Paulo Lorenso Studios, Newcastle under Lyme

PAOLO LORASO STUDIOS
On Saturday Layla said she had a studio session and tutorial on Sunday, and asked me if I would like to go along to learn more about shoots etc. Needless to say no problem for me, hungry for knowledge and expertise.


And what fun and how interesting. So many tips and being made aware of what to look for. Most of it is only common sense, but you can get lost in taking the image as I discovered on Saturday. They are also the official photographers for the Signal 1&2 camera club.
The studio is a professional studio, and is set up to be very commercial. There were 6 photographers in the session, all working and Paolo introduced us to how he runs his business and where he makes his money. He showed us round his studio, the various lighting set ups he has, why he uses certain products etc for example a make of lights. The studio photographers showed us how to use the models in the studio with the various lighting effects, all operated by remote control, for instant changes.
The studio is permanently set up, and is adaptable for many forms of Photography, from single portraits to group shots. He also explained the various revenue streams that he uses to make his business.
We each of us then were given 5 minutes with each of the 2 models (Layla being one, dressed and made up totally different to Saturday, and Christy the other) with 2 different lighting set ups, but this got a bit higglely piggly, but we got there.
It was really useful and very eye opening to see a studio being run. Very relaxed but professional.
It was an experience that I did not think I would have and I am very grateful to Layla for the Invitation.
You can see some of the images here that I took.
Things I learnt are:-
Inkjet printers don't like dust so use in dust free environment
White ink is free(major cost for studio is the cost of ink-price per ml-generally allow twice the cost of paper for ink)
Models usually have a CD not prints because of this-only print when necessary-then usually 10x8.
Keep each area of the studio separate.
Use the best lighting equipment you can buy as this will last longer and work quicker.
Remote control of lighting leads to quicker changes, and turn round for different subjects, makes setting up the lighting really quick.
Using area lighting makes taking of images a lot easier where required.
Calibrate the camera to PC and printer(Spider Pro eg).
If cropping to 10x8 ensure your subject is in the correct frame when taking image.
Talk to the model not the camera
Don't stand on tip toe to take image.
Be very clear with your instructions to the model, talk face to face not through the camera.
When using projected backdrops be aware of any lines forming on the subject.
Check each picture you take, to ensure it is correctly exposed/in frame/composition is correct/enables feedback to the subject/ and you get what you are looking for.
This also allows you to rest your arms and prevents your hands shaking.
Always use a make-up artist, even for outdoors work.
Use of lighting to emphasize any aspects, or vica versa.

I used the studio 1D to take the shots, mainly as I had not used one before, and it was tethered to the PC. The set up was on 2 monitors, one for the photographer and one for the subject to see, but the results where after the shot taken.
The host Paolo was exceedingly knowledgeable and very hospitable and generous with his knowledge and answered any question put to him, with great amusement at times.
Here are some studio shots.

Lighting plan

My laptop will not let me copy the lighting plan to my blog.!!!!!!!!!!!! Nor will it let me copy any videos' over !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is it just Vista that is causing the problem???????? No problems using the MAC, but I can't on that in the next few days, so frustrating not being able to get on with anything !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A day Networking

L3
Based on my themes we went out and had to play golf whilst discussing my job prospects, a good networking day, and lots of advice.
Took these shots as part of my Portrait/product theme, but they do need some work. The sun was good but it was difficult to get everything alright. The creation of shadows was interesting, especially with the club and ball. As we were actually playing

The basis of the game is a club and a ball.

Sometimes you are not sure where the ball has gone.

Some balls are oval, well, mine seem to be with the direction they go in.

Some balls just ask to be hit.

Some people just rest.

I'll take the flag out for you Eric.

Sometimes the ball just does not want to in (not set up, actual Play)

Apologies to Penn

L3
Just a start of some of the images taken on Sunday 7th March 2010. Many thanks to the models who crambed themselves into Pip's wall, which was an excellent idea. It just needs one more brick in the wall! The light was great for the day, such alot of it. The lights were not used here, just the natural light from the overhead skylight and side windows. The sun was out but did not have any direct influence. These will not be the finished article, but the idea is there.

Perhaps I have cropped this too tight to give the Penn look, but I do like the effect, and Pip does look quite uncomfortable, but proved to be a willing model.

This one was very much an unposed shot, and Pip was not too comfortable being put into this position.

Suzy was not comfortable being in front of the camera.

You will stand in the corner! and stay there!

