Illuminating Portraits workshop ~ pictures

January 31st, 2012

Last week I ran a couple of workshops using just Speedlights to light interior portraits in response to demand highlighted in our recent questionairre. It seems that most photographers have at least one Speedlight and so I decided to show what can be achieved with this little yet powerful light source.

01. I just used 2 Speedlights to create this shot to get the workshop going. Throughout the day we used Ebay radio triggers that I bought for a bargain price (8 sets for £100). This enabled Nikon, Canon and Fuji users to trigger any of the Speedlights I brought with me. We shot in manual mode with the Speedlights in manual mode too. It's the perfect way to work for this kind of shoot. Fast and consistent. The process of setting the exposure and then setting the flash power was quickly learned by the delegates so they can now reproduce the techniques used at will.

All the pictures in this post were taken on the Illuminating Portraits workshop using just Speedlights, available light or a combination of the two.

02. This was quickly taken using just 1 Speedlight to illuminate the scene. It's a Hello magazine style shot where all the detail is bright. It looks lit but the softness of shadows and the control of their depth give a high quality look to this simple shot.

We used all sorts of modifyers to create large areas of softlight, pools of hard & soft light and some magical effects too. I showed the delegates how to unleash the power of Speedlights in a fashion style shoot. The weather on the day was dull and damp typical of the UK in January.

03. I showed how to spice up the first shot to make it a bit more edgy by introduing a third Speedlight. I explained how the lighting was creating the shimmer in the dress fabric and why fashion lighting is different to portrait lighting.

04. Between rain showers we ventured out for 5 minutes with a single Speedlight to create the illusion of a sunny day on what was a flat, dull, grey day.

05. Close ups are easier to light in this way but we went for the biggie full length shot too.

06. Violet, our model was perfect for this workshop. Patient and kind.

07. A simple bit of softlight magic can create fabulous portraits.

08.

09.

10. One Speedlight was enough to bring this picture alive.

11. The copper bath was a big hit with the delegates. I varied the shots a little bit from day to day but kept to the sylabus.

12. One of my favourite shots was this stolen grab shot taken on my Fuji X100.

13. I used one Speedlight to light this shot too. I decided to keep the lighting simple and easy to recreate with low priced accessories and modifyers throughout the workshop.

14. I love the lift that hard backlight gives to a picture. Just a few moments to rig and the shot is transformed.

15. Beautifully simple lighting to create simply beautiful pictures.

16. I showed how to iliminate the ambient light in the room before adding a pool of softlight.

17. A brief ray of sunlight through some victorian coloured glass gave us a moments distraction as I cross keyed it with a Speedlight.

18. I used one Speedlight to light a mirror scene.

19. By late afternoon it was time to get all the toys out. I used four Speedlights to create this shot. Working with manual settings means any old flash gun will do the job from a budget pre owned Ebay Vivitar or Metz flashgun to the latest Speedlights. Supplimenting your current kit to take shots like these doesn't have to cost the earth.

20. The same four Speedlights were adjusted to light this fun take of a Lovegrove clasic shot.

21. I used my magic water reflector to light this shot. It's easier with continuous light but I showed the process needed to do it with a Speedlight. A second Speedlight provided the kick from the other room.

22. I added a third Speedlight to light the ballroom. My cheap as chips Ebay triggers worked through the thick walls without a problem.

23. The Speedlights work equally well with my Venetian blind gadget.

If you want to unravel the mysteries of fashion grade lighting using Speedlights join me on my next Illuminating Portraits workshop on Tuesday 8th May. My thanks go to Liz from the Alpha model agency for her organizational help, Violet Dillon our model and to Vicki Waghorn for her wonderful make up.

Feedback I have received from my delegates so far:

Lee said: It was a fantastic day, I am still buzzing!
It was my second course with Damien so I knew it would be good.
The level of detail was spot on, plus you can fire off questions all day which is worth the price alone.

Mark said: I absolutely loved it. It was so good to at last see the light so to speak? Sounds a bit corny really, but Damien is such a great teacher and so inspirational. Going back to basics with the speed lights and balancing this with the available light was so effective. It really makes you want to go out and start being creative with lighting, rather than just lighting… Violet was fab too, putting up with us boys all day.
The venue was amazing, to have so much freedom in a venue like that was awesome. Excellent food with lots of tea and biscuits…
Please pass on my thanks to Damien and I hope to come on another course soon.

Andrew said: For me – Damien is at his best delivering this style of workshop. I’ve attended most of the workshops on offer and they are always inspiring, always jam-packed with content and always well managed (ie great venues, good lunch, directions all spot on – all the “boring” bits, but the bits you tend to remember if they go wrong!).

One aspect of Damien’s training that is always impressive is that if there is any spare time (we were running slightly ahead of schedule at one point) Damien tries to squeeze in another set up or explanation, rather than extending the lunch or finishing early – it really gives the impression that he cares and isn’t just working to a script – its hard not to be inspired by that level of enthusiasm.

I’m struggling to think of anything I would have preferred to have been different. Do thank Damien for a fab day!

Paul said: As my third Lovegrove training session, Illuminating Portraits maintained the excellent standard I have come to expect. Damien provided the perfect mix of inspiration & practical advice. Violet our model was very professional & ideally suited the setting of Maunsel House. Looking forward to the next time & will be keeping up with the blog until then.

