Proofs from Saturday’s Workshop at Unique Photo, NJ

Tags

40's Hollywood Glamour, Actor headshot, Bowens Softbox, Corporate Headshot, CT Headshot Photographer, Headshot, Headshot Photographer, Model Headshot, Nikon, NJ, NYC, NYC Headshot Photographer, Phottix, Sony

Hi and welcome back.

For today, I’m uploading a bunch of proof images from my Headshot Workshop at Unique Photo last Saturday.

I’ll post Photoshop Friday, which I missed last week, later today or tomorrow.  I won’t forget!

All the images below were shot with speed lights and are right out of my camera, raw to jpeg conversions.

If you like what you see, join me in Boston on May 21 at Theia Studios for another Headshot Workshop, where I teach corporate, actor, model, and creative light for the headshot.

Here is the link: Theia Studio Headshot Workshop

Proofs all done with location lighting techniques:

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

Saturday’s Headshot Workshop at Unique Photo, NJ

Tags

40's Hollywood Glamour, Bowens, Expoimaging, Model, Model Photographer, Nikon, NJ OCF Workshops, OCF, Off camera flash workshop, Phottix, Rogue Flashbender, Sony, Unique Photo

Hi and welcome back.

I’m in prep mode today for Saturday’s Headshot Workshop at Unique Photo.

Here is the registration link: Unique Photo

This is a long workshop, coming in at 5 hours and with a pizza break somewhere in the day.  With this much time, I’ll be able to comfortably cover 9 different headshot looks, going from simple one light to multi-light setups.

I’ll cover:

Corporate

Actor

Model

Beauty

Dark Beauty

Gels

Glamour

Creative Lighting

And 40’s Hollywood Glamour to cap it all off!

If you are looking to gain insight into the different headshot styles, build a portfolio, and see just how much you can do with a few speed lights and commercial modifiers, then join in the fun!

We’ll have 3 models at 3 stations.  I’ll rotate looks and models through each station so everyone gets images.

Don’t forget your camera, lenses, batteries and cards!  This is a shooting event, so everyone gets to shoot the looks.

Here are some samples that we’ll be shooting:

 

Upcoming Lighting Workshops

Tags

Bowens, CT OCF Workshops, Nikon, NJ Workshops, OCF, OCF Workshops, Off Camera flash workshops, Photoflex, Phottix, Sony

Hi and welcome back.

The next two Off Camera Flash lighting workshops are:

The Speedlight Workshop: An open workshop where I teach to your questions and ideas on lighting.   

Saturday, April 23

11am-3pm

Studio 52 North, Middletown, CT, but I am thinking of changing this to a location lighting workshop to take advantage of the great weather.

Cost: $120.00, you can use Paypal link above to register

Model supplied.

The Headshot Workshop, NJ

I’ll be heading to Unique Photo to teach 9 headshot looks.  We’ll have 3 stations and plenty of time to break out into groups to learn each technique.

Cost: $125.00

Register Here: Unique Photo

 

That’s it for today.  Just want to get the word out about the next two events in April.

Get out and enjoy the day and if you can shoot, shoot, shoot!

Till next time, happy Spring!

 

Teaching at Photo Uno last night

Tags

CT Headshot Photographer, Expoimaging Rogue Flashbenders, high key, Nikon, NYC, NYC Beauty Headshot Photographer, NYC Headshot Photographer, NYC OCF Workshop, OCF Workshops, off camera flash, Photo Uno, Phottix, Rogue XL Pro, Sony

Hi and welcome back.

Last night I headed to Photo Uno in NYC to teach a class on Rogue Flashbenders.

It was awesome.  If you are in NYC, Photo Uno is an independent photography school located on East 46th St, about a 5 minute walk from Grand Central Station.

They have great classes and a small rental studio.  I love finding these spots as usually the rental studios are all downtown.  With a rental so close to Grand Central, look for future workshops to be held there.

Photo Uno

Many thanks to Expoimaging for sponsoring the event, Patricia and Francisco at Photo Uno for hosting, and Laura Dewey for modeling as I taught.

Here’s a shot of yours truly working, sent by friend and fellow photog, Charles Chessler:

Till next time, happy shooting!

