve of mine.  Keep them clean, manicured, and use a neutral or light tone color on them so they disappear in the image.  Don’t arrive to your shoot or job with broken nails or chipped neon purple nails.  If your hands wind up in the image, you’ll be happy you had your nails done and ready for the shoot.

Here is a proof of a shot I did a while back.

Notice how the tones of her lips, face, and around the eyes are even and neutral.  Her hair has had a blowout at a salon so that there is volume to it, even though you can’t see too much of it.  But most importantly look at her nails.  They are in great shape and the color on them blends with her skin tone, so they disappear in the image and don’t detract from her face:

_DSC8161

Because her skin is evenly toned, her hair is controlled with product, and her nails blend perfectly, retouching is easy.

Here is a final retouch done by my retoucher:

_DSC816111_rt

If you are learning to style yourself, here is a guide I got from InStyle Magazine that will help you choose colors for your skin tone:

Headshot Makeup Copy

That’s it for today.  Till next time, happy stylin’.

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Natural Light; Natural Beauty; No Photoshop

14 Thursday Jul 2016

Posted by Bob Harrington in Uncategorized

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beauty, Beauty Headshot, CT Beauty Headshot Photographer, CT Headshot Photographer, CT Model Photographer, CT Natural Light Headshot Photographer, Headshot, Model, Model Photographer, modeling, Natural Beauty, natural light

Hi and welcome back.

I’m heading to Boston this weekend to teach The Headshot using all small flashes, but recently I’ve become addicted to natural light, natural beauty, and NO Photoshop.

Here is a pic I pulled from the archive that totally exemplifies that look.

Stacey worked for me a while back at a workshop and we shot in late afternoon sun.  This time of day, also known as the Golden Hour, is best shot right before, during, and right after sunset.

This shot was taken just as the sun dipped below the houses to camera left.  The light bouncing off of the sand, as we were on the beach, coupled with the cool background, produced a simple shot without any external modifiers.

When I shoot this kind of look, I choose these settings:

Aperture Priority between f/4 and f/5.6

ISO boosted to give me a good working shutter speed.  I have no issues going to ISO 1200 or more to get a shutter of at least 1/125 so everything is sharp.

Also, I’m into natural beauty.  This image had a contrast adjustment in Capture One and that is it.  NO PHOTOSHOP at all.

_DSC7853

While speed lights and strobes are awesome, why pay for and lug all that gear when natural light does the job every time!

That’s it for today.  If you are coming to Boston, I can’t wait to meet you!

Till next time, keep it natural!

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Shoot Through Umbrella Outside

06 Friday Nov 2015

Posted by Bob Harrington in Uncategorized

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CT Headshot Photographer, CT Model Headshot Photographer, CT Model Photographer, CT Photographer, Elixxier, OCF, One Speedlight 16 looks, Set A Light Software, Speedlights

Hi and welcome back.

While going through some old files, I came across a portfolio shoot I did a few years back and thought way a great way to end the week than to have a post on using speed lights outside.

For the initial test shot, I used the natural light.  Here is my test shot, without any flash or modified light:

_DSC0682

I liked but didn’t love the shot, so I added a speed light and shoot through umbrella for to add light on my subject but try and not overpower her in the natural light.

Here’s my lit shot:

_DSC0683

Notice how much better the image is with just a small key on the subject.

I used a single speed light with a Photoflex 45″ shoot through umbrella for this shot.

Exposure:

1/200 @ f/5.6, ISO 400, WB Daylight

Both of the above shots are proofs out of the camera, no retouching.

Below is my BTS shot.  This was one of the rare occasions that I remembered to shoot the BTS!  Notice how simple my setup is to get the shot.

_DSC0672

Not to be outdone and wanting to use my new Set-A-Light software, if I forgot the BTS shot, I can build one in only a few minutes using Set-A-Light.

The background is pretty cool, and even though it doesn’t match what was in real life, it is a good way to produce a setup or BTS shot simply and easily in software.

Speedlight and Shoot Through Umbrella

Shooting speedlghts, especially with umbrellas, is a fast and easy way to add light to your scene and also learn lighting when in the studio or on location as the setup doesn’t require much work at all.

That’s it for now.  Till next time, get outside and shoot!

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Delaware OCF Workshop with Camera’s Etc

23 Thursday Apr 2015

Posted by Bob Harrington in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Camera's Etc Workshop, CT Model Photographer, Delaware OCF, Delaware Workshops, Expoimaging, Model Photographer, Nikon, NYC model photographer, OCF Workshop, Phottix, Rogue

Hi and welcome back.

I have a full schedule for the next few weekends with everything from basic OCF to multi-light and glamour and my next workshop is this Saturday in Delaware.

