Preparing for shooting in a photo studio

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How to prepare for a photo shoot. Tips for clients

You've finally decided on a photo shoot. You found a photographer whose work suits you in terms of quality and price, agreed on a shooting time, started preparing, and then you had a lot of questions. So that you don’t get confused by the huge amount of information that the photographer will dump on you in response to even the simplest and most direct question: “What should I take with me?”, I’ll tell you about everything in order.

A photo shoot is an interesting, exciting process. I never tire of repeating that at least two people always work on the set: the photographer and his model, which means the success of the entire enterprise depends to a very large extent on how you prepare for the photo shoot. So, when preparing for a photo shoot, you should pay attention to the main points:

1. Makeup for a photo shoot

Modern professional digital cameras allow you to capture the smallest details in a photo. This means that the slightest skin irregularities will become noticeable. Therefore, the issue of makeup should be taken very seriously. Of course, you can always rely on subsequent processing of photographs in a graphic editor (for example, in Photoshop), but firstly, professional processing of each image is quite expensive (high-quality processing of one photo takes at least 40 minutes), and secondly, as a result of the typical a photo shoot usually takes from 100 to 250 photos, and among them there can be a lot of successful ones. In order not to spoil your subsequent impression by the inability to show your friends not 5-10, but 50-100 photos due to a suddenly popping up pimple, and not to incur additional costs for retouching, it is better to use the services of a professional makeup artist - in the end, this will result in budget savings.

If you decide to do your makeup yourself or with the help of a friend, follow these simple rules:

• The main problem that becomes noticeable in photographs is the shine of the face. When the lighting equipment is running, the studio quickly becomes hot. In addition, photo posing often requires physical effort, and the skin rarely copes with such stress. In finished photos, facial shine looks very unsightly, and removing it during retouching requires professional skills. Therefore, take care of your skin in advance: it is advisable to start using products to combat oily shine a few days before the photo shoot - almost all manufacturers of facial skin care products have mattifying products.
• When doing makeup for a photo shoot, use foundation or powder to smooth out unevenness and hide the shine of your face. Mattifying wipes, which have a “magic” effect, are, unfortunately, not effective enough in a photo studio - the oily shine returns quickly. Use only foundation or powder that matches the tone of your neck and shoulders. Pay special attention to the skin around the eyes - no one wants “bruises” under the eyes in finished photographs. A corrective pencil, powder, and a full nine hours of sleep the night before shooting will help combat them.
• For lips, I advise you to use long-lasting lipstick or gloss - as practice shows, in photographic conditions lipstick is “eaten up” amazingly quickly.

Otherwise, the usual products from your cosmetic bag will suit you. By the way, about the cosmetic bag: if you do your makeup before coming to the photo studio, be sure to take all the materials you used with you - there is often a need to touch up your makeup during the shooting process.

2. Clothes and shoes for a photo shoot

Don’t be lazy - take half of your wardrobe out of the closet and spend two to three hours in front of the mirror, selecting the ideal options.

For a photo shoot, you should choose at least 3-4 different outfits (preferably, as different as possible from each other). For example: evening dress, formal (office) suit, beach (summer) outfit, swimsuit, casual (jeans and T-shirt). Choose only those outfits that suit you, even if it's “something ordinary.” Pay attention to how the clothes fit - a dress that doesn't fit your figure will greatly limit the number of angles in which you can shoot, complicate the photographer's work and keep you under unnecessary stress, which will collectively reduce the overall quality of the photos.

Carefully approach the issue of choosing shoes: high-heeled shoes are a must-have attribute of any session. Even if you are wearing jeans or a swimsuit, high heels will be appropriate. In addition to visually lengthening your legs, high-heeled shoes make your posture more aristocratic, and your butt and hips more toned and feminine.

Put on a fully selected outfit and put on your shoes, then “twirl” in front of the mirror for another 15 minutes - perhaps during this time you will understand that this is “not your” outfit. It's better if this happens at home and not in the studio. It is more effective to take 3-4 ready-made clothing options with you. We don’t recommend taking half your closet to the photo studio with the wording “I’ll sort it out there”: as a result, you risk spending a third of the time allotted for shooting trying on and choosing outfits. It is advisable to clearly understand how many and what outfits you are going to wear, but still, if you find it difficult to choose between two blouses to go with one skirt, take both.

