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Apogee Photo Magazine

The Glamour Photographer's Notebook
by Gene Copas

Keep it Simple

This is one for all of you who are always complaining that you can't do great glamour images because you don't have the equipment.  Well, here is a two light set up with a relatively simple set that defies that complaint. 

First, it helps if you start with a beautiful model - in this case, Cheyenne from Southern California.  Cheyenne is very relaxed in front of the camera and has an easy, beautiful smile.  I had never met Cheyenne before this session and was pleasantly surprised that we worked so well together.  

And, then, it doesn't hurt to have some attractive lingerie.  I loved this lacy light blue when I first saw it and wanted to compliment it with some colors that would not distract from either Cheyenne or the garments. 

When I travel, which is often, I like to find a studio to rent.  That way I don't have to pack and lug so much equipment.  However, I have created beautiful glamour photos in very small hotel room spaces.  Some spaces as small as nine feet square.  Don't let space be a deterrent to your creativity.   

This photo session took place at the Esperanza Studio in East LA. (626-307-1908).  Now, I don't want to mislead anyone. Esperanza is a big studio.  They have many interesting "sets" around the perimeter of the studio. With  a large central area that has room for two back to back seamless sets.   

For this photo, I limited my shooting setup to an area about 15' x 15'.  There was a set that had a small "daybed" covered with a grey fleece cover.  The background was a foil "curtain" with a sheer window drape in front.  I liked the overall "grey" look which would compliment, but not distract from, the model or costume. 

The lighting, which was supplied by Esperanza on a rental basis, was provided by a Speedotron Brown Line power pack with two heads.  Since I was working in a somewhat unknown environment, I elected to go with two 36" white umbrellas.   Umbrella lighting is somewhat forgiving and gives a photographer considerable latitude in lighting.  They have a definite "sweet spot", but give a great, forgiving overall lighting pattern.  

Most rental studios are "bare space" rentals.  If you want lighting, seamless backgrounds, etc., then you have to pay by the "piece".  Therefore, you need to learn to be conservative in your needs and learn how to do beautiful glamour work with a limited amount of equipment. 

But, back to Cheyenne.  The two lights were positioned to provide a basic, "short lighting" portrait look.  OK, what does "short lighting" mean?  In this photo, Cheyenne is faced slightly to her right, with her eyes cut back to the left.  If you imagine her head as a rectangular shape, the front of her face is the short side of the rectangle and the side of her face positioned nearest to the camera is the "broad" side of the rectangle.  The light which was aimed into the front of her face was positioned closer to give a little more brightness on the "short" side of her face.  The other light was backed off to give approximately 1/2 stop less light on the "broad" side of the face. 

Glamour photography depends on a combination of things.  One of which is not necessarily an excess of equipment or space.  Experiment and make things work for you.  Accept equipment or space limitations as a challenge and use your creativity to overcome what you may think of a limitation to your creativity.  

Who is Gene Copas?

"Notebook #1"
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