How do you shoot portraits without a studio?

[d_price]

I've been approached by several people to do portraits of them. Some

just need headshots, and others want to build a portfolio. I don't

have an extra bedroom at home to turn into a studio. I figure that I

could probably shoot on location, but wouldn't that get old after a

while? I'd love to be able to accommodate all the requests, but I

want to do it in the most professional way possible.

One more thing, I could actually use my dining room, since it is

empty and has no table, but I figure it's probably not large enough.

Do you guys have any ideas on what I should do? Is it possible to

convert my dining room into a studio?

 

D.Price

[richard_milner2]

Your basic close up can be done in a small space with a backdrop.

 

Do environmental portraits in the sitter's own home or office.

 

Hire a studio by the hour or day when you need it.

[scott_stadler]

Do you have a garage? It may just be the excuse needed to clean it out. :)

 

Another option could be to rent a public storage unit and use that for a studio, they

usually have some sort of electrical outlet, or at least a light bulb that you could

screw a plug into. I knew some people that would use a storage unit as a place to

practice with their rock band so they wouldn't annoy the neighbors.

 

If you live near a fairly large city you also might be able to rent studio space on an as

needed basis.

 

Those are just some suggestions.

[jay ott]

You will only need a studio if you want to use lights, reflectors, and backgrounds. Wedding photographers, photojournalists and documentary photographers go on location all the time, I don't see a problem with doing location shots. The best thing about natural light is that the sun is free. Perhaps you'd have to help it a little. Shooting on location would not get old since the location would be different. I would think that studio work would get older sooner because your dining room studio would never change much. The getting old thing has really more to do with seeing the picture and less to do with equipment and setups. IMHO.

[Ian Taylor]

With 'environmental portraiture' you will often be faced with low light situations. I would recommend having a fast prime in your bag at all times. The 50mm/1.4 has saved my butt more than once.

[stephen hazelton]

I visit the local Arboretum quite frequently, and nearly always seen one or more wedding photographers doing bridal shots there. No reason you couldn't do any other kind of portrait there, too. Come to think of it, the Train Museum would work pretty good, too.

[httpwww.photpiaimaging.]

Why not set up a portable studio, it's not that hard

 

I often use one as I find families still want that studio look but can find it very

stressful to cart everyone to you.

 

As in all things in business give the customer what they want.

 

C.

[Jerry_]

I use a local park for 'out-door' type portraits of individuals and families. Cheap rent -- free. The background can be blurred out a bit, and if they want water behind 'em, the small lake does the job. For one person shots, a pair of stands and a bar will hold a background cloth....or a window (if the light is good) will do, too.

[danny_liao]

Do you have $300? Buy this:

http://calumetphoto.com/

ctl?PAGE=Controller&ac.ui.pn=cat.CatItemDetail&ac.item.itemNo=PK1100&ac.cat.Cat

TreeSearch.detail=y&type=SPDSEARCH

 

a stand for it and a nice sand bag. Or just have someone hold it.

 

Anyway, with this, you could shoot in direct sunlight anywhere in the outdoors and

get really nice soft light.

[sc21]

This woman uses just window light to make some really nice portraits.

 

http://www.jinsey.com/headshots/mainheadshotpage.html

[eschrad]

<p>Well, I am not a portraiture expert, but on occasion I am asked to do some portrait

shooting. (And, reluctantly, I agree.) You just have to get creative.</p>

 

<p>Recently I had to do some headshots on location at the company's workplace. The

day I was scheduled to go, it was raining, so shooting outside was ruled out. We ended up

finding a partition wall in the office with a mottled, neutral-colored background. I just

bounced my flash off the white ceiling. It worked pretty well for the end result we were

trying to get (photos for use with press releases and in the newspaper).</p>

 

<p>Here's an example: <a href="http://home.comcast.net/~egschrad/

headshot.JPG">http://home.comcast.net/~egschrad/headshot.JPG</a></p>

 

<p>Most of the time I lobby for shooting outside. I think people are actually more at ease

outside than in a studio setting, provided that they aren't subject to a bunch of onlookers!

Then I just use fill flash.</p>

 

<p>An outside example:<a href="http://home.comcast.net/~egschrad/

PMH_photo.JPG">http://home.comcast.net/~egschrad/PMH_photo.JPG</a></p>

 

<p>Anyway, like I said, I am no expert, but it can be done!<br><br>-Erin</p>

[stephen_martin2]

I have a complete portable studio with a 1200w battery operated power pack. goto a park and find a large tree with open shade. then setup the studio under the tree. if starting out get some sunpack 622 flashes and some stand and a background.