A separate discussion - tights. Legs and especially knees are, as a rule, ideal for girls 13-16 years old - they should not worry about this. And professional lighting and studio equipment highlight on our “ideal” legs completely imperfect knees or “orange peel”, small bruises or skin irritations. To avoid excruciating pain later, take with you tights - thin (no more than 20 den), beige or light tan, with a minimal amount of lycra. Nothing special is required here; as a rule, the usual “normal” tights are enough. But there is an exception to this rule: I do not recommend wearing tights when your look involves open arms - the tights will be very discordant with the overall appearance, and in this case it is better to rely on photo processing.

Carefully approach the issue of choosing underwear - it should be flesh-colored. When filming, you will have to move a lot, so the options “I’ll fix it here, and it won’t be noticeable” should be ruled out right away. Beautiful shots are often ruined not only by a bra or panties that have accidentally jumped out from under clothes, but also by stripes from these toiletries, visible under clothes. No matter how strange it may sound, it is better to take off your underwear from under your clothes once again than to be upset later because of this “little thing.” This is especially true for things like shooting in low-waist jeans.

3. A little about the body

Don't forget to properly prepare your body for photography: your armpits and legs should be clean-shaven. Also, do not forget that it will be hot in the studio and you will have to move a lot, so if you have problems with sweating, use antiperspirant and do not wear plain colored blouses and T-shirts, especially tight ones.

If you are going to take nude photos, it is better not to wear tight underwear and clothes - the marks from such underwear do not disappear for a long time. Also, take a comfortable loose robe with you to the shoot - you will wait in it until the marks that you could not avoid clear up.

4. Poses and angles for a photo shoot

I prefer to give the model freedom to pose. In addition to the philosophical component, such a creative position has a practical meaning. Of course, I see you from the outside, and experience allows me to suggest a winning pose to you. However, the passivity of the model greatly reduces the creative potential of the shooting and, as a result, its quality. In addition, I do not know all the capabilities of your body, and I will certainly offer “average” options. Photography is much more interesting when the model suggests a pose, and the photographer suggests how to strengthen it and develop it. Before a photo shoot, look through magazines and websites on the Internet, study common poses, and be sure to practice taking them in front of a mirror.

Bring printouts of photographs with the examples of poses you like most, take magazines with you, remember the address of the page on the Internet - show them to the photographer, and he will help you take the pose that you spied in the magazine.

Try to come up with your own signature pose: first, put your legs out - fix them, then work with turning your hips - fix them, then look for the best option for turning your body, neck and placing your arms, and finally, play with the angle of your face and emotions. Follow the rule that the higher a part of the body is, the more opportunities it provides for developing the pose. Unfortunately, such an exercise will only allow you to practice taking static poses—you simply won’t have time to evaluate poses in motion.

Pay special attention to your eyes. The eyes are the most important part of a photo, and the success of a photo shoot is directly related to how you manage your eyes. Experiment with expressing emotions: smile, joy, laughter, pain, anger - this is not a complete list of what a person can express with just his eyes. Experiment and don’t be afraid to seem ugly - monotony is much “scarier.”

5. Mood

Usually clients come to a photo shoot in high spirits, and rightly so. As I wrote above, eyes are the most important detail in a photograph. And the eyes, as you know, are the mirror of the soul, and everything that is going on in your soul will definitely appear in the photographs. Therefore, all negative emotions should be left outside the studio doors, and if you are suffering from acute toothache, it is generally better to postpone the shooting to another day.

Under no circumstances should you come to a photo shoot chronically without enough sleep. Not only will lack of sleep negatively affect your mood and coordination, but your eyes will also be red. And makeup artists have not yet learned how to disguise inflamed blood vessels on the whites of the eyes.

You should not drink alcohol, especially beer, on the eve of the shoot. In addition to the same problems that come with lack of sleep, your face may become swollen.

6. Commitment

Even if you pre-paid for a photo session, always warn in advance if for some reason you cannot come to the studio. If you are delayed on the way, keep your phone on, because photography is a production process that usually affects not only you and the photographer, but also the makeup artist, stylist, photographer’s assistant and other specialists.

Instead of an afterword

Don't be afraid of the photographer - I don't bite. Don’t be shy - the photographer is used to everything - I’d rather see you in a bad pose one more time than miss a beautiful shot. Improvise - and you will definitely get unusual and high-quality photographs.

And remember, you are the Star that shines in every moment of photo eternity!

