No Ordinary Business Shoot

So if you remember Emily's business portraits from the other week, her higher ups were really happy with the shots, enough that today I was tasked with shooting four more, including the founder/owner.

I did try to push things a bit lighting wise to make Emily's shots a bit more dynamic, but the message I got today was to take that concept and run with it even further. The result? A set of really atmospheric, stylized and just cool looking portraits of the team. Something that conveys the feel of the company as fresh, energetic and edgy. Once at the shoot, the company's founder told me a very specific look he wanted for each of the four. It was a challenge, but also really cool to exercise some quick creativity on scene. The following are some initial quick edits. The company is leaning toward black and white, but for these first test shots I'm giving it a desaturated look to give a bit more edge. No big smiles or grins, I was asked. Just make em look cool. An hour and forty five minutes, a loading dock and four folks with different stories to tell.

The Founder.
Like any leader of a company, he wanted to show strength, confidence and intensity. This was actually a very basic lighting setup, with a softbox to camera left as an even key and a second light flown above on a boom for an accent.

The "Zuckerberg."
No, literally, that's what I was told. This guy is the negotiator, he talks with his hands. Catch a shot that makes him look like Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg speaking to an audience of eager investors from on stage. To do this I got down low, shot upward from the perspective of someone in the audience. I even kept in part of the flare from the boom light to give the feel of stage lights.

The "Madman"
Have him hold his briefcase. Make him look serious, like a shot from "Madmen." Okay sure, let's give it a shot. One of my favorites from the day!

The Attitude
I was told beforehand that she'd be camera shy, not at all, she did great. Make her look spunky I was told, have her give some attitude. She'd arrived wearing that awesome fedora, but had left it to the side for the shoot. "Let's bring it in for these shots!" I said. She happily agreed.

Boys Without Toys

I'm a huge fan of supporting local musical talent when I can, so when I heard that Boys Without Toys (a band featuring four siblings) needed some promotional shots I happily agreed to help out. It provided a bit more practice with the lights, especially in lighting multiple subjects. We shot in SE by the waterfront.

Feel free to check out their website here.

Oh also. I'd seen shots of this burnt out warehouse from colleagues, but I'd not shot there myself until today. It is awesome.

Anyway, I wish these boys and their parents all the best!

On Assignment - Business Portrait

Met up with Emily this afternoon for a business portrait shoot. Emily works for a local software company and is a key contact point with many of their clients. She contacted me earlier this week wanting some headshot work done, but wanted the images to have a bit more of an edge and pop to them. This lined up perfectly with the lighting work I've been doing lately, and I'm really happy with the shots!

The first thing I wanted to do was ditch the static seamless color backdrops common in most straight up business portraits. I pitched the idea about shooting on location and Emily loved it. We actually did the shoot under cover on a loading dock in the NW Pearl District. Good thing because it was pouring rain out today.

Anyway, over the course of the shoot I ran the whole gamut of lighting setups to provide a maximum amount of options for both Emily and her managers. We did a mix of strobes and just with natural light, wider shots, close ups etc. Look wise we flipped between more formal business attire, as well as something more suited for work out and about. I've posted four of my favorites so far from today.

In the end, what Emily and her company wanted from these shots was something a bit more eye catching than the average business shot. Professional, but still friendly and welcoming. I'd been really anxious to try something creative on the job, and I'm really grateful that what ordinarily would have been a static, by the numbers business shoot turned into something really fun for me as a photographer. I can't wait to get the final shots back to them.

Light Testing Continued

So if you remember my test shoot with Sarah and Erin from a few weeks back. Still working on refining the balance between those three lights (hair, fill and key). I think it's also important to note here that the light in these shots are completely from speedlights -- as in all of the ambient light has been stopped out. So what does this mean? It means total control and the ability to sculpt light however I want, oh yeah. It took a lot of playing around with the flash power levels, but I think I'm getting closer to the look I like! This will be excellent for professional or business portrait headshots. This type of David Hobby lighting just adds a lot more depth to the photos, I like it. Can't wait to try it more outdoors.