For a lot of photographers, arriving to the shoot location to seek out solely a seven-foot darkish basement nook feels like the beginning of a nightmare. However for photographer Teri Hofford (@terihofford), that gave the impression of the beginning of dreamy portraits. Hofford, who believes all mild is nice mild, not too long ago met with Rangefinder to share how she captured these dream-like pictures utilizing a $6 thrift retailer discover, a chandelier bowl, and a seven-foot sq. of basement area.
Hofford defined that the shoot was a private mission. She needed to mess around with a $6 fringe cape she discovered at a thrift retailer whereas taking portraits of her good friend. Hofford’s model is constantly inconsistent as a result of her work is impressed by the human in entrance of her lens. Whereas her work favors motion, blur, power, and confidence, different components change with the intention to create a portrait that’s as particular person because the particular person in it. “I alter my lighting and enhancing with my topics as a result of every particular person is particular person, so ought to their portraits be,” she says.
For this picture, Hofford visualized heat and motion, enjoying off the colours of the cape and the tones of her good friend’s pores and skin and hair. The problem was to seize that in a small seven-foot by seven-foot basement room, whereas nonetheless getting quite a lot of pictures.
The room was lit by a small rectangular window behind the photographer, plus a naked lightbulb above and barely behind the topic. With a purpose to scatter a few of the mild from that bulb whereas additionally including some blur, Hofford took a glass cowl from a chandelier and held it over her lens.
Hofford says that any mild supply generally is a good mild supply. “Observe is the one method to practice your self to ‘see’ the sunshine and direct your topics to get the shot in digicam,” she says.
Your complete shoot took about 45 minutes. Whereas the small area made it a problem to seize selection, the restricted mild and glass over the lens created heat and softness for a placing portrait. “Our aim for the shoot was to offer her an uplifting expertise with some stunning pictures,” Hofford says.
4 Lighting Ideas from Terri Hofford
- Any mild supply is an efficient mild supply.
- Observe is the one method to practice your self to “see” the sunshine and direct your topics to get the shot in digicam.
- Use extra issues in entrance of the lens, dealing with a lightweight supply, to maximise/shift/change the sunshine you might be utilizing.
- Use gels/materials in entrance of your lights to alter the colour in digicam (be sure that in case you are utilizing studio lighting that you just use warmth resistant gadgets to cowl so nothing begins on fireplace/melts!)
Teri Hofford is a physique picture educator, photographer & creator who encourages people to maneuver in direction of self and physique acceptance. Hofford makes a speciality of boudoir and empowerment pictures with a mission of diversifying the our bodies we see within the pictures business.
At WPPI in March, she’ll educate Empowerment for All Our bodies and The Enterprise of Physique Picture.
[Read: A Photo Education Supreme: WPPI 2024 Educator Highlights]
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