Preparing for shooting in a photo studio

Let's imagine such a situation. The artist and the photographer were locked in two different rooms, in which there were no windows, no furniture, and nothing at all. The first was given a canvas and paints, the second a camera. And they asked to show what each of them is capable of. An artist will be able to depict anything on canvas, even a piece of a wall with an amazingly precise texture of plaster, or some kind of abstract fantasy... A photographer will only be able to depict his beloved self, that is, demonstrate his skills by creating only a self-portrait.

Let's imagine that you are in a photo studio for the first time, and you have no desire to take a picture of yourself. So you need a model... It is better if she is patient and undemanding. Why - you will learn about it by reading this article.

On your first studio shoot, you don’t need to try to create something super complicated. You don’t need to consider yourself a genius immediately as soon as you cross the threshold of a room with lighting fixtures. Let's limit ourselves to shooting a close-up portrait first.

A little about the photo studio

If you don’t have your own photo studio yet, then you need to rent one. For your first shoot you will need at least 3-4 hours. Moreover, if the model is already prepared. (talking about makeup and hairstyle). In Moscow, renting a photo studio costs from 500 to 3,000 rubles. in one hour. The amount of payment depends on the size of the studio, the height of the ceiling and what equipment is installed in it. In order to take a close-up portrait, we can limit ourselves to a room of 30-40 square meters. m. The ceiling height should be about three meters. When ordering a photo studio, do not forget to agree on the background color. To create what we have outlined, it is best if the background is dark gray.

Equipment

So, the model is ready, and you are also in the mood for a creative wave. What do we need besides a good mood?

• Of course, a camera.
• Good photo lens. For example, a special portrait lens or a zoom with a focal length in the range of 70-200 mm.
• Flash meter
• Transmitter
• Two racks, frog rack
• Pulsed lighting devices (photo flashes). It would be nice if there were three of them and all of them had the same power, approximately 500 J.
• Various attachments for lighting devices, such as: softboxes, cellular and umbrella reflectors, reflective umbrellas, etc. There are a great variety of these attachments.

How to set up your camera

• Image quality – RAW
• Sensitivity – 100 ISO
• White balance – flash lamp (5400-5600K)
• One-shot autofocus (center focusing point activated)
• Program mode - manual (M)
• Shutter speed 1/200 (usually indicated in the camera instructions as “sync speed”)

Set the aperture to whatever you need to achieve your creative ideas. The depth of the imaged space depends on the size of the aperture. In addition, the aperture can and even should be measured using a flash meter, but only after you install the main light source, build the so-called key light.

Installing the light

Before you start installing the light, you need to position the model correctly. The model must be at least 2-3 meters away from the background. This is necessary so that the background texture is not readable in the picture.

After we have determined the location of the model, we begin to determine the position of the source of the key light relative to it. We will use one of our existing flashlights as a source of key light, putting a soft box on it. It is this light source that will create the main light and shadow pattern on the model’s face and will show its volume in all its glory. Don't forget that key light is the main light in a photographic portrait. Other light sources should only help the painter, but not compete with him.

Now let's move on to the fill light. Our source will be a photoflash with a reflective umbrella. Such a light source provides soft and even, almost shadowless lighting, which in our case will soften the shadows on the face of the person being portrayed. The source of fill light should be placed frontally in relation to the model, that is, simply put, directly opposite it, along the axis of the camera, and a little further than the source of key light, about one and a half to two meters.

We illuminate the background with a photo flash with a reflector, for example, with a honeycomb. We place this light source behind the model’s back, directing it directly at the background. This is why we use the “frog” stance.

Now all we have to do is turn on all the lighting devices in sequence and measure the aperture.

How to measure exposure correctly

To do this, you need to turn on the first lighting fixture and measure the amount of light using a flash meter.

• On the flash meter you need to set the following parameters:
• Metering method - flash
• Sensitivity ISO 100
• On the lighting fixture are:
• Power regulator - set to middle position
• Pilot power control - to maximum
• Check that the “trap” is working on the device

The flash meter needs to be brought as close as possible to the model’s face, press the standby button and the shutter button on the transmitter. The flash will fire. The aperture value with tenths will immediately appear on the flash meter display. It is possible that the value indicated by the flash meter is not the same as the aperture value you selected. in this case, you need to change the flash power accordingly: reduce or increase it. For example, a flash meter gives you an aperture of 5.6, but you want to shoot at f/8. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the flash power by half a stop. After that, install it on the camera.

Now turn off the first device and turn on the second. Measure its light. And then achieve aperture 4, that is, two stops lower than with the main light source.

