I am going to do a service of shooting portraits to local seniors that haven’t had a nice portrait in years.
here is the plan
almost clamshell with the westcott eyelighter for fill. I plan on scooting the key a bit one side. I will use a westcott xdrop background. Thinking a rim with a grid (1x3’) would help. Do you recommend placing the rim opposite of the key or on the same side?
thanks
Gettg back to basics. If yuo want to do a real service for your senior subjects, for a few moments, clear your mind of all the gear talk and technobabble, don't get hung up on "eyeglasses, or skin textures, and think instead of concept, motif, and the psychological aspect of what you are going to do.
If you want to come up with outstanding and satisfying results for your "clients" do not attempt to line them up like school kids on picture day and use the same pose and lighting on everyone. These people on not teenage models lining up for "headshots"!
If you want natural expression and poses, suggest they bring alog some "props" their favorite hat, a pipe outfit, fishing tackle, some for the job or profession, a hobby item, their cat or dog, or some things that tell a story about them. This will help folks to relax and become enthusiastic about your project.
As for skin texture. Folks here worry about extremes but most folks (clients] lkie a good compromise. They don't expect you to "erase their face" and produce a plastic effect or have a face look like a relief map of the Himalayas.
Eyeglasses can be addressed in various ways. If you understand how the angle of incidents theory works - it's a pieeof cake. You can negate reflection by raising the main light just enough to eliminate the glare but not high enough to insufficiently illuminate the eyes. If you use a giant umbrella or a giant softbox, this approach can be difficult or impossible. Some eyeglasses are problematic in that they are very large and/or convex and pick up reflection no matter what you do- I employ blank frames. Somete just slightly tiling the glasses downward solve the problem.
If you want to address faces and body styles of different structures with different features, there's no such thing as one lighing fits all. If you only have a few days to go, there is no time to begin to study all the various lighting forms. If you are up for it I'll post some basic diagrams and typical scenarios.
Attaced is a portrait made by window light. All I brought to the location was a camer, a portable background, and a reflector. This is from my file of instructional worksheets. The image is scanned for a 4x5 PrOOf. The coupl enjoyed the image into their late 90s and the 30x40 portrat hahs in the family home to this day. They left a treasured image for the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Is that not the idea?
"Tea for Two"
Tank Commander
Ed Shapiro- Commercial and Portrait Photographer. Ottawa, Ontario Canada