Please feel free to comment on these pictures below.

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22 Comments Add your own

1. Andy Cresswell | January 31st, 2012 at 2:17 pm

Lovely shots Damien which really jump off the page. Love image number 3, can spot two speed lights from the shadows, the addition of the third is genius, really finishes the shot. Note to self – must experiment more with speed lights
2. Chris Thomas | January 31st, 2012 at 2:49 pm

Another fantastic day with Damien, I can really recommend this course to anyone who wants to learn how to balance light, theres so much imformation going on that there is never a dull minute. If your serious about photography there is no better man than Damien to show you how……RESPECT!!!!
3. Lee Holland | January 31st, 2012 at 3:21 pm

It was a great day, my pictures look (almost like this) which i would never have thought possible. I promise you wont regret going on this course. GREAT GREAT DAY!
4. Karen Flower | January 31st, 2012 at 3:42 pm

I love the shots taken of Violet on the Chesterfield. Well actually I think all the photos are fabulous. I can’t wait to join you on the Into the Light course in April
5. Andreas | February 2nd, 2012 at 2:07 am

How much post processing was involved?
6. Lovegrove, Lovely as Ever&hellip | February 2nd, 2012 at 8:05 pm

[...] really are worth a look, and to read some of the technical insights from Damien himself then just click here. MOTM | DecemberTake a peek at our gorgeous MOTM Jane. Follow Alpha on [...]
7. damien | February 5th, 2012 at 2:46 pm

Thanks Andy,

There is so much potential in a Speedlight that remains locked in because of the overwhelming technology. I show delegates how to bypass the confusing tech and make great pictures the classic way. It’s about light and not the kit that produces it. Get practicing and stay inspired

Damien.
8. damien | February 5th, 2012 at 2:47 pm

Thank you Chris for your kind words and stunning appraisal of this workshop.

Best regards,

Damien.
9. damien | February 5th, 2012 at 3:15 pm

Thanks Lee,

For your generous feedback. Get it right in camera and stay inspired.

Kindest regards,

Damien.
10. damien | February 5th, 2012 at 3:16 pm

Thanks Karen,

I’ll do my best to ensure we get to shot the ‘Chesterfield shot’ in April. Exciting times

Kindest regards and see you soon,

Damien.
11. damien | February 5th, 2012 at 3:18 pm

Hi Andreas,

Very little post production was involved. The shots looked like this on the back of the camera. This is how I’d shoot if I was using transparency. I get it right in camera.

I hope this helps,

Damien.
12. Jan Moller | February 6th, 2012 at 6:52 pm

You mentioned some triggers from ebay, could you give the link,
13. Bridie Murphy | February 7th, 2012 at 4:58 pm

Fabulous as usual! Absolutely LOVE no 3.
14. Bryan | February 10th, 2012 at 8:53 am

love it, as always.
i’m trying to work out the light positions on these shots and i think i have it figured out in most cases but would love to see a few set up diagrams.
Really like the direct flash to backlight a key/separate the model but what kind of modifiers are you using from the front? mini soft boxes or just somebody holding a diffuser?

4,5,6,15 & 18 are the shots i need to be able to reproduce consistently but it’s the light in images like 7 that always inspire me. – just adding them to my ‘inspiration folder’ now
; )

You do like your little Fuji

I’m virtually on you door step in Portishead and will have to treat myself to one of your workshops some day.
15. Mark Dell | February 12th, 2012 at 8:25 pm

Hi Damien – good news! I was lucky enough to get vouchers from a variety of friends to the value of £390 so it looks like i will book this course!
Also I got my little Fuji X100 too so the combo of speedlights and that camera will be fab.
PS where did you get your triggers from? I have PW TT5 and TT1 but cant seem to get them to work on the Fuji
16. David Cooke | February 27th, 2012 at 11:15 pm

07 is magical, thanks for sharing.
17. damien | March 17th, 2012 at 11:09 am

Hi Jan, The Ebay link is long gone. There are always new styles of radio trigger coming and going on Ebay. The Lastolite units seem to be the best value maunal control units I’ve found. I expect to be migrating to those at some point soon.

Kind regards,

Damien.
18. damien | March 17th, 2012 at 11:14 am

Thanks Bridie
19. damien | March 17th, 2012 at 11:29 am

Hi Bryan,

Thanks for your kind words. It would be great to see you on a workshop soon. The setting of lights is far more important than their position. It is often where light doesn’t fall in my images that makes them come alive.

Cheers, Damien.
20. damien | March 17th, 2012 at 12:02 pm

Hi Mark,

Set your ‘external flash’ Fuji menu to on. Then the TT1 will work just fine. Don’t expect TTL though. I look forward to seeing you soon on an ‘illuminating Portraits‘ or ‘into the light‘ workshop. I can get you up and running with flash and your X100 in no time

Kindest regards,

Damien.
21. Mark Dell | March 17th, 2012 at 1:46 pm

I gave up with the PWs and got some “dumb” triggers from amazon – they work fine!
Did some cool super fast high speed synch shots of my dog the other day!
22. damien | March 17th, 2012 at 3:53 pm

Hi David, Thanks