Measure the third lighting device, which we use in the background, a little differently. Of course, you need to turn off the first and second. Since this device illuminates the background, it creates a gradient illumination behind the model’s head, in the center of which a visible spot of light is formed. It is precisely this part of the background that needs to be measured. The aperture for a gray background is approximately 4.5.

And finally - shooting

The first step, of course, is to take a test shot. If the background is too dark for your taste, or, conversely, light, adjust the power of the background lighting device to your choice. The same can be done with fill light. Feel free to experiment with the power settings of all sources, but leave the key light constant.

You will succeed! Just don't be afraid of anything!

Shooting in a photo studio. Tips for beginners.

• Wednesday September 10th, 2014
• no comments

Renting a photo studio is a service available not only to professional photographers, but also to everyone who is interested in photography. Photo studios in Kyiv offer different options. Interior photography studio, multi-hall, small or large, there is plenty to choose from, and you are sure to find a place you like. But how can a beginner with no experience in studio photography figure out what’s what?

Let's use fafastudio as an example to understand the main points when working in a photo studio.

1. Is my camera suitable for studio photography?

Not all digital cameras are suitable for studio photography. In order for the studio light to be activated when you press the camera shutter button, a synchronizer is put on the camera. To do this, the camera must have a synchronization contact, which is called a “hot shoe”; it is on this that the synchronizer is placed.

2. How does the studio equipment work?

In the studio you will have at your disposal 3 Falcon Eyes pulsed light sources, each with a power of 600 J. There is a row of buttons on the back of each flash. Let's figure out what they are responsible for:

There are also a number of flash attachments. The nozzles are changed at your request by the studio administrator. Let's figure out what properties these nozzles have:

3. Where to start working in a photo studio?

• Shooting mode – Manual “M” (manual mode)
• Shutter speed – 1/125 (this shutter speed will prevent you from taking a blurry photo)
• Aperture – f5.6 (this aperture value will give sufficient depth of field in the photo)
• ISO = 100 (we use the minimum ISO because there will be enough light and there is no need to increase its value)
• White balance - flash (don't forget to check this setting)

These are the most standard settings, they are not a rule. Remember, everything depends on the task you set for yourself.

You already know how studio equipment works and why a synchronizer is needed, so all you have to do is select the desired location or background and start shooting. Since Fafastudio is an interior photography studio, with us you can choose the desired location for shooting (see the “Backgrounds and Props” page).

4. Popular lighting schemes

For your convenience, we offer several standard lighting schemes for photography.

5. Renting a Fafastudio photo studio gives you additional services

• Free Wi-Fi access
• Tea, coffee, cooler with drinking water
• Replacement slippers and shoe covers
• Speaker for connecting music
• Administrator assistance in connecting and setting up the light, free consultation on “how to work with judicial light”

The main thing to remember is that shooting in a studio gives you a lot of opportunities to develop creative and professional skills. Come, try it)

Rent a photo studio by phone. 063 983 88 33

Author of the article:
Fafastudio
tel.
Kyiv, st. Kirillovskaya (formerly Frunze) 160 A

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ABOUT COMPANY

FAFASTUDIO Production - full cycle video/photo production. We have 8 years of experience, a friendly team, professional equipment and our own studio in Kyiv.

We create video content of any complexity: from video reviews to corporate films. We provide commercial photography services, as well as clothing and footwear photography for online stores.

How to shoot in a studio? Where to begin?

If concepts such as “aperture” and “shutter speed” no longer scare you, and manual mode doesn’t bother you, and photographing friends in the nearest park in the rays of the setting sun is no longer interesting and you want to move on, then this article is just for you. We'll talk about studio photography, going into detail about questions that are likely to arise for someone who has never worked in one.

So, what is a photo studio and why is it so popular among photographers and models? A studio is a room with or without windows, in which the most comfortable conditions are created to achieve the assigned tasks using special lighting equipment in combination with a variety of additional accessories. The main advantage of the studio is that, working in it, we create ideal conditions for the filming process, the result of which will be the quality product we expected and planned.

The studio is not afraid of the vagaries of nature, there is no shortage of lighting. We do not depend on the length of daylight hours and do not have to worry that it will rain at the most inopportune moment. Probably the only thing we are limited by is our knowledge, imagination and technical capabilities of the studio itself.

