Steve Paxton
09-04-2011, 08:44 PM
High School Seniors -If you happen to be a high school senior reading this; I would love to capture you're senior portraits. Jump over to Paxton Portraits (http://paxtonportraits.com/photos/senior-portraits-marysville-everett-lake-stevens-seattle/) to learn more. More information can also be found here (http://pikeplacemarketseniorportraits.com/). I would love to work with you!
I had a senior portrait session in Seattle today - here is one of the setups in Post Alley (located just below the market). The first image shows how the lights are placed and the second shot shows one of the final proofs. I have a Canon 430EX firing through a snoot camera left at 1/4 power. This light serves to highlight hair and to provide a little bit of depth to the image. The snoot controls the direction of the light and keeps it from spilling. I placed a CTO gel over the flash head to warm up the temperature of the light. A CTO gel works great on red heads - it naturally accentuates their hair color.
Camera right is the main light - a Canon 580EX set to 1/2 power and bounced into an umbrella (with no gel). I position the light about 45 degrees to my client.
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I used the same basic two light setup here in front of the world famous Gum Wall (located just below Pike Place Market):
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Here's the image in front of the market. If a client schedules a session with me at Pike Place Market, this is the image they want. I have to use one camera flash to make this shot happen - we are standing in the middle of one of the busiest intersections in the city. There are just too many people and cars to set up lights on stands. As you can see from the clock in the background, I schedule my Pike Place Market sessions in the morning when it's not quite as busy. I start by taking several test shots from the sidewalk. Once I have my exposure and flash dialed in, I place my client on the street. I show them how and where to stand and then we jump back and forth between the street and the sidewalk as cars go by. I usually try to capture at least 10 shots. Of the 10 shots, only one or two are keepers.
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Another image from the session taken in Post Alley. This spot is located just a few paces from the Gum Wall. I used the same two light setup here:
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You can catch larger versions of the whole set on my website here (http://paxtonportraits.com/photos/senior-portraits/senior-pictures-pike-place-market-gum-wall-post-alley-seattle-wa/).
I had a senior portrait session in Seattle today - here is one of the setups in Post Alley (located just below the market). The first image shows how the lights are placed and the second shot shows one of the final proofs. I have a Canon 430EX firing through a snoot camera left at 1/4 power. This light serves to highlight hair and to provide a little bit of depth to the image. The snoot controls the direction of the light and keeps it from spilling. I placed a CTO gel over the flash head to warm up the temperature of the light. A CTO gel works great on red heads - it naturally accentuates their hair color.
Camera right is the main light - a Canon 580EX set to 1/2 power and bounced into an umbrella (with no gel). I position the light about 45 degrees to my client.
2271
2272
I used the same basic two light setup here in front of the world famous Gum Wall (located just below Pike Place Market):
2282
2283 2284
Here's the image in front of the market. If a client schedules a session with me at Pike Place Market, this is the image they want. I have to use one camera flash to make this shot happen - we are standing in the middle of one of the busiest intersections in the city. There are just too many people and cars to set up lights on stands. As you can see from the clock in the background, I schedule my Pike Place Market sessions in the morning when it's not quite as busy. I start by taking several test shots from the sidewalk. Once I have my exposure and flash dialed in, I place my client on the street. I show them how and where to stand and then we jump back and forth between the street and the sidewalk as cars go by. I usually try to capture at least 10 shots. Of the 10 shots, only one or two are keepers.
2285
Another image from the session taken in Post Alley. This spot is located just a few paces from the Gum Wall. I used the same two light setup here:
2286
2287 2288
You can catch larger versions of the whole set on my website here (http://paxtonportraits.com/photos/senior-portraits/senior-pictures-pike-place-market-gum-wall-post-alley-seattle-wa/).