Photography

Client Work (3 Family Shoots 1 Day part 1) - Pippa, Dave & Sky

Back in Feb this year I had 3 family shoots in studio in one day.  This is the first of those shoots with Pippa, Dave & Sky who is one of the cutest little girls you will ever meet.

When working in a studio with lights, stands & backgrounds it can be a bit daunting for the children involved so I usually start slow and simple and make a point of arriving in studio 1-2 hours before start to prep the space and make it as safe as possible.  I also use this time to get my head in the mode of shooting.

Have to say Pippa, Dave & especially Sky were great and we all had allot of fun on the day.

We stuck to the white seamless set up for most of the shoot because it works, its simple and it’s clean.  3 Lights, white paper background and a few pieces of white board are all that’s needed.  Ok on to some images from the shoot.

I love this image above of Sky and her Dad, she is trying to figure out the white boards and the set.  Always have your exposure roughed in ready for when the client steps on set, that way you can catch moments like this and have good or very close exposure.

Whole family on set now and Sky looks at her shoes… Cracks me up.  The reflection is made possible by using the white board, I wont shoot full length white seamless with out it.. so much so I bought it for the local studio I use.

As the shoot progresses everyone (including myself becomes more comfortable) and we start to get some great images and moments.  Moments.. that’s the most important thing… not the gear.

The next few frames were not shot on the white seamless set, make sure you have some breaks now and again to change it up and keep it interesting for the child but be aware of your ambient light (windows light in this case) so you can dial in exposure and capture some candid shots.

Back on the seamless set for a few shots of Sky and her Toys.​

Sky the budding photographer, taking after her Mum Pippa.

Girls got to look her best whilst photographing.​

Yeah this is what happens when you knock you mode dial to bulb mode, Sky looks as impressed as I was.​

Sometimes your subjects/client just fall in to something and it works.​

Sometime I hand the camera to the child (with my help.. 5D2, grip and lens is heavy) and let them shoot some frames.  The next 3 images are courtesy of Sky,​

Then Sky found the hats.  Let me explain.. the owner of the studio I use is a stage / theatre actor and has a few props and hats around which means it’s not uncommon for the kids to find them.

At first the hat was a drum, makes sense I can see that.​

Then is was time to try it on.. this is where it went a bit wrong….

This always gets me laughing when I see it. 

Thank you Pippa, Dave & Sky for making it a fun and easy shoot.  Also thank you to Ians Studio for providing the studio space.

Thank you for reading.
Rick

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I went in to Manchester this weekend to shoot some street again with the X100, still getting to know that camera.  I was not really getting much and felt terrible all day but I did come away with some images.

This image below is by far my favourite Image from the day.  The two gents in it are my good friends Kev Pack and Mark Boadey.  I like the symmetry and contrast and the fact they are looking up and she.. Well the statue is looking down.

It was shot ISO 3200 so its grainy but in a good way.  Actually quite like the grain the X100 produces so removed any noise reduction applied in lightroom before export.

I am still not feeling great so will blog the rest of the days images some other time.

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Thanks
Rick

Liverpool Street ...

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Since getting the Fuji X100 I have been trying to shoot with it as much as possible and it has become my daily carry camera.

I have talked about trying street photography some a while, have tried it before but with a DSLR it’s not ideal as they attract too much attention or cause people to close down/walk away.

So to give the X100 a good run out I met up with Mark and headed in to Liverpool to shoot some street.  The weather was bad with dull overcast sky’s which meant giving the X100 a run at high ISO values (1600-6400).  You can see Marks post on his blog on the link below.

http://markboadey.com/street-photography-with-the-fujifilm-x100/

Most of the images are black & white apart from the odd few that are stronger in colour. And some of them are detail/architecture shots, just a few.