As a rule, a studio is a room painted in one color, for example, white or gray. Numerous colored backgrounds can add variety to the filming process. But there are also so-called interior studios. From the name it is clear that this is a kind of space that imitates various interiors to realize almost any creative ideas. These can be small zones separated from each other in one room or several large thematic rooms. In such studios, you can “transfer” your photo session to a country house, an old library, or, for example, to some kind of futuristic interior.

Another feature of the studio that should be taken into account when choosing a room is the presence of a cyclorama. This is a rigid background structure in which the transition between the horizontal and vertical planes is so smooth that the intersection of the wall and the floor is not visible. Many studios offer painting services for cycloras in any color, but most often they are white. Cyclorama creates the illusion of an infinite background and makes it possible to create a beautiful soft gradient. Plus, it works well as a reflector, filling the space with soft light. The cyclorama provides ideal conditions for catalog shooting.

When choosing a studio, it is worth remembering that its size and ceiling height play a huge role. The area of ​​the room should be at least 30 m2 if you plan a half-length portrait or shooting of small objects. The larger the subject of photography, the more spacious the room should be. For a group portrait, a full-length portrait of a person and for shooting jumping models, you need to choose a studio on the basis that there will be approximately 5 meters from the subject to the photographer, and the ceiling height will not be lower than 4 meters. In general, the more spacious the studio, the easier it is to realize your creative ideas and the more comfortable it is to work.

Having decided on what you want to photograph and understanding which studio is needed for these plans, you can proceed directly to choosing a room. The easiest and most logical way is to search queries on the Internet. First of all, you will come across the web pages of the studios themselves, where you can see their interiors, find out what equipment is offered, and prices. It’s very convenient to have online booking and the opportunity to see the current occupancy of the halls. But, unfortunately, “interactive” is rare. In addition, there are some kind of catalog sites that have a large database of photo studios and have fairly detailed information about their location, interior design and prices. The only negative is that all information, as a rule, is provided by all users of the site, and therefore inaccuracies and errors are possible.

When choosing a studio, I would advise you to pay attention, first of all, to the equipment presented, and then to the price and location. During the filming process, you should not be distracted by the thought that the light sources are triggered every once in a while, and the stands are about to fall apart. Photography should take place in a pleasant atmosphere and bring pleasure and satisfaction - then you can be sure of a good result. It is for this reason that I prefer to work in studios that are equipped with Profoto equipment. Photographers value it, firstly, for its quality; secondly, for convenience and thoughtfulness. When deciding on a room, you need to understand that the larger the studio area, the more advanced the equipment and the closer its location to the city center, the higher the price. Very often, by choosing a photo studio further away, you save large sums of money, but at the same time get a spacious room with good equipment.

So, you have found a suitable studio, you have a model. Now all that remains is to figure out the studio equipment. To take photographs we need light. In the studio we achieve this with the help of lighting fixtures that are mounted on stands. They can be moved in space and adjusted in height and length during shooting.

There are two types of lighting devices: those providing illumination with pulsed light and constant light. The latter option is more often used in video shooting, although it is loved by many photographers. Continuous light fixtures provide a continuous, controlled source of light. Working with them requires certain knowledge and skills, and a constantly working lamp consumes a lot of electricity and gets very hot. We are interested in pulsed light, and we’ll talk about it in more detail. It’s worth noting right away that it is used only in photography, because the light source produces a powerful but short pulse of light, which, however, is sufficient to obtain a photographic image.

The pulsed light device has two types of lamps. A small “pilot” power (it helps to see what the cut-off pattern is and, if necessary, correct it) and the actual pulse power (it gives the light pulse we need). In turn, pulsed light sources are divided into monoblocks and generators

The monoblock is an all-in-one design that houses the controls, pilot lamp, and flash tube in one housing.

Generators differ in that they contain only batteries, and the lamps are connected to them using special wires.

Generators are devices of a higher class. They beat monoblocks in their power, shorter pulse length (suitable, for example, for shooting falling water drops) and high-speed recharging. People filming in a studio for the first time, unfortunately, will not be able to appreciate this simply because there is nothing to compare it with yet. Therefore, to begin with, I would recommend working with monoblocks. It's at least cheaper!

As a rule, 3-4 light sources are provided for shooting in the studio. And in large studios it is always possible to book additional “light”, but most likely for an additional fee. In order for all sources to fire simultaneously and only at the moment when you press the shutter button on the camera, they need to be synchronized. The first way is using an infrared transmitter, which is mounted on the camera's hot shoe and sends a pulse through the infrared port.

