STUDIO

PHOTOGRAPHY
HAMIZAH BINTI EMRAN
JONES JOYNER JUGAH
KHAIZATUL AKHMAR BINTI AMAN

WHAT IS STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY?

A studio is an artist's or worker's workroom, or the catchall

term for an artist and their employees who work within
that studio.
A photographic studio is a business owned and represented
by one or more photographers, possibly accompanied by
assistants and pupils, who create and sell their own and
sometimes others' photographs.

STUDIO
EQUIPMENTS

C-STAND
Metal stand that holds items in place
Important to use (instead of having someone hold
the reflector or light) because youre sure want
everything is exactly the same each time you
shoot

CUTTER (AKA FLAG)

An opaque device placed in front of a light source
that cuts/reduces the light
Works best when placed close to the subject
rather than close to the light

Net or Scrim

A net or screen-like
material that reduces
the amount of light
Can me metal (hot
lights) or fabric (strobes)
Changes the amount of
light, but not the quality
of it

Grid spot

A honey-combed grid
that fits over a strobe
reflector light to focus
the light into a spot

Barn Doors

Black metal flaps (doors)

that changes the shape
of light source
Used with hot or other
types of focused light
sources

Soft Box

A box with black sides &

soft diffused material on
the end that fits over a
light source (not hot
light)
Modifies the light source
into very soft diffused
but directional window
light
The larger the box, the
softer the light

Cookie

Device that is placed in

front of hard light source
to break up the light
Can be solid with cutouts or celo made of
screen

Silk

A device of diffused
material that softens &
reduces the light
Works best when placed
close to the subject
rather than close to the
light

REFLECTOR
Any method of
reflecting the light
source
Can be a matte foam
core board for difficult
light and a mirror for
very hard, directing light
The metal collar that
surrounds a strobe light
is called a reflector it
reflects & directs the
light from the head

Snoots

Black metal tube that

changes the shape of a
light source

Umbrella

A light modifier that can work

similar to a soft box, but less
directional
Can shoot through the silk of
a white umbrella, or bounce
off of a black exterior with
silver/white interior

TYPES OF LIGHT

TECHNIQUES
Basic Lighting Techniques (1).mp4

Studio Photography
(cont..)
Shooting Still-life
Khaizatul akhmar binti aman

Still Life Photography

Still life subject is an inanimate object but other
subjects are loosely termed as still life as well.
These include flowers, food, etc. They are life
forms but they dont move.
Because the subjects are smaller, lighting coverage
is less and alternatively less power is needed.
Still life setups can be lit with just daylight from a
large window and/or the use of one or two flash
guns with the aid of a few large white cards to
utilize as reflectors.

Lighting
Like all studio work, getting strong
enough lighting to light the subject
suitably is the tricky bit.
Lighting a small area though is much
easier in one respect but much more
skillful in another way.
However once lighting technique has
been mastered, setting up a still life studio
will be quick and easy.

10 Tips to Get
Started
with Still
Life
Photography

1. Getting Started

Contrary to common perceptions, you

dont need a studio or a fancy location to
make a start with still life photography.
You can begin by simply using a space at
home, such as a table placed by a window,
along with a simple backdrop and utilizing
a couple of lamps.

1 (a) How to make a DIY

photography light tent

2. Choosing the subject

Find something simple but interesting to start

with. Please dont feel like you have to take
photos of fruit or flowers just because everyone
else does, think outside the box without being
overly ambitious.
Try to avoid reflective surfaces such as glass and
metal to begin with, as they will be extremely
difficult with regards to lighting. Once youve
mastered the single object shots, try mixing it up,
combine objects of contrasting shape, colour,
texture and see what you can come up with.

3. Lighting
Using standard lamps can work extremely well if
used effectively.
Try multiple positioning set ups, not all light has
to come from the front of the object, side and
back lighting will add interest, shadows and depth
to the shot.

4.Tripods and Angles

Depending on your lighting situation, you may or
may not need to use a tripod and shutter release.
This set up will also allow you to use slightly
longer shutter speeds than usual to ensure a small
aperture allowing the image to be in focus front to
back.
Be sure to vary the angles and heights at which
you are shooting.
Try shooting at the level of the subject or try a
birds eye view, looking down onto the subject, but
be careful if you are moving around not to cast
any shadows on your subject.

