TIP OF THE DAY: Use light to set the tone of your image
I had the opportunity to photograph several very talented teenage actors in S Florida. During our client interview, I was able to learn they had different objectives and needs. The young lady wanted to portray a fun, bright spirit to match her personality. She had this energetic and fun dress and her hair already in a very stylish pony tail. The choice in lighting was simple – a single, large light source at F5.6 against a white background. This combination truly showcased her beautiful skin and gave a fun, airy and “bright” feel to the entire image.
The young man had completely different needs. He wanted an image capturing a more masculine feel. This too was taken with a single light source, but at a lower power of F8. His blue shirt and blond hair against the gray background gave a nice separation and feel. He also brought a dark suit for a more formal look. Rather than simply using the same light settings, a more dramatic feel came to my mind. By simply lowering the power to F13 and a slight repositioning of the light, I was able to create shadows and use them to change the entire feel of the image.
Here is another fun fact…all these images were captured in the exact same room with the exact same lighting. Three different types of images and light in the frame was the key that dictated the mood you, the viewer, would feel from the image. The ability to control light is one of the photographers most valued super powers!