Advanced Speedlighting Workshop, NYC, April 9

Tags

Bowens, CT Beauty Headshot Photographer, Expoimaging, Godox, Interfit, Nikon, NYC Commercial Photographer, NYC Headshot Photographer, NYC off camera flash, NYC Off Camera Flash Workshop, NYC Photographer, OCF, OCF Workshop, off camera flash, Phottix, Rogue Flashbenders, Sony, Space4Shoots, Space4Shoots workshop, Workshop

Hi and welcome back.

I’m putting together an “Advanced Speedlight Techniques” workshop at Space4Shoots in NYC.

Take your work to another level as I draw on strobe light techniques for fashion, glamour, and beauty and transfer them to small flashes.

We’ll shoot multi-light setups but never go beyond 3 lights and simple modifiers.

Gear: 

3 speedlights

Phottix Ares Radio Triggers

Convertible Umbrellas

Rogue Flashbenders

Bowens Softbox

Phottix Luna Beauty Dish

Godox Bracket

Details: 

Cost: $260.00, you can use the Paypal link at the top of the page or call with atm/cc card: 203-540-8821

Location: Space4Shoots

Time: 1-5 pm

Date: Saturday, April 9, 2016

Model: Daria Bardola from Anomaly Models

HMUA: TBD

If you missed the Headshot Workshop at Space4Shoots, don’t miss this one.  It is going to be amazing with a professional NYC model.

Daria Bardola

A Poignant Thought

Tags

Bowens, CT Headshot Photographer, CT Workshops, Expoimaging, Interfit S1, Lighting Workshops NYC, Nikon, NYC, NYC Headshot Photographer, NYC Lighting Workshops, off camera flash, Off Camera flash workshops, Phottix, Rogue Flashbenders, Sony, Workshops

Hi and welcome back.

This is a quick and thoughtful post.

I just found this online and thought it was poignant for all educators.

As a photography educator, I thought it really applied to the workshop format, something I take pride in and teach internationally.

Keep it in mind as you can only go so far with books and videos; you really need to shoot to learn:

Tell me and I forget

Teach me and I remember

Involve me and I learn

Take a workshop, get involved, shoot, shoot, shoot, and when you think you’ve had enough, shoot some more!

Make plenty of mistakes and enjoy the ride.

Till we meet at an event or workshop, happy shooting!

 

Advanced Speedlight Techiques, NYC

Tags

beauty, Bowens, CT Headshot Photographer, Expoimaging, fashion, Fashion lighting workshop, Godox S Mount, Nikon, NYC Headshot Photographer, NYC OCF workshops, NYC workshops, OCF Workshop, OCF Workshops, Photoflex, Phottix, Phottix Ares, Phottix Luna, Rogue Flashbenders, Sony, Space4Shoots

Hi and welcome back.

I’m putting together an “Advanced Speedlight Techniques” workshop at Space4Shoots in NYC.

Take your work to another level as I draw on strobe light techniques for fashion, glamour, and beauty and transfer them to small flashes.

We’ll shoot multi-light setups but never go beyond 3 lights and simple modifiers.

Gear: 

3 speedlights

Phottix Ares Radio Triggers

Convertible Umbrellas

Rogue Flashbenders

Bowens Softbox

Phottix Luna Beauty Dish

Godox Bracket

Details: 

Location: Space4Shoots

Cost: $260.00, use the Paypal link above or call/text for atm/cc card: 203-540-8821

Time: 1-4

Date: April 9, 2016

Model: Daria Bardola from Anomaly Models

HMUA: TBD

If you missed the Headshot Workshop at Space4Shoots, don’t miss this one.  It is going to be amazing with a professional NYC model.

Daria Bardola

Hope to see you there!

Last Saturday’s Headshot Workshop

Tags

beauty, Bowens, Eyes, Godox, natural light, Natural Light Headshots, Natural Light Portraits, Nikon, NYC Actor Headshot Photographer, NYC Beauty Headshot Photographer, NYC Corporate Photographer, NYC Photographer, NYC Photography Workshops, OCF Workshop, Photoflex, Phottix, Phottix Ares, Sony, Space4Shoots, Space4Shoots workshop

Hi and welcome back.

Last Saturday’s Headshot Workshop was a huge and raging success.

We shot multiple looks with just speed lights and simple, easy-to-use gear.

We worked at Space4Shoots, an amazing and convenient rental studio in Manhattan.  Looking for a reasonable and well-stocked studio to rent, look no further than Space4Shoots.