The second, more reliable and accurate way is to use radio synchronization.

And finally, the third synchronization option is to use a special cable.

On cameras of a more advanced level there is a special connector, through which the camera is connected to one of the devices, and when triggered, the others are “set on fire.”

All this equipment is available in the studio. Moreover, an IR transmitter and a radio synchronizer are always provided along with the light sources. If necessary, technical administrators will help you set up synchronization channels and tell you about the principles of operation of the transmitters.

When shooting, set the camera to manual control mode, choosing the shutter speed that is most suitable for the studio (1/125–1/160 s). If it is shorter than the synchronization shutter speed, an unpleasant effect in the form of a black band at the bottom of the image may appear on the resulting images. The exact sync speed value varies slightly between cameras, but you can check it in the specifications of a particular camera. For example, for Nikon D5500 it is 1/200 s, and for Nikon D810 it is already 1/250 s. Having set the correct shutter speed and having ideal light conditions, the ISO value can and should be set to the minimum, and choose the aperture based on your idea.

For creative studio photography, equipment alone will not be enough. To get an interesting cut-off pattern, you need to use a variety of attachments (such as softboxes, reflectors, beauty dishes), as well as all kinds of additions and props (color filters, reflectors, skylight frames, “flags”, chairs, things, toys, etc.).

But we will talk about all this in subsequent articles. For the first shooting in the studio, in order to understand the principles of operation, it will be enough to use one light source and a simple attachment, for example, a reflector (photographers nicknamed it a “pot” for its characteristic shape).

In conclusion, I would like to point out one more plus of the studio. As mentioned above, in a room with pulsed light you have the opportunity to create ideal conditions for photography, and therefore high-quality pictures will be obtained with almost any camera. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s mirrored or mirrorless. The main condition is the possibility of manual correction of aperture and shutter speed, as well as the presence of a “hot shoe” for connecting synchronizers.

Shooting in the studio: 5 tips for beginners

All of us, creative people, start our journey somewhere. With small but confident steps we are moving towards the fulfillment of our dreams, exploring more and more new horizons.

Someone very wise long ago voiced the idea that it is better to move forward uncertainly and slowly than to confidently stand still.

So, when you, captivated by the world of photography, have photographed all the locations in the city several times, and even in the terrible cold, you suddenly realize that it’s time to move on.

What's next for us? That's right, studio shooting.

“Studio shooting”, “studio light”, “photo studio” - you say these words and see how the novice photographer begins to get lost. But the devil is not as scary as he is portrayed.

Put aside your insecurities, friend, we are here to help you cross that threshold!

So, what are the important things to remember, what to watch, and how to behave in the studio? We are ready to answer these questions. Go!

1. Choose your studio wisely.

This means that you need to do this based on the nature of the shooting and your needs as a photographer.

The main mistake: booking a photo studio on the first recommendation of a photographer friend, without finding out the circumstances.

There are enough varieties of studios: interior studios, daylight studios, pavilions with only pulsed light, aqua studios, and of course those that combine all these characteristics.

Before paying for a studio, find out at least its area, ceiling height, study its equipment, and whether its use is included in the rental price. Why know the studio area? If you have a camera with a crop factor of 1.5 and a portrait lens in your arsenal, it will hardly be convenient for you to shoot full-length portraits in a pavilion with an area of ​​15 sq.m.

2. Read the rules for renting and working in the studio.

And it is advisable to do this before the start of shooting.

The main mistake: ignoring the rules, which leads to at least inconvenient work, and at maximum to the impossibility of shooting.

Of course, it's important to know whether to bring a change of shoes, but even more important is how much money you or your client will lose if you cancel the shoot. And some studios limit the permissible number of people who can be in the studio at the same time; require additional payment for the use of props and for the work of an assistant.

Reading the rules or making a call is two minutes of your precious time. As they say, informed is forearmed.

3. Ask for help.

The main mistake: believing that you can do everything. As a result, resources were wasted on filming, the result of which did not meet anyone’s expectations.

If suddenly, before shooting, something prevented you from reading about what equipment is generally available in studios and how to use it approximately, then an assistant will come to your aid. He will briefly tell you what's what, turn on everything for you and even (!) set all the lights correctly for you. Questions about moving props and furniture around the pavilion are also directed to him.

