I’ve been waiting a long time for this – good deals on photography gear! Particularly studio gear which can be bulky and pricey. Yesterday a sizeable sale went on for several hours at Redhill, boasting all kinds of lights and modifiers from Lastolite, Profoto etc. If you brought your camera, you could also join the Hasselblad User Group and shot three stunning models to test those very lights.

Items looked heavily discounted (like 50%), though I’m not completely convinced if the original prices weren’t already marked up. Plus, as the “post-McNally tour” sale, at first glance it sounded like they were demo products. As it turned out, they had plenty of new ones in stock. Despite the temptation to buy more, I limited myself to some softboxes and stands, since I don’t have a full-fledged, working studio yet to house so many lights. I’m happy with my SLR strobes which work splendidly enough for now.

One day, I wish to walk into my own personal studio, with my name adorned at the front door. Financially, I’m not sure if that will ever come to be. I’m certainly grateful to already be shooting daily (as a photojournalist) but studio work is something I want to delve into at some point. While the equipment I bought yesterday won’t furnish an entire studio, it’s a step towards the future. Slowly build up what I have, so that when the time comes, I’ll be jacked in and ready to go.

Men in tights — can they be made sexy? There’s no doubt female curves always turn eyeballs, but it’s not so easy with men. Luckily, these custom-made wetsuits, which I had to shoot for the maker, were tight, form-fitting, and boasted vibrant colours.

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While the goal was to deliver clean, crisp images with a white background, some problems did pose themselves along the way. Since this was an on-location shoot at the client’s place, my worst fears of space-scarcity indeed surfaced. We had to move furniture around till we had a long enough area to operate my gear.

Because of gear limitations, it was tough to achieve the cleanest white background. That’s the problem when you don’t have your own studio. I used all the lights I had but it was still not enough to light both the subjects and get a nice white background. Digital processing and post-production can always do it (which is what I did here) but it’s always best to get it right on the spot and in the camera, if possible.

In this case, I made the best of the situation and still came out with a high-quality product that pleased the client. Hooray for Photoshop!

N.B. Since that shoot, I’ve garnered one more light strobe, so believe me, I’m slowly making my way to having a fully functional photo studio!

There are two things important in Katie’s life — dancing and Rosie, her dog. People with their passions often look the best in front of the camera, so since I’m trying to look out for the beautiful, our portrait session naturally revolved around these two elements.

First stop was the dance studio in Chelsea, Michigan. Never once had I seen an open-concept studio (no walls, only one side with angled, two-panel mirror) and it certainly posed enough challenges with composition and lighting. Getting myself out of the photo was tough and increasingly frustrating as almost every nook and cranny was inescapable, especially shooting at a wide angle, which you can see was done with some of the shots, such as the black & white image.

The solution: shoot long. That got me out of the way, though very limited in creativity. Having a variety of shots is important. It wouldn’t have been personally gratifying if I only stuck to one look for the entire session.

After a quickie half-hour in the studio (we had arrived late, and it was closing), we took to nearby fields to get some outdoor shots with her dog, Rosie. It was my first time doing an animal portrait, and having never owned a dog, didn’t really know how to interact with it or get its attention. Don’t get me wrong – I do love dogs – but when I’m so flummoxed with the photography side, it’s hard to jump into the playground with Rosie.

But Katie helped, trying to get her head turned towards the camera. Needless to say, I shot a lot to even up the chances. Getting the lens up close was something different I wanted to try. I propped the camera up on a tripod and used a remote release. If I had glued my eye to the camera, Rosie would probably never have gotten that close to the lens (which was maybe a few inches away).

Although the day started slow, I’m happy with some of the results. I shot a lot that day, more than I usually do for a portrait session, but it was necessary given the circumstances. Please check out the gallery below, and do leave a comment!

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Not exactly mouth-watering, I know, but this marks the entry of Ted Chen Photography into the business world of studio and product shoots.

Studios often have a higher threshold for entry. Expensive lighting, backdrops and rented floor space are the common miscreants that deter a photographer from diving into studio shots. But to be a successful commercial photographer, one should eventually get a studio as it provides an environment of controlled lighting unlike any other. There could be a hurricane outside and you could still be shooting sunny shots under your roof.

And because photojournalism is dying, there’s no sound financial reason to limit myself to events (or weddings). Shooting portraits outdoors is excellent for creativity, but sometimes a formal setting is all that is needed. Magazines and  new businesses will still require product/studio shots for whatever they’re selling, and some say that’s where your money tree will grow from.

Unfortunately a rented studio space is bigger than my check book. However, photos of smaller products can be shot in a controlled environment, as you can see above. All you need are a few light sources (strobes or even desk lamps work), an interesting background, and maybe some props to go with the actual product. Make sure to use a tripod as it’ll infinitely increase your leverage in altering exposure.

One thing I didn’t have and wished I had is a dedicated macro lens. Other lenses work fine but you’ll have to resort to obscene levels of cropping. Using a macro lens means you’ll preserve maximum resolution. All the more attractive to potential clients who like to print big and clear. So, if anything, I’d invest in a good macro lens and perhaps different backdrops to add variety. These days, it’s possible to share studios, so getting my own space is not on the top of my list.