5. Get the backdrop right

Having a suitable backdrop for your subject matter will
play a crucial role in the overall success of your shots.
Keep it nice and simple, so it doesnt interfere with your
subject. (example : plain painted wall or a large sheet of
white or plain colored paper)
How your choice of background contrasts the subject,
do you want a neutral background, or are there tones
that may work in complimenting the shades within your
subject must be consider.
For smaller objects, there no need for backdrop as such,
but instead require a surface to place the items on, for
which something like black velvet, as it absorbs light and
looks like a solid black surface.

6. Composing the shot

The compositional element of your still

life work is an absolutely crucial part of
ensuring that your work is engaging and
unique. Consider the rule of thirds, how
can that be applied to your shoot to
create a strong composition. Ensure there
are no distractions within the frame, just
the subject and the backdrop.

7.Taking all day over it

Set up your subject, lighting, backdrop and

camera, try a few shots, then move things
around a bit and have another go.

8. Inspired by the masters

If youre struggling with the lighting,
composing or structuring of your shots,
then you need to find some inspiration,
and where better to look than to the
original still life masterpieces of years
gone by.
Have a search online for renaissance still
life artists and observe the elements of
the pieces.

9. Now its your turn!

Try setting up your camera and backdrop by a
suitably light spot next to a window and get
snapping!
Once youve mastered the basics, try getting
creative, experiment with camera angles,
lighting angles and alternative light sources such
as candles and lamps.

10. Sharing Session

Once youve got your shots, dont be
afraid to share them online.
This may provide a feedback on how to
enhance your skill of photography.

Still Life Tutorial

Portrait Photography
A portrait! What could be
more simple and more
complex, more obvious
and more profound. Charles Baudelaire
Portraiture is a window to
the soul

Holding Virgina - Sally Mann

Portrait and People Photography

Photographs that
clearly shows the
expression of a
human
most
likely to use their
faces as main
Focal Point.

Settings of Potrait Photography

Settings and
scene can really
add emotion to a
portrait.
Settings tell us
information about
the people and
their way of life.

Props in Portrait Photography

Props help to give

the photographs a
life and tell us more
about the subject.
Include props but
dont let them
become the main
focus of the portrait.

Lighting in Portrait Photography

Make sure the lighting ADDS to the photograph

rather then subtracts. Lighting can make or
break a photograph.
Shoot FROM the source of your light to fill in
faces
Shoot in early morning or towards end of day for
nice soft diffused light. Mid day light is way to
harsh and high to effectively fill out facial
features

Work/Life/Candid

Dont tell your subject to pose. Rather be

unobtrusive and photograph them doing
what they do. A posing smiling person is
not always the best.

Angle in Portrait Photography

You can minimize

distractions in your
photographs by
switching up your angle.
Different angles can
really change the mood
and meaning of a
photograph.

Types of Portraits
When we speak of portrait photography in general terms there's a tendency to
overlook the sub-categories. From the strictly formal to the candid street shot.
Here is a range of the more common types of portrait photography.

Candid
Posed
Formal
Couple
Environmental
Sporting
Children
Group

Candid
un-posed and
unplanned photo
o

Posed

Communication
between
photographer and
the subject about
the body position
and expression

Formal

Communication between
photographer and the
subject regarding
clothing, location, style
and mood

Couple

Interpretation of a relationship
between two people

Hiroshima, August of 1945

Small Group

Interpretation of a
common bond between
members of a group

Environmental

An environmental portrait shows the subject(s) in their own

territory.

Sporting

shows the subject with their uniform,

equipment in their sporting environment.
The important factor is to let the equipment and
location tell part of the story.

Children

Portrait Tips

Choosing the Right Background

Focus on the Eyes
Lighting, Lighting and more Lighting
Change the Format Framing
Alter Your Perspective
Experiment with Subject Expressions
Play with focus
Give Your Subject Space to Look Into
Reflection & Shadow
Movement
Get serious

Choosing the Right Background

Focus on the Eyes

the eyes are the window to the soul

Lighting, Lighting and more Lighting

Lighting is the most important element in any photo composition

and sets the mood, feeling and character of your photo.

Change the Format Framing

Mix your framing

Alter Your Perspective

completely
change the
angle that you
shoot from

Experiment with Subject Expressions

Same shot+different focus

=different story

(UN)Focus

It adds
some
mystery
to the
image

Give Your Subject Space to Look Into

Reflection & Shadow

Movement

Use movement
to show action,
even if it blurs
out the subject
entirely.

Get serious

Not all
portraits
need to have
a smile,
capture the
serious
emotions too

BEN WATTS

DIANE ARBUS

THOMAS RUFF

CINDY SHERMAN

ANNIE LEIBOVITZ

DAVID LACHAPELLE