Colour Portraits - shoot 1

This was my first shoot and although it took a while and some help from Tim I think I got a really nice lighting set up and also framing for my model. This is defiantly what I am going to try and stick to for the rest of the shoots that I will be doing in this project. I think that this contact really shows the different stages that I went through to be able to create my shots for this image and also to get a image that I liked. You see the progression and then when I like a set style you can see this too as the images begin to look similar only variation in the models expression and pose. 

Enlargements: 

The framing of the model in these images is all the same because this is the look that I want. The composition with the negative space above the models head and also the way that you only get a view of up to almost elbow length of the models body. I wanted to get a sense of style as well as see the models head/face/hair clearly and with plenty of room. This will be the same for all my shoots.

This was one of the first shots, more of a test shot to try and get the lighting right. I rather like the lighting on the models face. The background is a bit too loud so this is something I went onto work on to try and get the colour I wanted. 

This one I really don’t like the models expression, she kind of looks menacing and like she’s up to know good. I think that this looks posed and I wanted to have more of a natural look. I also think that the background is too edited and is too pink for my liking. So this is not the look at all that I am trying to achieve. The lighting was getting better at this point. It was just trial and error.  

This is more natural as the model was genuinely laughing but I think I’m wanting something a little less fun. The lighting is getting so much better. The image is strong and in focus but I think that it would only really work with the idea I have if all the models were to look like this and that is something that I am trying to avoid as I don’t want it to look cheesy.

This is my favorite image from this shoot. I think that the lighting on the model and the background are evenly matched and they really complement each other. I don’t want one or the other to be out shining the other I want them to work together to make a soft but powerful image. I think an image can still make an impact and not have to be bold and in your face. I like the models expression and the strength given off from her eyes. She really engages with the camera and therefor engages with the viewer. 

Trying other things:

I wanted to try something else when I was in the studio just to make sure that the idea that I had in my mind was defiantly what I wanted. As the initial focus of my work was hair I decided to get some images were the model was showing off/engaging with her hair. Here are two examples of the images that I got from this. However I think that by going down this path I will be taking my project down a direction that I don’t want to go down and I think that it could get to complex and chaotic and also risks getting cheesy or cheap looking.