I love light. Soft light, natural light, bright light, dim light, light bulb light, strobe light, lightning bug light, moon light, moon shine, light beer, lightning light, and on and on …. It’s either because I’m a photographer or I’m a photographer because I love light.
Window light is one of my favorite types of light and a great simple option for anyone who needs to create a headshot of someone, whether it’s an employee, a personal relationship or a selfie. Just put them (or yourself) by a window and take a picture. You will get a great shot.
Windows offer two basic alternatives, side lighting or full lighting. The photo taken above is for an upcoming book cover and shows full lighting. Gail simply faced the window, gave me a beautiful smile and we got a wonderful headshot. The two photos below are examples of side lighting. Side lighting can be a little tricky due to deep dark shadows on the side opposite the window. (This can be lessened by holding up a big piece of white foam core or something similar to provide fill light.) Side lighting is a little more dramatic and more contrasty than full lighting (it also shows wrinkles better)
The best part of using window light is it does not need any special equipment. Just you, your camera and your happy subject. Experiment.…
Shooting groups is an art in itself. Imagine corralling 5, 10, 20 or more people, balancing the arrangement, getting the light just right and having everyone look like they are happy. Ya gotta love it.
It’s also fun to try to tweak things a little and reach for a more relaxed shot. The team at Princeton Wealth Advisors, Raymond James were wonderfully accommodating and patient as we work on shots for its national magazine. After a bunch of great traditional group photos we loosened up a bit to create a more relaxed shot with a little attitude as shown above.
Corporate loved the more traditional look which was recently published. Works for me! Great team.
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Mondays are always invigorating, especially after a great weekend. But I confess, I don’t mind not working in an office and having to face a supervisor inspired to motivate me.…
Large open interior areas can be tricky to photograph. In fact, any interior area with large windows can be difficult. No matter what time of day or night there are very, very few moments when the outside light matches in the inside light.
In some cases this can be solved by adding light (e.g. big flash units). But sometimes, especially when it is a large open area, like the commercial space pictured above, there is no place to put the lights so they are out of sight and still evenly illuminate the whole area.
That’s the time for innovation! We’ve developed techniques that allow us to go beyond available light photography and create lighting that enhances the scene and makes the space inviting.
If you have commercial space to photograph, take the next step to illustrate how great it is by using enhanced lighting techniques. For more information just reach out to us. We’d love to hear from you. Bill@BrokawPhoto.com…
Headshots can be fun. All it takes is some imagination and a willingness to experiment and be playful.
Minal Sampat, founder and CEO of Growth Management Marketing is a master at this. We spent an afternoon in the studio creating a wonderful collection of headshots with a wide range of applications for her business including this shot to promote her podcast. We had a great time and got great shots. This one is my favorite.
You can see more the photos we created and learn about what Minal offers at her website www.marketinggmm.com
The magic is in the playfulness.…
Headshots are, of course, a staple of business. People expect to see a current version and get a sense of who you are. Headshots are typically done in a studio, which certainly works well, but may sometimes be a little less original than the person being photographed. Your headshot should do you justice!
Studio style headshots are great when large teams of people need to be photographed and consistency is important. They can be done more quickly and efficiently when all the lighting and backdrops are the same. They can also be reproduced more easily if new employees come on board later and need the exact same style of headshot.
Whenever possible, I like to encourage clients to consider creating headshots in a business-oriented environment rather than a studio. This is especially valuable when the business offers some interesting eye candy to serve as a backdrop. Environmental headshots can be visually interesting and when done well, engage the viewer more than a simple studio portrait. Environmental headshots can also tell a story and put you in context. This helps “brand” you for the services or products you offer.
So when it is time to update your headshot consider getting out of the studio. If you want a choice, then do both. Get the safe shot in the studio then reach a little deeper and try something different.
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There are many times when we have a full plate in front of us and yet know there is even more to come. Expectations keep us motivated.…
April showers bring May flowers and July showers bring “chanterelles” a delectable, edible wild mushroom. These lovely specimens were found growing happily deep in the woods in eastern PA.
It was a rainy weekend in the northeast and likely put a damp damper on many outdoor summer activities, but the forests love it. Rain brings growth. The next time my parade gets rained on I’ll have to remind myself to be on the lookout for growth.…
Sometimes you just have to take the plunge and get your feet wet (up to your armpits). Summer is a great time to be on the Delaware. No tubes or canoes required. Just jump in.…