Commercial Photography

Commercial High Tech Equipment Shoot in Clearwater for Nordson March

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A real worker being the model for this Nordson March commercial equipment shot - Nikon D300 (tripod mounted) Tamron 17-50mm @ f/8 ISO 200 1/3 sec Strobist: SB-800 to frame left in 43" shoot through umbrella and SB-600 in same setup to frame right - white background added digitallyLast week I had an interesting commercial photography job in Clearwater that on the surface would sound super simple--photograph a large square machine in a warehouse, no editing required as the company's graphic artists would handle that as they use the images I make in online and print media materials.  Easy right?

Well, nothing really is ever as easy as it seems in photography.  The machine itself was about the size of two refrigerators and an off-white color, meaning reflections from any lighting I may use would be an issue.  I used two 43" shoot through umbrellas to produce maximum light surface area in order to try and minimize hot spots on the machine.  It took me quite a bit of time to position the umbrellas so that the upper corners of the machine did not appear as hot spots.  However, once everything was setup, and since I was shooting on a tripod, each shot after that was rapid.  

The purple lighting is the result of plasma being produced! - Nikon D300 (tripod mounted) Tamron 17-50mm @ f/8 ISO 200 1/4th sec - Strobist: SB-800 to my left in 43" shoot through umbrella & SB-600 in same setup to my rightFour minutes after turning the machine on, plasma is produced inside!  Seeing the plasma up close like that was kind of a David Banner moment for me!  To have no glare on the LCD screen I had some of the warehouse staff hold up a white background sheet over me and the machine to diffuse the light and make the screen readable (in another closeup shot).

The two 43" shoot through umbrella setup I used to make all the shots for the shoot.The above photo is the setup I used to make the top photo in this post.  All other shots were made with a similar arrangement of the two speedlights in the shoot through umbrellas.  I have to thank the workers in the warehouse for their help holding the diffuser sheet and for not minding the good amount of space the shoot took up in the middle of their work day.

Office Staff Business Headshots on location in office in Clearwater Florida

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Part of the staff I photographed on location making business headshots for the entire office in Clearwater FloridaThis morning I drove to Clearwater to photograph nearly the entire staff of a business.  It is actually a planned two-part shoot that will entail me returning on another date yet to be determined to photograph the remaining staff.  It was my first time to make so many headshots in a row, all told thirteen different shots.  It was kind of fun for someone to walk in for a few minutes, see how they choose to smile, and then move on to the next person.  No one was really camera shy so all I had to do was tell there where to point their toes and then which way to twist and look.

camera settings for headshots: f/7.1 ISO 200 1/60th Strobist: SB-800 in brolly @ 1/4 power & SB-600 with diffuser cap at 1/8 power pointed at backgroundI was provided with a near ideal space to make the headshots in--a long rectangular room free of obstacles and even a large table for me to spread all my gear out on.  I leaned the collapsible photography background against the wall, setup my lights, dialed in camera and strobe settings, then it was just a matter of getting the best smile out of each person.  No mess, no fuss!  Nice.

Business Headshot St. Petersburg Studio with digital background - Carol

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Business Headshot made right in my St. Petersburg home studio for a client - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/8 ISO 200 1/100th - Strobist: SB-800 @ 1/4 power in 43" brolly to frame right & SB-600 @ 1/8th power with diffuser cap to frame leftCarol visited my home studio this afternoon for a new business headshot.  She was an excellent client and knew how to get into position well.  Before we started shooting I showed her a few different lighting and background options.  Through the process of making the headshot we decided upon a slight shadow and a digital background for the image seen above.  The real background was a light tan wall that I removed and in its place inserted a gray-blue one.  

Making a portrait of any type is a collaboration between photographer and subject, and this time I involved the client in more of the process than I usually do as I was even able to show her on my computer monitor a rough sample of what the headshot would look like on a given background.

I offer business headshots both at your location or in my home studio (as long as you do not mind Kiki).

St. Petersburg Florida Real Estate Photography - Kenwood Neighborhood HDR

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St. Petersburg real estate photography - Kenwood neighborhood - kitchen view - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/8 ISO 200 9-exposure HDR on Induro CT214 tripod with Nikon MC-30 cable releaseOn assignment for Crown Group Realty this morning to photograph a very nice house in the Kenwood neighborhood that had recently been renovated by the owners themselves.  I am always impressed by people's real world skills like home improvement.  They say kitchens sell homes and this kitchen opened up to the dining room and backyard.  I made a 9-exposore HDR image in order to pull out the details in the kitchen (no window) and in the dining room (windows on either side).

A functional living room in St. Petersburg Kenwood neighborhood - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/8 ISO 200 1.3 secOften when looking at homes, both old and new, it is hard to set them up assuming you want a good viewing angle of your television.  Therefore, I chose to photograph this living room highlighting the great opportunity to setup a home theater due to its layout.  The sofa also faces the front door, which is something else I like in a home.

Well landscaped backyard in Kenwood - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 7-exposure HDRThe backyard was also updated, which I thought made for a nice flow from kitchen, to dining room to backyard.  Even though it is very hot in Florida in the summer, it is still nice to have your own outside space to enjoy.

A fenced in front yard in Kenwood - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 7-exposure HDRI like a picket fence in a front yard.  I feel it adds a nice framing to a home and if you have a dog it creates another safe outdoor area.  If you wish to buy this home or know someone who might be interested in it, please contact Amy at Crown Group Realty.

