Why not set up a photo shoot at home instead of going to a studio? You will have the opportunity to give your photos your personal touch while saving hundreds of euros. With a camera, a window and some decor, anyone can create a professional photo shoot at home.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Part One: The Set
Step 1. Choose where to set up your photo studio
Find a white wall, preferably in a room where there is a lot of natural light. If you don't have a white wall or if it's covered in paintings, hang a sheet from the ceiling that falls to the floor. You will create a blank canvas that is completely the same as that of professional studios.
Step 2. Raise the blinds, letting the sun enter the room
Light is the most important element when creating a photo shoot and it has to be natural to give a better effect.
- Plan to start the service when you know the room will be flooded with light for a few hours. That way you won't have to rush.
- If the room gets too bright from the sun, make the light soft with a white curtain or thin veil. This will create a more delicate effect and eliminate shadows.
- Even on cloudy days, the sun should provide enough light.
Step 3. Find lamps with shades
Desk lamps, for example, often have one that can be directed to focus the light on a particular point.
You can consider buying a pair of reflectors used by photographers and artists for various purposes. They are also found cheaply, both in hardware and photography stores. If you plan on doing more than one service, it will be an investment worth the money
Step 4. Create a professional environment
Use artificial lights to enhance the room with soft, shadow-free lighting.
- A light should point towards the ceiling, creating a warm glow against the white. It should gently illuminate the subject from above.
- Use another light as a "filler"; place it in the back of the room, far enough away from the subject so as not to cast shadows.
- Both of these lights can be used in conjunction with natural lighting. The different sources will create the optimal setting for a professional service.
- Don't use chandelier lights, they cast sharp shadows.
- You can use an umbrella, cloth, or other material to filter out the lights.
Step 5. Have useful tools on hand
A simple wooden stool may be enough for the person who will pose or perhaps some object for a fun service. Prepare everything you need according to your taste.
Method 2 of 4: Part Two: The Model
Step 1. Decide how your model looks
It doesn't matter if you've hired a professional or if you've enlisted your cousin's help - decide what to wear well in advance. Do you want to make a service that focuses on elegant or casual fashion? To get a good result, the model must feel comfortable with the clothes she is wearing.
- Consider asking the model to change clothes several times. If you have to take pictures for your daughter's graduation, you may want to portray her in the toga, then in her favorite dress and perhaps in the basketball team uniform. Remember to have everything close at hand.
- Hair and makeup are other important components to give a professional effect to the service. Remember that makeup doesn't look as good in photography as it does in real life, so the model will need to wear a brighter-than-usual lipstick and a heavier stroke of eyeliner.
Step 2. Have the model rehearse the poses before shooting
Prepare it before you start shooting, describing the effect you want to achieve. Maybe you are from the traditional portrait school, that of direct smiles in the car. Or maybe you want to capture his personality with a smile, a thoughtful look, etc. Whatever your purpose, the service will go better if the model already knows what to expect
Method 3 of 4: Part Three: The Service
Step 1. Prepare the camera
Whether you're using a digital or a manual, make sure you've set it up well before you start. Consider the light and the effect to create.
- Most digital cameras have the "automatic" option. It's perfect in most cases, but make sure the flash is off. You already have enough light.
- Keep the tripod on a flat surface. Check that it is suitable for professional photos.
Step 2. Start taking pictures
Ask the model to pose and try various creative approaches. Try taking some photos with a tripod, others resting on flat surfaces and still others without any support. If you're using a digital, you can also try different settings.
Take more photos than necessary. You have worked a lot for this service and you need to be sure that the photos are great. The more you shoot, the more choice you'll have
Method 4 of 4: Part Four: The Photos
Step 1. Arrange the photos
Load them on your PC and use an editing program to cut them, apply filters, change the contrast and so on.
Step 2. Print them on photographic paper
If you have a printer at home you can buy quality photo paper and print them directly from your PC. For a professional result, it is worth taking them to a photographer.
If you did the shoot with a regular camera, take the films to the store and have them developed
Advice
- Think about taking a self-timer using the timer. Sit on a stool or chair in your "studio" and strike a pose.
- Experiment with different backgrounds. Try a patterned or colored sheet.
- The lighting rules also apply to the outdoors: the secret is to reduce the shadows to create a soft light atmosphere. Umbrellas and other diffusers are equally useful outdoors.
