Advanced Techniques: Classmate Portrait

For the classmate portrait assignment, I worked with Colleen Lefholz. I have been eager to learn about studio lighting for awhile. I learned so much working on this project and I know there is still so much to learn. After talking to Colleen for a bit, I learned that she is a cake decorator. I love food, so I figured that this would be the perfect opportunity to not only use food during a shoot, but bring out a unique part of her life.

Multi-Light Source Select:

Colleen Lefholz licks frosting off a wooden spoon while posing for a portrait on September 28th, 2009. Colleen is a cake decorator during the summer and holidays in her hometown of St. Charles, MO. “When my friends find out that I am a cake decorator, I get a lot of requests for cake.” Colleen said during her portrait session.

Light Diagram:

I used a soft box, a gold reflector and a second light with a blue gel facing the backdrop. I used blue because it contrasted nicely with Colleen's hair color. I metered the situation using a meter connected with a sync cord. It gave me a reading of ISO200, f/13, 1/125 of a second. I bracketed in addition to that reading. Looking back, I think a second soft box on her left would have helped lighten her face and the icing on the wooden spoon.

Single Light:

Colleen Lefholz poses for a portrait on September 28th, 2009 in Lee Hills Hall studio.

Light Diagram:

For the single light portrait, I used a soft box and tried to go for the Rembrandt lighting. I metered ISO200, f/13 and 1/125 of a second. I had Colleen turn her back to me and slowly turn back around with her head directed at me. I wanted to do soft lighting to reflect the Colleen's self proclaimed soft spokeness. I bracketed, but I think I under exposed the image.

Outtakes: