Studio Shoot: Jodie’s Antlers
Sunday, 13th January 2008So here’s my first shoot write-up! Although I have spent time getting to grips with my new studio lighting equipment by taking test shots, this was my first half-descent prepared shoot. The motivation for this shoot was to get a shot of our one year old yellow Lab, Jodie, wearing festive antlers (as you do) for my wife, Lynsey, to post on her blog.
I decided to keep the set-up relatively simple, especially as a dog has a tendency to move around a lot. I used the 80×60cm softbox as the main light camera-right at around 45 degrees. I positioned it around 3 feet from the ground pointing down towards the subject. A ’sunfire’ reflector camera-left filled the shadows with a warm light. Below is a diagram (created using an excellent lighting set-up Photoshop file by Kevin Kertz) showing the set-up:
I selected the white paper background (from my wide selection of two backgrounds), which I attempted to light with the second light. I don’t yet own a short lighting stand or a background reflector so I had to make do with the wide angle reflector and the light positioned to the left and pointing towards the background. As you’ll see in some of the photographs, it didn’t exactly provide even lighting coverage of the background (which meant more time spent Photoshopping), which I think could have been better achieved with either a short stand (hide the light behind the subject) or perhaps a boom to raise the light above the background – both ensuring the light is centred to the background.
Here are the photos taken with my Canon 350D and Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L @ f/11 (first one at f/10), 1/200, ISO 100:
Poor Jodie was suffering from a “cold water tail” at the time (if you’re intrigued, read about it on Lynsey’s blog), so she had a few moments of chasing her tail manically.
The goal of the shoot:
Then Lynsey had a go with the camera and I tried to pose Jodie. Between us we managed to get some great shots, below.
James these are fantastic - thanks for sharing the lighting set up too - I have a lot to learn and look forward to collecting tips from you. My favourite shots are number 3 and third from last - helps that Jodie is such a beautiful dog - she takes a good picture
I might try some with George - don’t hold your breath tho! Was Jodie just being really well behaved or did you have a toy or treat or something to help pose her??
Thanks for the kind comments Nikki. Also, thanks for the good question that I failed to address in the write-up; how did I control and pose the dog?
I made sure that everything was set-up and ready before introducing Jodie to the room. Then when Jodie was in the room, Lynsey and I spent some time with her playing with a tennis ball and a ‘tug’. She wasn’t particularly bothered by the strange equipment around her or the background paper on the floor and playing made her feel more at ease. I guess it’s all about spending the time to allow the subject to naturally get used to a new environment and become more relaxed (this is probably very true for humans too, except perhaps without the tennis ball!); it’s best not to rush into taking photos. As you can see by her placid poses in the last six shots she became completely used to the environment and was content with just spending some time with us in a different room. We removed the thought that something exciting or different was happening – dogs react to the way you behave; you must be calm and relaxed too.
These are amazing James, SOOO professional! Love the one of Jodie biting her leg lol. Would it be possible/expensive to get large prints of some of your photography? I’m thinking for my flat I’d like big photos (A3 or bigger) and it would be cool to have some of yours, really like the ones from Isreal. xx
Among the best dog sessions I can remember seeing. This series is brilliant, James!
Hey Todd, wonderful praise indeed (and unexpected) - that means a lot coming from you!
Lisa, thanks so much. I’ll be in touch about the prints!
Gorgeous photo’s. Can’t wait to see more of the one’s you took on your visit to us.
love
Diane
James,
Way to go! This series is wonderful and the clarity is quite beautiful.
Good job.
Fantastic shots! I’m especially fond of the second one. If these were mine I’d be proud to display them among the best of my work. In fact, I wish these were mine! The detail in the fur is top notch. Looks like you have studio lighting down pat. Impressive “first go” to say the least.