Blog Post 4 (Week 7/8)-- When the Sun Works in Your Favor

As a photographer, I thought it would be interesting to go back and analyze some of my paid gigs for the lighting composition of successful photos and to extract elements that are working in favor of the project that I may not have even consciously thought about at the time.

Being a photographer who both shoots and edits/retouches their own work, I of course have the power to not only shoot what I perceive as the optimal lighting, but I also then get to take the time to go back and manipulate it to achieve the ultimate composition.

The top photo is an example of my headshot work. At the time of shooting, this was one of those locations that seemed to have everything going for it right at the moment we were there--indirect sunlight and shade but also sunlight bouncing off warm toned walls. So I shot it, hoping that my assumptions would translate. And in going back through the days photos on the computer later that evening, this one jumped out at me immediately and I knew we had a winner. One of those fantastically satisfying and somewhat rare photos that does all the work for you--minimal editing required (sans retouching, of course haha). I think this photo epitomizes some key qualities that you want to look for in most headshots (it, of course, also depends on your brand as an actor). It is bright enough that it opens up the face and bring light to all the important features, namely the eyes, allowing the viewer to literally see and also initially connect to the subject. But it also has that element of warm lighting that can really highlight the inner warmth of an individual that invites the viewer in and allows them to potentially connect on a deeper level, bringing them to feel comfortable about the person they're viewing and curious to know more. It's the perfect balance of warm and cool tones to even out the facial tone, and it is neither washed out/over exposed nor too shadowy so that you get a clear image of the person on the page.

The bottom photo was, clearly, a joint graduation shoot for two friends. The sun was burning super bright in a clear sky that day which made it incredibly hard to shoot. I had to play a lot with finding shaded areas that also provided a lot of surrounding bounce to light their faces. Ultimately, despite the frustrations of finding just the right lighting, I think the sun ended up giving me an awesome gift this day. If you compare the two photos, you notice that the bottom is a lot more bright, clear, crisp, and clean. I think that this actually works really well for an outdoor graduation shoot. I think it speaks to the future that lies ahead of these individuals and is represented in such photos. Bright individuals with bright futures. The subjects are still well lit and inviting to the viewer, but they have a certain rejuvenating vigor and energy that is telling of the journey they are about to embark on.

Shameless plug time: Yes I will happily take photos for you (I also do show shots). Yes I am cheaper than any other amateur photographer around UCI (comparatively speaking to the quality that you will get and the time I put in). Please contact me if you want to  speak with me further or set up a time to shoot--I'd love to work with you!! (And winter break would be a great time to do it ;D )