Ep 290: Photo challenge week 2 + product and portrait isolation tips for beginners and pros

This is an excellent challenge for photographers of all levels. It’s a great idea to put into practice while you’re self-isolating as it will hone your skills and you’ll add a new tool to your offering.

Gina and Valerie hope you enjoy the podcast.

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Show Notes

Constructive Critique

This week’s amazing podcast cover is by GOLD member Kerry Setch

Kerri Setch Bio:
I am a freelance photographer specialising in Headshots, Portraits and Branding. My goal is to create authentic and natural-looking images to generate engagement or stir the emotions.

I have photographed individuals, small business, medical specialists, Not-For-Profit Organisations and NGOs in Australia and Asia. My photos have been published in organisational and industry publications, annual reports, marketing campaigns, websites, online social media platforms and hang on the walls of people’s homes and offices.

As a location shooter I travel to you, an outdoor location or place of business. Being based in Brisbane and having a global mindset, I am not limited to photographing only in my home city.

You can find me on:
Website www.kerrisetch.com
Instagram @kerrisetch

 

As more and more of us around the world are being told to self-isolate, we’ve got a stack of tips to keep you motivated, entertained and drills you can do to up your photography skills. “Life is 10% of what happens and 90% of how you react to it.”

MIND AND BODY

• Exercise and sunlight

WATCH

• Life (2015)
• This biopic of Dennis Stock (1928-2010), a photographer for Life magazine

CLOUD STORAGE

Self-portrait or composite portrait photo challenge

• Tripod or a stack of books + bag of beans or rice to keep your camera steady
• Find a room with nice even lighting across the entire space
• Create a set
• This may be a dinner setting with 2 or more seats (size will vary depending on space)
• Lounge room
• Bathroom

1. Shoot a base exposure
2. Shoot narrow aperture F6 and use a 35-50mm lens
3. Focus approx 1/3rd of the way into the frame
4. Shoot base exposure
5. Turn off autofocus and don’t move or change settings
6. If you have a remote app use it to trigger the camera
7. If not use timer delay setting
8. Position yourself in 2 different parts of the frame
9. Beginners preplan where you will be in the frame so you don’t overlap
10. Either side of a dining table or next to yourself on a couch is easiest
11. Beware of eyelines
12. Edit both images exactly the same WB, contrast etc
13. open as layers in photoshop
14. Merge together
15. Reduce the opacity of the top layer by 50%
16. Use eraser tool to reveal yourself
17. Next Level
18. Change clothes between frames
19. Have a dinner party with yourself

NEXT LEVEL

1. Light each image and overlap
2. Bring each individual image into LR
3. Edit one image and apply the edit to all images
4. Select all images right click >open as layers in photoshop

 

 

As mentioned in the episode: Here is Gina doing the ‘90210’ version of the above.