Film Noir Model Portfolio Shoot St. Petersburg Florida with Alexandra

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These are actually post office steps! The neon in the background is real, though modified - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/5.6 ISO 400 1/160th Strobist: Nikon SB-800 Speedlight @ 1/4 power in 43" brolly to frame left & Nikon SB-600 Speedlight @ 1/2 power with diffuser cap to frame left

I cannot say I explicitily intended for my model portfolio shoot with Alexandra to turn into a film noir style, but through editing of the images it certainly turned out that way.  We were shooting in the late evening from about 7:45pm to 8:25pm mostly around the Arcade in downtown St. Petersburg.  The Arcade is a great location offering a variety of shot opportunities, especially at that late time of day with all its shadow opportunities.  The above shot was actually the very last shot of the shoot.  The background features the neon sign of a cafe across the street with the contrast selectively turned up so that only what is illuminated by my speedlights and the neon remain visible.

Using long shadows created by a speedlight outside the gates - - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/4 ISO 400 1/160th Strobist: Nikon SB-800 Speedlight @ 1/8 power in 43" brolly to frame left & Nikon SB-600 Speedlight @ 1/2 power with diffuser cap to frame leftI chose the Arcade as a shooting location because of the great, very tall, ornate, iron gates.  I knew they would make for a fantastic background and/or prop.  For the above shot I placed a speedlight outside the gates to frame left in the alley to help cast long shadows in the foreground.  I composed so to accentuate them.  Alexandra came up with a great pose taking my one small suggestion to create space between each arm and her body, something I always make sure is set otherwise the model will appear to have a lumpy body or strange attached arm.  Alexandra in fact did a great job overall allowing me to focus on creating mood and atmosphere with my lighting and composition.

The 43" brolly creates soft shadows, I love it - - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/4 ISO 400 1/160th Strobist: Nikon SB-800 Speedlight @ 1/8 power in 43" brolly to frame left & Nikon SB-600 Speedlight @ 1/2 power with diffuser cap to frame leftThis shot features the same gates and lighting setup.  Without the speedlight outside the gates providing backlight, the gate on frame right would appear dull and lack the reflective light on it.  Additionally, the same speedlight provides rim light around the model, especially her hair, right arm and right side.  A photographer can do a lot with just two speedlights positioned in key spots.  I could carry all my strobist and photography gear that I used for this shoot myself, following the "lighten up and shoot" philosophy.

A single strobe setup with intentional background shadow - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/4.5 ISO 400 1/160th Strobist: Nikon SB-800 Speedlight @ 1/8 power in 43" brolly to frame rightThis shot is different than all the others in that it features only one speedlight positioned to create Rembrandt lighting (nose & cheek shadows touch leaving a little light under the eye) on the model.  I wanted to include one soft feeling image in the shoot as most of the others were really strong from a posing and overall feel perspective.  

Thank you again to Alexandra.  You can follow her work on Model Mahem and Facebook.

Tampa Model Portfolio Shoot Train Tracks

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Model Katie posing on train tracks in Tampa - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/2.8 ISO 200 1/2000th 

The above image featuring model Katie is from my archives.  A few years ago I was not posting about all the shooting I was doing since at that time I was only a part-time photographer, not the full-time professional I have been the past two+ years.  This train station is near downtown Tampa and we had to ask if it was ok to go out onto the tracks for a few shots.  I do not even think these particular train tracks were in use anymore, or if they are the platform could use some major rennovations!  

Katie was a great model that day in a wardrobe I thought matched the train track setting perfectly.  It was almost effortless to photograph her as she seemed to instinctively know on her own the best pose.

For this shot I got low just below her eye level and chose to make as shallow of a depth of field shot as the location provided.  It turned out to be my favorite of our model portfolio shoot that day.

Business Headshot in St. Petersburg Florida on Location with Al of Bayprint

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Business headshot done on location in Bayprint - St. Petersburg Florida - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/9 ISO 200 1/100th Strobist: SB-800 @ 1/4 power in 42" brolly to frame left

This morning I had a very fun business headshot shoot with Al of Bayprint.  I have known Al for sometime now first meeting him through the Third Tuesday networking event he hosts every month.  Nowadays I also see him once a month as he hosts a small business roundtable discussion.  As you can see, Al is very generous with his time and is a great networker.  

I went to his print shop in St. Petersburg and used the blank wall right in the breakroom for the background for the above shot.  The goal for that particular shot was to include the Bayprint logo on his shirt in the frame and overall have the headshot not look too corporate, which is why Al is not looking straightahead nor directly into the camera lens.

A fun headshot Al will use on his blog - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/9 ISO 200 1/100th Strobist: SB-800 @ 1/4 power in 42" brolly to frame left - gray background added digitallyFor the last shot of the headshot session, Al wanted one with his arms crossed kind of looking intimidating to use as a fun image for his blog, etc.  I used the Quick Select tool in Photoshop and then the Refine Edge function to cut Al out of the background you see in the top image and placed him on an empty background.  I then added a new layer under the cut-out image of Al, painted it black, then added a single gradient diagonally to create the new background in the above shot.  This is how I am able to make shots on location right in an office and still offer the client any choice of background.  

Thanks Al and I will see you at future networking events!