Space4Shoots

As promised here is my gear list first:

Godox S Mount Speedlight Bracket

Softbox collapsible ring: Calumet QR Speedring for softbox

Triggers: Phottix Ares

BH:

Rogue Flashbenders: Expoimaging

Lightstands: Manfrotto 1052 BAC Quick stackers

Umbrella Brackets: Photek Umbrella Bracket

Umbrella: Photoflex 45” Convertible

Beauty Dish: Phottix Luna

Softbox: Bowens 60×80, box comes with S-Mount speedring so the QR ring is an extra if you want it

Reflector: California Sunbounce Micro Mini

Reflector Bracket: California Sunbounce Enterprise Bracket

Grip head: Matthews 2.5” Grip Head

Avenger 6″ Pin

Now on to some photos from the day:

Corporate:

Actor High Key:

Glamour:

Beauty:

Natural Light with a Reflector:

We achieved amazing looks with just a few speed lights and simple, portable gear.

Many thanks to our model Tina Scariano.

Till next time, happy speed lighting!

 

French Toast with Blueberries

Tags

A7II, Chimera, CT Food Photographer, CT Food Photography, CT OCF Workshops, Food, Food photography, French Toast, French Toast with Blueberries, Godox, Nikon, OCF, Pain Pardue, Phottix, Sony, Syrup

Hi and welcome back.

Continuing with my food posts, I’ve been trying to shoot as much as I can.

Yesterday I shot my favorite breakfast: French toast.

I just whipped up 3 slices of my recipe:

2 eggs

Splash of half-and-half

Pinch of Nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon of Cinnamon

I preset my still life and then cooked.  The great thing about breakfast foods is that you can whip them up quickly.

Here is a finished shot on my painted background.  I took the yellow background from the post from the other day and painted it blue.  I just went over the yellow with the blue and when it dried I rubbed it down with sandpaper to give it an aged look.

I also pumped out some syrup to give it a bit of action.

And here’s how I lit it.

I kept my key light in the same posting but added a 20º grid to light the top and open the deep shadows from the backlight.

Key: Phottix Indra 500, 36×48 Chimera softbox

Fill: tin-foil-covered white cards

Fill light: SB800, Godox S-Mount bracket, Phottix S-Mount 7″ reflector with 20º grid and one piece of wax paper gaffer-taped on to soften the gridded light

In hindsight, I think I would have used a 10º grid or a snoot to really tighten the spread of light and keep the second shadow off of the background.

Here are a few more images:

I’m really ring to develop a style and shoot as much as I can in order to build a portfolio and get food work.

That’s it for now.  Till next time, stay hungry!

Creating a Simple Background for Any Shot

Tags

Chimera, CT Food Photographer, Food, Food photography, Macaroni and Cheese and Broccoli, Nikon, Phottix, Phottix Indra 500, Sony

Hi and welcome back.

For today, I’m going to show you how to create a quick and cheap background for food photography, but you can apply this to any kind of background.

For my food work, I’m going simple.  I’ve been searching for a quick, cheap, and easy way to create simple backgrounds.

I went to my local Lowe’s and purchased a 32″ x 48″ piece of masonite beadboard for $10.00.  If you have the ability, cut the sheet in half; if not, have them do it at the home center for you.

Lowe’s has Valspar paint sample for about $3.00.  I picked up two, one a dark yellow and one a mint green.  Above the left panel is the yellow color:

Grab a brush and put a coat of color on the board.  I don’t prime for a reason that I’ll get to next.

I want a slightly aged look to the backgrounds, so after the paint dries I use sandpaper to scuff the surface and bring out some of that white underneath.

I had a round 150 grit piece of sandpaper kicking around my garage, but you can use anything you have or just get a sheet.

Once the paint is dry and sanded, I put it on my dresser/table in the garage and got my colors together and took the shot.

The sheet is 24 x 32 and has a slight antique look.  It is also the perfect size for food still life.  Here are a few other proofs.

Simple, fun, and easy to do, making your own backgrounds can be cheap and fun and only take a few hours.  Don’t like the color, simply paint over it and then re-scuff it with the sandpaper for a different look altogether.

So for about $14.00 with tax, I have two backgrounds I can paint and change up as needed for any color scheme.

That’s it for now.  Till next time, happy eating!