But there are situations when the work of an assistant is not included in the rental price, but you really like the studio. What to do? There are several options here:

• take with you a photographer friend who knows everything;
• rent another studio, but return to the one you like when you become more confident in your abilities;
• don’t listen to anyone, study the ins and outs of working in the studio around the clock for two weeks before shooting, and show everyone your class.

4. Keep track of time.

This is really very important.

The main mistake: you think that you have time to do everything. But just as you get involved in the process, the administrator reminds you that your time is running out.

All of us, when we dive headfirst into the process of creating masterpieces, forget about everything around us, not to mention the watch. Calculate how much time you need for preparation, for filming itself, other organizational issues and fees. This, of course, will sound unfair (you paid exactly for an hour of rent), but it is better to finish filming ten minutes before the end of the paid time. This will allow you to calmly get ready, put things in order after yourself and not even forget anything.

5. Relax.

An item for those who really like to worry.

Main mistake: you can't hold the camera in your shaking hands :)

We understand and know, like no one else, that something new is always something very exciting. But in this case, it will greatly interfere with the rhythm of work.

How not to turn your first experiences of shooting in a photo studio into a result from the “expectation-reality” series? Guys, just make it a rule that you always need to prepare for filming. Put all your worries aside and do what you do best.

If you love what you do, the results will follow. Develop, work on yourself and conquer new pedestals.

Photography in the studio of Vladimir Godnik - how does it happen?

When do people on the set feel at ease and relaxed, and when do impromptu scenes turn out successful? Absolutely right: in the case when everything is prepared from start to finish, each studio employee knows the algorithm of his actions, and there is no psychological barrier of “unfamiliarity” between the photographer and the person being photographed.

How do we prepare for filming?

When do people on the set feel at ease and relaxed, and when do impromptu scenes turn out successful?
Absolutely right: in the case when everything is prepared from start to finish, each studio employee knows the algorithm of his actions, and there is no psychological barrier of “unfamiliarity” between the photographer and the person being photographed. Therefore, we usually try to have the shoot preceded by a meeting with the client, during which two important tasks need to be resolved. One is a discussion of the upcoming photo shoot, and the second is an introduction. And, frankly, it’s difficult to say which of these two points is more important.

We begin this preliminary conversation with the most general questions about the goals of the planned shooting and gradually specify the details.
As a result, we come to an understanding of what kind of “homework” the studio team must do in order to propose a sufficiently formalized shooting idea. We prepare a unique version, never completely repeating previous works. Sometimes it's one idea, sometimes it's a list of photos. When the concept of the photo shoot is agreed upon, we move on to the next stage.
We talk through each shooting scene and work through all specific parameters, including such details of the image as makeup, hairstyle, clothes, shoes, accessories.
It is important that our client not in general terms, but very specifically understands each story that will be filmed. You can use the services of our makeup artists and hairdressers (they have extensive experience working for photo shoots and can very accurately create a given image) or invite your own.
When it comes to clothing, people usually bring a large collection of what they have. It is always better to have more things than is required so that we have freedom of maneuver during the work process. If you wish, you can hire a professional stylist to help you choose clothes, shoes and accessories. The prop specialists with whom the studio cooperates can create the most unusual outfits and accessories for photography, which look absolutely authentic or absolutely fantastic in the frame, depending on the intention of the shooting.

If the implementation of the idea of ​​a photo shoot involves technically difficult moments, then we also rehearse them in order to know step by step our algorithm of actions during the shooting - because we respect the time of the person who comes to be photographed.
During the shooting there will be room for impromptu, feelings, and immediate reactions. If we see that we need to deviate from the original plan because it could turn out to be a cool improvisation, we will certainly do it!

How is the shooting going?

We always set up a person to come to the shoot in the least responsible frame of mind. This is really important - so that he does not feel like he is going to “work” or that he needs to “deal with” something. Shooting is a joyful job for the studio team and pleasant entertainment for the person being photographed. This is facilitated by the atmosphere in the studio - friendly and informal. The shooting process is organized in such a way that, with a minimum of stress, thanks to pre-prepared technical moves, the maximum result is obtained in both quantitative and qualitative terms.

What happens after the shooting

And then comes the stage of photo processing.
We try to make the time when the client waits for his photos as short as possible. First, all captured frames, with the exception of defects (i.e. moments when a person blinked, and similar annoying little things) undergo initial processing.
We adjust each photo in terms of color, contrast, brightness and many other parameters. And we send the client the entire array of photographs in good technical quality. From them, he will select those frames that will be subjected to so-called “fine retouching,” which allows you to remove skin defects, change the proportions of the figure, if desired, and so on. The number of frames that we must bring to perfection is determined by the chosen shooting format. Photo retouching in our studio is carried out by a designer, a top specialist in his field.
We guarantee exceptionally high quality image processing for both private and advertising photography. We leave some final touches of retouching for the final meeting with the client. This applies to his special wishes.

