Prosper Shoot

Today we had a photo shoot for the Prosper magazine so we were visited in the studio by Sarah from the Black Country Chamber Of Commerce and four business people that she invited along.

Two level 6 students Chan and Jen, were the photographers for the shoot and I was acting as an assistant to them both. My job was to move lights, furniture and props around, direct people to the correct places and basically help out doing whatever needs doing.

The subjects arrived on time and were ushered into the private studio so that Jen could take the headshots required by the brief so they could be used inside the magazine.. Jen had set up a stool in the studio with three lights set up and a white background.

Once the headshots were completed the young business people moved into the scoop area of the studios where Chan had set up a shot and lighting, with a blue gel for the background. The team met last week to discuss the plans for the shoot and Sam, one of the lecturers, showed us the shot that they were basing this shoot off. It was to have the look of a Time magazine cover, one that featured BTS K-Pop band.

The business people were stood in the white scoop with Chan laying down on the floor whilst the subjects leaned over the camera. Chan had the camera tethered and we could see the live view from the Sony and the large view of the captured images. This makes the difference as the subjects and Sarah could see the results immediately and it allows Chan to see what can or could be changed for the next shot.

The group of subjects were behaving well and got on well with the poses they were being asked to perform, resulting in some great images. After giving them a break we then set up the scoop for a different shoot. This time the props were to be two sofas placed facing away from the camera and the visitors sat two to a sofa as if in a car, facing the rear of the scoop. When we were ready they all stayed sat down but turned around to look over the rear of the sofas. The young woman was asked to hold a phone up as if she was taking a photograph. This was also a photo that had been shown to the group so they had an idea of what was being aimed for.

After a few rejigs and moves around of the subjects Chan got some great photos of them all and everyone seemed happy. Euripides and Sam were very helpful and assisted in the fine tuning of the shoot helping Chan and Jen, then helping me understand what I needed to be doing.

The experience continued on and when we’d moved the sofas away we set up a stool so the subjects could all have another headshot or head and shoulders shot for their own profiles etc. They all went away from this happily and will be forwarded on the photos after they have been edited.

Taking part in the shoot was helpful, as I was able to see how the shoot took place and dealing with the subjects. It was useful to see how the shot was decided before the event, and references back to the example helped direct the scene. It was interesting to see the gels being used on the white scoop and how a wonderful colour gradient appeared on the wall behind the subjects.

Chan and Jen did a great job and I hope I helped them where they required some assistance. The photos coming out of the cameras were interesting to see especially as we were seeing the flashes being set up. It was also useful to see how Sam and Euripides were being without obviously taking over the shoot from Chan and Jen. I was also trying to offer some ideas as to how something might be improved. I was offering suggestions without trying to take over and shout over anyone, after all Chan and Jen are both studio specialists whereas I never shoot in studios.

It was a shame that there weren’t more people assisting from L4 and L5 but I was also surprised to see only two photographers from Level 6. maybe more photographers might have snarled up the areas and got in each other’s way so it was probably good that it was limited to the two.

In a couple of years time I’ll be in Level 6, as it takes me two years to complete a single year as I’m a part time student. Hopefully then I’ll be able to have a crack at the studio photography sessions as the person behind the camera.