April 25 2015

Camera’s Etc, 165 East Main St, Newark, Delaware

I’ll be teaching OCF using Rogue Flashbenders, Convertible Umbrellas, and the simplest gear to get great results

Cost: $75.00

Time: 12-4

You must register with Dain at the store, call 302-453-9400

Model is Brittany:

Screen Shot 2015-04-16 at 11.26.34 AMJoin in the fun if you are in the Delaware area!

Hope to see you there.

 

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Shooting the 40’s Hollywood Glamour Portrait with Speedlights

14 Tuesday Apr 2015

Posted by Bob Harrington in Uncategorized

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40's Hollywood Glamour, BW Hollywood Glamour, CT Headshot Photographer, CT Model Photographer, Expoimaging, Hollywood Glamour, NYC Headshot Photographer, NYC model photographer, Phottix, Rogue Flashbenders, Rogue Grid, Speedlghting

Hi and welcome back.

One of my signature looks is the 40’s Hollywood Glamour Portrait.

I developed this look using speed lights and Rogue Flashbenders a few years ago and use it in my professional work and teach it extensively.

One of the most enduring and uniquely American photography styles is the 40’s Hollywood Glamour shot.

Expoimaging Rogue Flashbenders

Phottix

Here is the gear:

3 speedlights

Phottix Ares triggers at workshops; Phottix Odin for my own work

1 Small Rogue Flashbender

1 Large Rogue Flashbender

1 Rogue Grid

And that is about it.

The key to the look is hard direct light with the commonplace shadows of the time: Loop Light, Paramount Light, Rembrandt Light.

The other commonplace look is a 3 light setup: Key, Hair, Back.

Here is my basic setup for the look, remember to aim your speed lights down beyond 45 degrees for the sharp shadows:

Key is a Small Flashbender rolled into a snoot

Hair is a Large Flashbended rolled into a snoot

Back is a Rogue Grid, usually 25 degrees

lighting-diagram-1428885194

In my initial setup, I set all my flashes to Manual Mode and 1/4 power.  I test shoot my exposure and then adjust each light to taste.  Normally, my key is set to 1/16 power and the hair and back remain at 1/4 power, but each person is different so this is just a start point.

My exposure is 1/200 @ f/5.6 or thereabouts.  I try to stay to 5.6 for enough detail in the face but still have the back go out of focus.

Speed lights don’t have modeling lights and any model light feature on any trigger really doesn’t give you enough light to work with, but this is the beauty of shooting this way: you don’t know what you are getting till you shoot.  I like the mystery here.

Always set your exposure in color to view and check for clipped highlights.  Black and white captures don’t show all of the file information and my may clip highlights in b/w without realizing it.  Then I swap to b/w in the camera.  The look is all about shadow and tone, so why not shoot it in b/w?

Here is the initial shot out of my camera, perfect exposure and no clipped highlights:

_RVH3991_originalAfter I’ve gotten exposure and light setup done, I shoot. I try to shoot multiple looks and move around my light setup so the light hits my model in different locations and changes the look on her face without changing the light position.

Then I head to Photoshop where I clean the photo, remove stray hair, blemishes, etc, sharpen it selectively, and then apply a light Glamour Glow, all still while in color.

Notice the Paramount or Butterfly light under her nose: perfect!

_RVH3991Once I’m satisfied with the overall look and feel in color, I swap to b/w.  I have been using actions for this and love either Totally Rad Bitchen B/W or Kevin Kubota the New Black and White.

However, a simple b/w desaturation and add a bit of contrast and a vignette and the effect is the same.

Here is the final:

_RVH3991_bwKat has that dreamy, alluring, faraway look of the Glamour portrait, as if Kirk Douglas or Montgomery Clift were waiting for her offstage.

This is the most fun look I teach and use professionally.  You simply must try it!  Be forewarned, it is not an easy setup so don’t get discouraged, just shoot it and have fun!

Many thanks to my model Kat for being so great!

Till next time, happy shooting!

 

 

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With Megan

05 Thursday Feb 2015

Posted by Bob Harrington in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

CT Headshot Photographer, CT Model, CT Model Photographer, DIY Fluorescent Light, Headshot Photographer, Kino Flo, NYC Headshot Photographer, off camera flash

Hi and welcome back.

My shoot with Megan on Tuesday went swimmingly!

We worked in several different styles to give her the beginnings of her model portfolio.

Here are a few shots from our sitting:

High Key Beauty.  I’ve been working on several different ways to shoot this look and have really fallen in love with this simple one light setup.  I place my subject right against a white wall, I set my strobe light high and above but behind me for frontal flat light, and then I set a silver reflector right about chest height.  The look is clean, high key, and the light is perfect:

Phottix Indra, 36″ Silver-Lined Beauty Dish with diffusion, Lastolite Tri Grip silver side up:

_RVH0073

 

For another look, I broke out my fluorescent lights.

I built these lights from an online tutorial I found here:

Joe Edelman

Please note, the only drawback to the DIY System is that the T8 bulbs are not perfectly color balanced.  So each bulb is not the same temperature across the board. Even with a custom White Balance, I have to adjust the WB in Post to get it accurate.

