Kayla: Bed of Roses

[Colin Southern]

I had the pleasure of spending about 4 hours photographing two lovely young ladies in the studio today. I'll post some more shots over the next few days (12:46am as I write this, and I'm off to bed!), but thought you might like these for starters

[Colin Southern]

And Ashley ...

[Colin Southern]

[Katy Noelle]

Very fun and beautiful!

[Raycer]

wowsers! nice pics!
Sir, may I have more?

did you use a fan? care to share the lighting set up?
do you need an assistant?

shhh... don't tell my wife.

[Colin Southern]

Very fun and beautiful!

Thanks Katy

[wilgk]

wowsers! nice pics!
Sir, may I have more?

did you use a fan? care to share the lighting set up?
do you need an assistant?

shhh... don't tell my wife.

we always hear you boys

p.s Colin do you have this 'bed of roses' always to hand? or is like a 'green' backdrop and then you do something clever like on the telly??

[Colin Southern]

wowsers! nice pics!
Sir, may I have more?

did you use a fan? care to share the lighting set up?
do you need an assistant?

shhh... don't tell my wife.

Hi Ray,

I aim to please - they're only 15 though, so you'd better not tell your wife! :eek"

Lighting was different for all, so here we go ...

1. "Roses"

- Softbox at floor level (bottom of frame), giving directional light to face and rose petals
- Softbox directly overhead for fill
- Gridded strobe adding light to petals at top of frame

2.

- Softbox to camera left
- 1.2 x 2.4m polystyrene sheet to camera right for fill
- Small softbox up high for hair light
- Reflector to camera right and down low to reflect some of the key light under the chin
- Fan used

3.

- Same as above I think (can't remember!)

4. "Ashley"

- Lightbox (basically a 110 x 90cm table with 10mm opaque perspex; softbox & light on boom arm swings underneath
- Kicker light (gridded) either side of and behind subject

5.

- Softbox to camera left
- Kicker light (gridded) to camera right, behind subject
- Softbox above and behind me
- Fan used

6.

- Softbox to camera left
- 1.2 x 2.4m polystyrene sheet to camera right for fill
- Reflector to camera right and down low to reflect some of the key light under the chin

7.

- Softbox to camera left
- 1.2 x 2.4m polystyrene sheet to camera right for fill
- Small softbox up high for hair light
- Reflector to camera right and down low to reflect some of the key light under the chin
- Softbox above and behind me for fill
- Fan used

8.

Just softbox overhead

I had an assist for about 1/2 the shots ... doesn't really make any difference to the setups ... just to the speed of constructing setups!

Hope this helps

[Colin Southern]

we always hear you boys

p.s Colin do you have this 'bed of roses' always to hand? or is like a 'green' backdrop and then you do something clever like on the telly??

Hi Kay,

It's a floor shot I create. Starts with some wicker floor mats - a rose petal cloth goes over-top - model lies down on floor - and petals are spread all around. They're dried though, so somewhat prickly ... and I have to keep reminding myself not to brush off the ones that stick to their backsides when they get up!

[carregwen]

I had the pleasure of spending about 4 hours photographing two lovely young ladies in the studio today.

Turning into a right little David Bailey aren't you! I like the last two of kayla the best. Nice work if you can get it (as they say).

[Raycer]

uh oh, only 15? in that case better not tell anyone.
thanks for sharing your lighting set up.

[Fleshpiston]

Roses or Potpourri?

In my eye the first shot is great (I think I would have used some of the dried flowers across the tummy area to break the black). I also like the 7th shot! 4th one is a wonderful shot and a perfect use of lighting (I will use that idea one day if you don't mind).

[Colin Southern]

Roses or Potpourri?

In my eye the first shot is great (I think I would have used some of the dried flowers across the tummy area to break the black). I also like the 7th shot! 4th one is a wonderful shot and a perfect use of lighting (I will use that idea one day if you don't mind).

Thanks Jim,

#4 is a 10mm x 900mm x 1100mm acrylic sheet sitting on top of a wooden frame with an Elinchrom 1200RX & softbox on a light stand underneath, and a couple more 1200RXes with a medium grid firing back towards the model - gives quite a soft and moody under lighting. I don't have a patent on the lighting (yet!) - so help yourself to that one!

PS: Yes - Potpourii, but (a) I can't spell it, and (b) roses sounded more exotic!

[Colin Southern]

One more for luck!

[Klickit]

Great set Colin, except - dare I say it? - for #4. The straight on look doesn't do such a buxom and wide shouldered girl any favours. Is she a swimmer by any chance? But other than that, another bingo moment for the man with the Canon.

[Colin Southern]

Great set Colin, except - dare I say it? - for #4. The straight on look doesn't do such a buxom and wide shouldered girl any favours. Is she a swimmer by any chance? But other than that, another bingo moment for the man with the Canon.

Hi Kit,

Thanks for that, although to be honest, I really don't have a problem with #4; to me it's the kind of shot that one would get looking across a table at a restaurant, or across a bar. I don't think she's into swimming in any big way - I'll see her tomorrow, so I'll try to remember to ask!

[Rob Douglas]

Great work Colin. Very beautiful young ladies and very well shot. Your lighting is spot on and I love the fun nature of the shots. I'd have to say The 1st and last shots are my favorites. Kayla seem very comfortable in front of the camera. She has beautiful eyes and great bone structure. My daughter has been asking me to help her create a portfolio (she's 9 & thinks she's 19) I just might have to try out some of your lighting techniques this weekend with her.

[Colin Southern]

Great work Colin. Very beautiful young ladies and very well shot. Your lighting is spot on and I love the fun nature of the shots. I'd have to say The 1st and last shots are my favorites. Kayla seem very comfortable in front of the camera. She has beautiful eyes and great bone structure. My daughter has been asking me to help her create a portfolio (she's 9 & thinks she's 19) I just might have to try out some of your lighting techniques this weekend with her.

Hi Rob,

Thanks for the kind words Both were somewhat nervous about the shoot (I thought they might even cancel a day before), but in the end they were asking "do you think you might need us again?" - so I think my charm won them over

[Rob Douglas]

That's great that you made them comfortable enough to want to pose again for you. At there age you will be able to shoot them for a while and maybe even build them a nice portfolio if they develop a love of the lens. Great work again Colin, look forward to seeing what you do next.

[Colin Southern]

That's great that you made them comfortable enough to want to pose again for you. At there age you will be able to shoot them for a while and maybe even build them a nice portfolio if they develop a love of the lens. Great work again Colin, look forward to seeing what you do next.

Thanks Robert,

Next shoot is tomorrow - an engagement shoot for a fellow photographer and all-round nice guy. Will see what I can come up with!