A simple test shoot with Ella Webb

Oct 5, 2012 | Continuous Lighting, Location

There is no better way for me to get the creative juices flowing than by shooting in a new unfamiliar location with an unfamiliar model and sharing the experience with a friend. Martin Hill and I decided to set up this impromptu creative shoot. Martin booked Berkeley Castle to be our venue, Blaise my PA booked our model Ella Webb and Twitter pulled in Tracey and Annabella to form the rest of the team.

01. Take a fabulous castle, a team of creatives, throw in a pub lunch and you have the ideal test shoot.

At the time of this shoot Martin and I were due out to Spain in a week to teach the workshop of our lives. This would involve conjuring up shots and inspiration in some unfamiliar surroundings with unfamiliar models and a group of talented photographers from around the globe. Those pictures will be blogged later. Here is a small selection of shots from my setOur team:

Hairstyling – Tracey Sweeting

MUA – Annabella

Model – Ella Webb from Gingersnap

Fashion and accessories – Martha Webb

Venue – Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire

The Kit:

Fujifilm X-Pro1, 18mm, 35mm and 60mm lenses.

Lupolux HMI 1200, 800 and 400 plus Lupolux DayLED 1000 and 650. The lights were mainly powered by inverters.

02. Simple two point lighting with Lupolux DayLED spotlights and a window.

03. We set out to create a set of images created with hard and softlight.

04. I love the random hand accessory clasping Ella’s shawl.

05. Ella has amazing eyes that pull you into the picture.

06. The floor of the great hall in Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire makes an impressive background.

07. The props are real. The lighting is not.

08. To flare or not to flare? That is the question. It was simply a case of using a lens hood or not plus a change of camera angle that makes the difference.

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10. I love the details in Berkeley Castle. This carved girl grabbed my attention.

11. I used two Lupolux lights an inverter as a power supply for this shot.

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13. I kept the lighting simple for this close up with the Fuji 60mm lens.

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16. Ella is stunning and wears clothes designed by her sister

This was the perfect warm up shoot for Martin and I ahead of our Spanish adventure. I’ll be blogging those pictures soon. It was also a great opportunity to work with other creatives for the first time. My advice is if you have the kit, get out and shoot. I feel the need to practice, practice, practice.

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