Introduction:
In the realm of self-portraiture, creativity knows no bounds. One need not possess an extensive budget or fancy equipment to craft captivating images. In this blog post, I’ll take you behind the scenes of a recent self-portrait session where I employed a modest three-light setup, proving that creativity is the true driving force behind remarkable photography.
The Vision: Moodboard as a Blueprint:
Every successful photoshoot begins with a vision. To translate my ideas into reality, I created this mood board – a visual blueprint that served as my guide. This collection of images, and aesthetics set the tone for the shoot, helping me conceptualize the final result. The concept was simple. I wanted a glam, vintage pinup look, dramatic but flattering lighting, and black and white.
The Preparation:
I’ll admit I am not very good at hair and makeup. I have short hair because I thought it would be the least maintenance (it’s not). Luckily there were a bunch of tutorials on youtube to help me get the look I desired. I knew that photographs with the right lighting have a magical ability to make everything look better, so I only needed to get the general idea. The rest could be fixed in post, or fixed by shooting from the right angles.
The Setup:
1. Key Light: Beauty Dish for Dramatic Flair
- For the main light, a single beauty dish took center stage. Elevated high above me and angled downward, this light source cast flattering yet dramatic illumination on my face. The beauty dish, known for its soft yet defined shadows, became the hero of the shoot, sculpting my features with precision.
1. Back Lights (Strobes with Reflectors):
- Positioned strategically at the back left and right, two strobes equipped with reflectors played the role of backlights. This placement not only added dimension to the images but also created a beautiful separation between me and the background. Working with available resources, reflectors were used to maximize the impact of these lights. The backlights created captivating highlights on the edges, adding a touch of magic to the overall composition.
My original inspiration from the moodboard was a 4 light set up, with a spotlight on the background. I am sure that would have been a great effect, but I only had 3 lights to work with at the time so I opted to leave that one out. I believe the inspiration also included different lighting modifiers, but I used what tools I had available, and made it my own!
For Reference:
My background was actually dark grey, but I positioned myself far in front of it, with no light spilling on to the backdrop to make it appear black!
Working with Constraints:
Photography, at its core, is an art form that thrives on innovation, and constraints often fuel creativity. I wanted long elegant black gloves, unfortunately black latex gloves from a local adult store were all I had available. I decided to use them anyway because I think it is a more interesting and unexpected choice.
Getting The Shot
Here you can see the journey of exploration where I tried different poses and angles to find what works, slowly making small adjustments until I found the perfect angle that was both interesting, attention grabbing, and flattering. I had a tendency to want to look down or away because it felt moodier, but in the end I found looking into the camera to be the most captivating choice. First I followed the mood, then once I found it, I tweaked the photo to be cleaner and more impactful. This is my favourite way to work, since I find starting by trying to be perfect and flattering is too limiting and the photos end up coming out lifeless. Find what works, then tweak.
Final Thoughts:
Self-portraiture is a journey of self-expression, and the tools we use are merely extensions of our creativity. By sharing my journey, and this three-light setup, I hope to inspire fellow photographers to explore the potential within their means, proving that stunning images are not exclusive to large budgets, big teams of collaborators or extravagant equipment. Embrace the constraints, let creativity lead the way, and watch the magic unfold in each click of the shutter.
Feel free to leave a comment to your own self portraits, I’d love to see them!
Happy Shooting!
Chelsey Unfiltered 