Before we get in to the images I want to say I can see me shooting more Street in the coming months/years, its freeing being able to relax my own strict rules I put on myself… Shooting street can be either meticulous, shoot from hip or a set up portrait and I like having that choice and being able to shoot a bit looser.  Now don’t get me wrong I am not talking eff it and spray and pray this stuff but just relaxing a little, framing does not have to be perfect at all times.. I mean it can’t be if shooting from the hip, I don’t have to shoot manual exposure.. Everything does not have to be perfect….Ha .. That’s such a stupid goal or pressure to set yourself!  I have not shot a perfect Image ever.. expect I never will, I actually don’t think a perfect photograph exists.  After all this is all subjective right?

Ok enough of that before I start to ramble…Here are some images from the day, exported 28 (not all shown) from the 170 I shot (battery life on the X100 sucks…. And really sucks in the cold).  I’m still waiting on my 2 spares to arrive, will most likely order another.

Like...
Like...
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:
EN-GB;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA" >This is Ian from Ship in a Bottle (http://www.th…
This is Ian from Ship in a Bottle (http://www.theshipinabottle.co.uk/ ). It’s a great shop that sells all kinds of world beers/ales.  I bought me and Mark some to try one of which was a local brew I had not tried, they went down nicely.  Whilst talking to Ian I made a portrait of him, this is just available light with the Fuji X100.  


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29122012_Street_LiverpoolX100_0392_033_WebWM.jpg
29122012_Street_LiverpoolX100_0412_053_WebWM.jpg
29122012_Street_LiverpoolX100_0413_054_WebWM.jpg
This guy spotted me, did not look
happy.. I moved on.

This guy spotted me, did not look happy.. I moved on.

29122012_Street_LiverpoolX100_0422_061_WebWM.jpg
Mark was making an image of a boat
spotter so I figured would make an image of him making an image. Kind of.

Mark was making an image of a boat spotter so I figured would make an image of him making an image. Kind of.

Museum of Liverpool.. really must call in to this place and the one in Manchester soon.
Museum of Liverpool.. really must call in to this place and the one in Manchester soon.
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I took a photograph of this guy and
his wife with his 60D, I may of changed a few settings on his camera as it was
set on Landscape Auto.. I set it to manual to dial in exposure and fill flash..
Forgot to set it back, hope he spots it.&nbsp;&nbsp;
A…

I took a photograph of this guy and his wife with his 60D, I may of changed a few settings on his camera as it was set on Landscape Auto.. I set it to manual to dial in exposure and fill flash.. Forgot to set it back, hope he spots it.   A short while after he came over to ask about the Fuji X100, nice fellow.

Mark taking a photo for some
tourists on their phone, we even spotted someone walking around using an IPAD
as a camera… any camera works.. but you’re a walking mug me target doing that.

Mark taking a photo for some tourists on their phone, we even spotted someone walking around using an IPAD as a camera… any camera works.. but you’re a walking mug me target doing that.

Nick Nolte?..&nbsp;&nbsp; This guy stopped us to talk about the X100. Turns out he’s a big film shooter with MF Leica.
Nick Nolte?..   This guy stopped us to talk about the X100. Turns out he’s a big film shooter with MF Leica.
Ok ok it’s not street… I have a weakness for sky shots/sunsets.&nbsp; Still prefer having a person in the shot lit though.
Ok ok it’s not street… I have a weakness for sky shots/sunsets.  Still prefer having a person in the shot lit though.
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:
EN-GB;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA" >One of the weakest of the set, yet I have still
…
One of the weakest of the set, yet I have still put it in the post. I don't quite know why.
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Making Ice Angels.. They make their own ice for it to remove air bubbles.
Making Ice Angels.. They make their own ice for it to remove air bubbles.
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She does not look happy…
She does not look happy…
I&nbsp;used a small LED light that was attached to the market stall for this shot, noticed people passing through the light and figured it would be better than no light at all.. its was getting dark!
used a small LED light that was attached to the market stall for this shot, noticed people passing through the light and figured it would be better than no light at all.. its was getting dark!


I really enjoyed walking around light on gear.  I am heading out again this weekend.  More posts to come and my thoughts about the X100. 

Rick