I think I have achieved the result I was looking for here because Penn's subjects felt awkward when put into this position.

Sunday 7th March set ups

L3 Here are some setups from Sunday, some curtesy of Suzypaws, except the one she is in of course, and general set ups. Pip's "Keeler" chair Pip in action

Where's the dog gone?

Here he is.

Best model ever.

Portrait photography

PORTRAITS FROM CONCEPT TO REALITY

(with apologises to some Comments taken from a Master class by Lord Snowden).

Portrait can sound too pompous, can I take your picture sounds too naff, can I take your image, sounds too personal. There is nothing magical about taking photographs of people. The most important thing is for the photographer, who really is unimportant, to be first of all inquisitive, and secondly to be totally involved, having done as much research on the subject a possible.

The secret of a great picture lies in understanding the person you are photographing. You are more likely to get something interesting if you find out a little about the person beforehand. And besides, it’s more flattering for whom you are photographing.

It’s good to be nervous. If you stop being anxious and start being too familiar with the subject, you’ve lost something. You need the adrenaline to keep your brain ticking over.

Technique should be intuitive. It comes with practice and that is the secret - to keep taking pictures. Enthusiasm is infectious, and can often reward you with a smile or an expression from the most isolated of figures.

But smiles aren’t everything. You set the tone of a photograph according to the mood of the subject. Photographing a person is an extremely intimate affair. You must light that person according to how you feel about them. If they are serious, perhaps one light from above will do, with hard shadows falling across the face. Watch for the nose though, there’s always a shadow present under the nostrils, often requiring just a small reflector to bounce light back into the dark areas.

Light s and camera are things that get in the way. They stop you from communicating with your subject.You don’t need lots of lights; daylight is fine. I often use of available light, preferring to use large white sheets of polystyrene to control and model the light. You don’t need expensive, purpose-built reflectors either, even though they are every good. In reality, a simple white hanky will do the job if you hold it close enough.

Don’t always go out of your way to relax people. Sometimes pictures of people work best if they are on edge. If somebody’s too relaxed, you lose control.

Look for mannerisms. They are the key to a person character. If you can establish a rapport and make that person feel at home in your company, they my reveal something intrinsic to their character. Then you are halfway to taking a good picture. The rest is luck.

And when you have finished taking your picture, always say thank you. Politeness is the key to a successful picture.

Midweek shoot

I was talking to Liz about the shoes I had bought and I was looking for someone who had size 4 feet. Liz said she had and would be happy to wear them so I could photograph them. This led to an evening where I was photographing a "set", with Liz and David the main event. In discussions with Liz we came up with the idea of using the steamer chair etc and a theme developed. The scene was set as below(with Liz and David) as the basis of the shoot, with them both dressing up and opening a bottle of champagne! Great fun ensued, but the space was small, being a conservatory.

This was the start of the set up. I was able to set up in the afternoon, with Liz's help, and all was set for the evening, the basis of the theme, and my gear. I would have taken some daylight shots, but the batteries were dead on the camera. Thought-always check all the gear before you arrive at your shot, and carry spares if you have them.

This is the models in place.It was a tight shoot, and I had to use a wide angle standing in the door to get this shot. Pity I did not tidy the scene, I completely missed the edge details. I only had about an hour to capture the scene, so concentrated on getting the images. I learnt very quickly that it is very difficult to deal with shadows in this situation, and watch the background.

I really like this image of David, he really suits the transition to Black and White, and I think it shows his character. I like the simplicity of the shot. These are two close ups of Liz, and I like the colouring here. Two different poses and textures, and different lighting levels and positions. I would like to have eliminated the shadows. this was down to the positioning of the light, and I was paying more attention to getting the shot and missing the full lighting element.

This was taken at the end of the session, and I like the poses, but need to eliminate the shadows. As Mr Steve says, it's all in the placement and positioning.

These are a departure from my statement of intent, but I feel they are very relevant to the theme I have set for myself, and pose a different set of problems to overcome. The actual shoot was limited in time, I totally rearranged their conservatory and turned the living room into a tip, but my many many thanks to the two of them, as they responded to my actions and direction without question, and I am very grateful to them. You may well see more of these two in the future, I hope!

Rankin

I caught the news this pm while on the treadmill, and Rankin and Hubbard were doing a photo shoot with Prince William. The images will be on sale for charity, but I did not catch that bit of the programme. They were only there for 2 hours.Prince William did a very good shoot, but when your tutor is Rankin? So will look out for it.