Two years ago I built these units, but I have since found these at HTG Supply.  These units are complete and, I believe, have better color balance.  I have not tried them, but their value is excellent and I’m considering getting a set:

HTG Supply

For now, I’m using the Joe Edelman DIY version.  I love the light and it costs about $300.00 for two lights compared to $1,200.00 for one 4′ Kino Flo.

Here are two proofs.  You can see the cateye catchlights in her eyes and how I have the lights set vertically for beautiful, smooth, flat light:

_RVH9829 _RVH9862 1I forgot to take a BTS shot, but here is one from stock:

Screen Shot 2015-02-05 at 9.04.40 AMThat’s it for today.

I took out my fluorescents for the first time in a long time and have fallen back in love with them.  Look for upcoming posts on using them professionally and maybe even the lights from HTG Supply.

Also, I’m super busy putting together my Spring workshop schedule.  I’m keeping close this year and holding back on a lot of far travel, so I’ll be sticking mostly to the East Coast.

Look for workshops here:

Photopia, Miami

Pitman Photo, Miami

Cameras ETC, Delaware

10two5 Studio, Philadelphia

TF Camera, NJ

Summit Camera, NJ

and of course in NYC and CT

That’s it for now, till next time, happy shooting!

 

 

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BH Photo 40’s Glamour

14 Wednesday Jan 2015

Posted by Bob Harrington in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

40's Hollywood Glamour, CT Headshot Photographer, CT Model Photographer, Eva Ivanova, Model, Model Photography, NYC Headshot Photographer, NYC model photographer, off camera flash, Phottix, Phottix Odin, Rogue Flashbenders

Hi and welcome back.

Yesterday I was presenting one of my favorite lighting looks: 40’s Hollywood Glamour at the BH Photo Event Space.

I love the old hollywood look, and I teach it and do it with speed lights and Rogue Flashbenders.

This was as always a superb presentation with a full house and fabulous model: Eva Ivanova, who looks like Lauren Bacall!

My gear:

Key: SB910, Small Rogue Flashbender as snoot

Hair: SB800, Large Rogue Flashbender as snoot

Back: SB800, 20 degree Rogue Grid

All flashes triggered by the Phottix Odin.

Here is proof from yesterday with beginning retouching:

BH Photo Eva Ivanova 40s Glamour 1 13 2015_6395 1

 

Many thanks to all who attended, Eva, and the great team at BH Event Space.

Till next time, happy shooting!

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Expoimaging Rogue Gels

02 Friday Jan 2015

Posted by Bob Harrington in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

CT Headshot Photographer, CT Model Photographer, CT Off Camera Flash, Expoimaging, Nikon, NYC Headshot Photographer, NYC model photographer, OCF, off camera flash, Rogue CTO gels, Rogue gels

Hi and welcome back.

One of the most versatile tools in your lighting kit is or should be gels.

Gels correct for color temperature shifts or add color to an image.  I love the Rogue Gel kits as I can now carry a bunch of gel colors in a nice carry case that I never carried before, like Rose, Purple, Yellow, Green, Blue, etc:

Rogue Gel Kit

Alyssa came to me a with an idea for a colored look.

I set up 3 SB800’s and covered them all with Rogue Gels to achieve the look.

Backlight: SB800, Rogue Full CTO, Rogue 45 degree grid

Left Edge: SB800, Rogue Full CTO, Rogue XL Pro strip box

Front Fill: SB800, Rogue 1/2 CTO, Rogue XL Pro with diffusion panel

Here’s an sample:

_RVH7356

 

And here’s the BTS shots of the gels:

_RVH7363 _RVH7364

 

The setup is a bit complex and the back/hair light, which is actually the key light, took a bit to set up in the correct position.  Once we had it, we nailed it!

The backdrop is black felt I got from Joanne Fabrics.  I like felt as it absorbs all of the light and gives you true black on the background.

The Rogue Gel kits open up a new wave of creative outlets for you as you can color your light for any need.

Well that’s it for today.  Till next time, happy shooting!

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Happy New Year!

31 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by Bob Harrington in Uncategorized

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2015, BH Photo Event Space, CT fitness photographer, CT Headshot Photographer, CT Model Photographer, CT Off Camera Flash, CT Photographer, Happy New Year, NYC Headshot Photographer

Hi and Happy New Year!

While 2014 was an amazing year, I’m glad it is over and we are headed into 2015 and a fresh start!

I want to thank everyone with whom I’ve worked this past year:

All the models, hair, and makeup artists

The studios and presentation spaces

The manufacturers, with a special thank you to Expoimaging for being such a strong sponsor and friend.

Raise a toast tonight to happiness, health, prosperity, and the promise of a new year.

I’ve put up a gallery of my absolute favorite images from this year, click the first image and enjoy!

Thank you for a great year and I look forward to meeting you soon!












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