Of course, we provide the level of privacy that our clients require. This applies to both the organization of shooting and the use of photographs. No one will ever see your photos in the public information space if you don’t want them to. On our website, in social networks, and in booklets, we publish only those photos that we have been given permission to post by the people depicted in them. This is a fundamentally important moment for us.

10 Tips for Studio Shooting

Working in a studio is usually completely different from working on location, especially when it comes to shooting portraits. In location it is easy to focus on the model's face, but the surrounding environment also contributes. In addition, the studio has a lot of complex lighting equipment, and the photographer must create the light himself, and not adapt to the existing light.

Therefore, working in a studio often frightens novice photographers, leading them almost to a nervous breakdown. Here are 10 studio shooting tips that can really help you.

1. Think of studio shooting like bowling.

When shooting in a studio, the model should not change her position, and you should only move forward or backward. You cannot move to the right or left, as you may disrupt the lighting pattern. The same applies to the model. Instead of taking two steps to the side, ask the model to turn around.

2. Use clockwise direction

Often the model and the photographer get confused in directions, because for her, your right is your left, and vice versa. So it's really very easy to get confused. At the same time, turning clockwise or counterclockwise is the same for you and for the model.

3. Where is the right, where is the left?

Clockwise orientation helps to some extent, but sometimes you still need to tell the model which way to go, and for this you need to know how to say it correctly. Among professional photographers, it is customary to indicate sides from the position of the model, since she does not have to think about where to go, but immediately follow the photographer’s command. It is very important to immediately agree with the model about this, especially if it is not a professional model.

4. Fixed focal length lenses

There are and always will be arguments for using zoom lenses in the studio, but if possible, use primes. They are usually sharper and brighter. A standard portrait lens has a focal length of approximately 80-200mm. If you are using a camera with a sensor smaller than a film frame (crop), do not forget about this when choosing a lens. For a full-frame Canon camera, photographers prefer 85mm f/1.2 and 135mm f/2 lenses, and for crop cameras, 50mm f/1.2 and 50mm f/1.4. Nikon photographers prefer the 85mm f/1.4

5. Be at the right height

Use the correct camera height for a variety of portraits, otherwise you risk getting the wrong perspective and distorted proportions. For a close-up portrait, hold the camera at the subject's eye level. If you're shooting a full-length portrait, hold the camera at chin level. For a half-length portrait, this will be the level of the chest, and for a full-length portrait, this will be the level of the abdomen. Although, for some creative shots you may need to lie down on the floor or use a stepladder.

6. 1/125 and forget it!

Camera settings for studio shooting are quite simple. Set your camera to manual mode, set ISO to 100 or 200 (if your camera doesn't have 100) and shutter speed to 1/125s. Because flashes are used, it makes no difference what shutter speed to use, 1/100, 1/125, 1/160 or even 1/200 sec.

7. Use a flash meter

Modern cameras have a very developed exposure metering system. But she can't help you in the studio. You won't be able to determine how much power to light the background or hair, for example, until you take test shots. With the help of a flash meter, you can adjust the lighting scheme immediately and correctly. Just because you can read a histogram on a camera doesn't mean you shouldn't use a flash meter. This will save you from unnecessary headaches due to lighting.

8. Focus on the eyes

Regardless of the aperture and depth of field you choose, the eyes are what tell the story of the portrait. Attention should always be on the eyes and they should always be in focus.

9. Custom White Balance

We constantly require you to use custom white balance, and for good reason! Light modifiers such as umbrellas, softboxes, dishes, and snoots have a small effect on the color temperature and coloration of the light. Therefore, setting a custom white balance before shooting will ensure the most accurate color reproduction.

10. Try just one light source.

Famed fashion photographer Helmut Newton was known for using only one light. This, along with changing the angle of the lighting, can create truly dramatic and stunning photographs. If you have many light sources, this does not mean. that they all need to be used. Try a simpler approach to lighting, working with one source instead of several.

Studio portraits are quite difficult to perform. We hope these 10 tips will help you and inspire you to take more beautiful photos and continue to improve.