That title is a mouthful, but I didn’t know how to better describe the style. Over the years, I’ve been refining and perfecting my newborn photo technique to get the specific light and airy high-key look I want. It’s important to know that I specialize in in-home lifestyle newborn photography, so my technique below is specific to that. While every home I visit is different, and some are more challenging than others, these strategies below have given me the best and most consistent results.
How to create soft light in tiny spaces with a single light source
Not all of us are lucky to have large, spacious studios or apartments. So, you have to work with what you’ve got. In this video from Adorama, Miguel Quiles will show you how to create wonderful soft light in a tiny space, using only one light source.
From Drab to Dramatic: How to Make Any Space Photo Worthy [NSFW]
I’m a firm believer that every space has a story to tell. Not every space (or story) is going to be glamorous or elegant; some places may be dated, downright trashy, or even worse, super boring withpe no personality (think of all those beige rooms in early 90s mcmansions…). But I think there is a concept for every space if you can stretch your imagination.
Shooting through prisms at home or in the studio
In this tutorial we will be going over how to create gorgeous in-camera flared effects that can add a lot of depth and interest to a simple portrait image. To do this we will be using a glass prism which can be found on any number of online retail sites. The glass prisms are generally used for school science experiments so they’re readily available and very inexpensive.
25mm x 100mm glass prism on Amazon link here
The prisms are very easy to use out on location as you simply hold them in front of the lens and shoot away. If you’re looking to use them in a studio environment though there are a few key things to bear in mind to maximise the flared effect that creates that signature look.
How to make more interesting portraits using front bokeh
Most of us shoot portraits with bokeh behind the subject. But what if we reverse the position of lights and the model? In this video, photographer Mark Wallace shoots portraits with front bokeh to create more playful indoor portraits. All you need is a camera, a model and a string of Christmas lights. It’s a simple trick and gives really good results.
This technique in a way emulates the look of being outside. It’s not exactly like this, but it does add some depth and interest to the photos. And it’s definitely fun for playing when it’s dark and cold outside. After watching the video, I tried it out myself for a few quick test shots. I made some portraits that are definitely more interesting than they would be with plain white background. And I had tons of fun, too.
How to avoid flickering lights when shooting video
Anybody who’s ever shot video indoors will, at some point, have come across the issue of flickering lights and scanlines moving up and down your image while trying to record.
Well, Jonas Stenstrom of Rob & Jonas’ Filmmaking Tips is here to help, explaining exactly what causes this and how to overcome it, even when your frame rate doesn’t match the electrical frequency of the country in which you’re shooting.
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