[Brad_]

There was once this guy that traveled west in a station wagon stopping in various towns,

and shot portraits of rugged individuals, against a large sheet of white paper taped up

against a convenient wall. That worked out pretty good.

[dai_hunter]

Shot outside in available light<div></div>

[d_price]

Wow Dai, that came out great.

[james_smith18]

What will get old after a while is a studio. You can virtually set up a studio anywhere. A garage, dining room, living room, any room. It doesn't take that much.

 

Available light portraits can also work on location or even in your backyard. It doesn't take that much at all to pull off a good portrait.

 

After all a portrait reflects the personality and what better way to create a portait other then the client's location itself.

 

<a href="http://www.supershoots.com"> Supershoots</a><div></div>

[melissa_eiselein]

I'm not much of a photographer, so I'm the last person who should be giving advice. That said, this mug shot was snapped in a small area (4'x 10') of a conference room using window light (directed by verticle shades), bounced flash and a large piece of fabric hanging over a homemade pvc stand. I'm not a very good photographer, but if I can pull this off then anyone can. (Oh, I do have a couple lights, stands and umbrellas, but I've only used them twice so I decided not to bring them to the office)<div></div>

[mike dixon]

My favorite spot for the standard, flattering headshot is the front porch at my folks' house. Diffuse but directional light, with a bit of fill from the walkway to better define the jaw and light up the eyes.<P>

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/mistycol01.jpg"></center><P>

It's very rare for me to step into a studio, and I don't even use additional reflectors much these days. There's plenty of amazing lighting out there if you keep your eyes open. Image below was shot under a big tree.<P>

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/shellybw05.jpg"></center>

[jay_de_fehr]

Once you learn to recognize good light, it's often easier to find it than it is to make it. That being said, I think a spacious, well equipped studio is the ultimate luxury.<div></div>

[eric merrill]

I agree with what Jay said about recognizing good light. I found studying some of the great painters to be more beneficial in learning to find good light than just about anything else.

[GerrySiegel]

I have a simple large hedge in my backyard. If I can get my subject far enough from it and the time of day is set for early or late,then the light will be just fine. I can add a little sparkle to the eyes with a small hot shoe flash. I would suggest a tripod,and leave enough room to make it either a headshot or a head and shoulders. I did this girl with nothing but sunlight late in the day. And a flash pop to help with eyes. For a simple studio,you can start with one light(maybe 250-300.),a decent size umbrella (30.00),a reflector and a couple light stands,fifty each. Plus a background. I use the Photek,(about 150 with stand,don't hurt your subjects with falling backdrops)cause I have no place to store paper rolls. This can be stashed easily,and maybe there are kits that have it all,I like what I am using,Norman flash heads-sturdy) For head shots,a dining room would do I am fairly sure,what are your dimensions.Can you move your camera far back into another room with a moderate tele lens on camera. Outdoors is more fun if you have a mooshy green spot. And also,you didn't ask,but please get the subjects to put on some makeup and get rid of the stupid piercings ( I know,I know, I am old fashioned,but realistic,everyone wants the model look and won't go for the work to get it,PS can't solve all the problems...)<div></div>

[GerrySiegel]

This was two lights on one powerpack, Norman's smallest unit,with about 400 WS total. Two umbrellas. One velveteen background. Not the best,but enough for starters. Expression and makeup are the secret professional things we seem to never talk about. And the ability to elicit some life in the subject. I wish you the best. Don't spend too much. One light and a reflector can sure do a lot. It is nice to be able to sit the gals down and play with lights. Best part=NO DAMN MOSQUITOES...<div></div>

[melissa_eiselein]

I had another thought...

If your dining room is empty, you probably have plenty of room to set up a couple lights with softboxes (I have umbrellas but wish I had at least one softbox) and a bounce card of some sort. If you can set things up so that you can move back out of the dining room and still shoot into it, you should have plenty of room to shoot full body shots and tight head shots using a longish lens.

 

My biggest problem when shooting in my living room is being able to move far enough away from the subject to use a longer (85mm and longer) lens on my 10D camera.

[catchlight]

I often use a nearby <a href="http://www.catchlightphoto.ca/catherine/index.htm">forested oceanside park</a> for portraits and wedding groups, and know a few gardeners who let me use their rose and English gardens for a shoot. There's also a seawalk and some beaches around here that often have gorgeous light in the late afternoon.<p>

 

http://www.catchlightphoto.ca/catherine/index.htm

<p>

You could probably find equivalent environments in your area. And beautiful outdoor settings never get "old" for me (although they do get windy, rainy, and cold at times).

[Spearhead]

I use walls. I take a small bare bulb flash and a c stand for fill, then I use the wall as background.<p>

 

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