How to Create a Swimsuit Model Photo on the Beach

I set out with local model Austin Graham to a nearby Sarasota beach (Coquina Beach) to create some swimsuit model photography. It was a very bright day and I knew my strobes where in for a workout to produce f/16 light all day. The sun was camera right, just past mid-day by one hour. After deciding on the placement of my key, I set up a diffusion panel on a boom to shield the model from the strong sunlight. Though light was allowed through the diffusion panel, it was "diffused" and reduced by a stop and a half. My camera angle had to be low in order to thin out the shadow caused by the diffusion panel.

Next, I prepared the key light which was a 22" beauty dish and set it to f/16. The beauty dish was feathered and aiming just slightly in front of the model. By combining available light and strobe, I created this image (above) and a few others scattered on my Facebook Page.

BTW, if you look carefully on the models right foot, you can see where some sunlight made it past my diffusion panel. This is preciisely the effect I set out to avoid, but this one gat away from me.

Below is a quick video I captured with my iPhone of what I would call behind-the-scenes. During this one-on-one class, I explained how to use a beauty dish and a small diffuser for a high-impact look. If you are interested in learning photography skills such as the ones you see in this blog, send me an e-mail using the links in the sidebar. I also offer group instruction on many topics of photography.



Photos by Angel Navarro 

Portrait Photography - Sarasota | Bradenton | Tampa | Clearwater | Venice

Angel Navarro Photography

(941) 538-6804

Website:  www.angelnavarroblog.com 
Blog: www.angelnavarrophotography.com

Model Photography Shoot - Koreshan, Estero, Florida

Today, I headed for Estero, Florida for a fashion model shoot. The exact location was the Koreshan State Historic Park, just South of Ft. Meyers, Florida. Having never visited the park before, I scouted the area and found a shaded exterior wall adjacent to a very old water pump house dating back to the late 1800's (or so the sign said). After discussing wardrobe and poses with the model, I began the lighting set up.

Because the area was in shade, I decided to use a 5' Octagonal Soft Box with both of its baffles. The soft light from a modifier this size provides a wrap-around effect of light. While working in shaded areas, I personally try to avoid harsh lighting as a key. I also set up a 4' x 8' scrim with a 1.25 stop of light. In addition, a translucent oval reflector was used to catch a few stray leaks of light falling on the model's dress camera left, just outside of the scrim's reach. Last, I set up an accent light with a 20 degree grid to skip along the paneling behind the model and add a small splash of light on the model's left side. A couple of test shots later and one custom balance, and there you have it.



Equipment used Nikon D4, 70-200, f/2.8, Pocket Wizards, White-Lightning 1600s, CreativeLight 5' Octagonal Soft Box, Lastolite Scrim. Exif: ISO 200, 1/125th, f/5.6

Photos by Angel Navarro 

Model Photography - Sarasota | Bradenton | Tampa | Clearwater | Venice

Angel Navarro Photography

(941) 538-6804

Website:  www.angelnavarroblog.com 
Blog: www.angelnavarrophotography.com

Stylish Outdoor Bridal Photography in Sarasota

Every shoot for me is an opportunity to create something unique for my clients. For this bridal session, the scenery called for was the outdoors in a country setting. In Bradenton, there isn't much in the way of country settings but I had a request to fulfill.

After scouting much of Sarasota and Venice, I came across a park with a small slice of 'country'. I intended to include the small winding lake, the cluster of pines in the background and the tall grass to create the look of a typical country scene. It was a narrow view in the middle of a busy park but, if composed right, could be made to look like open land in the middle of a rural 'no-mans' land. 

Anytime you have a white wedding gown, the first order of concern is to retain the details and subtleties in the white delicate fabric. Losing shades of white, no matter how subtle they are, means losing detail and once you lose enough of this detail, your dress is gone!

Here is the setup that I used to capture the bride in her wedding gown.

The scrim, or diffuser, was a 6' x 6' white translucent fabric wrapped around an aluminum with a 1.25 f-stop drop of light. A secondary diffuser was used to cut down a few streaks of light which were falling on the rear of her gown. Once the harsh sunlight had been properly managed via the use of scrims (diffusers), it was time to arrange the lighting. Ambient was metered at 1/250th at f/11.

Three strobes were used to light this portrait: a 5' Octodome and two Speedlights with makeshift barn doors. A reflector was also used, camera left, for fill. The Speedlights served as kickers and were set to two-thirds of a stop above the key light. The key light was set to f/16 and the shutter speed was 1/200th of a second at ISO 400. Everything was triggered with Pocket Wizards. The capture was made with a Canon 1D Mark III and a 70-200mm/L2.8 lens.

The resulting portraits were fantastic, giving the bride a number of poses and looks.

Photos by Angel Navarro 

Portrait Photography - Sarasota | Bradenton | Tampa | Clearwater | Venice

Angel Navarro Photography

(941) 538-6804

www.angelnavarrophotography.com 

Blog: www.angelnavarroblog.com 

E-mail: angel@angelnavarrophotography.com

My Day as a Wedding Photographer

Today's bride and groom are looking for a wedding experience they can remember for the rest of their lives. They want to enjoy the experience and then share it, in many cases, right away with their friends and family. As a wedding photographer, I understand the impulse to want share, share and share!

As I process wedding images, I begin posting snippets from the event in order to whet the appetite of the bride and groom and let them start enjoying their photography as soon as possible. I lead them to my Facebook page where they can typically find at least (5) key images just days after the event. A few days later, I will post (5) more images on my Blog and send this link to the bride and groom, which by this time are getting very excited to see the balance of the images which I deliver in several elegant black photo boxes.

Back to the experience of the wedding day! My work usually begins in the brides ready room (i.e. the church, home or bridal chamber) along with all of the bridesmaids with some candid shots. This is the time where many great images are created with teary eyes, jitters and good old female jesting. Next, the wedding dress is photographed in context; on occasion, it is photographed by window light or in the arch of a doorway overlooking the bride as she puts on her make-up. Shortly after spending some time with the bride, I move onto the groom and the groomsmen for some of the 'guy shots'. At this point, I brace myself for spontaneity as I never know what to expect from high spirited guys moments before a wedding ceremony.

The walk down the isle is the hallmark of the event as the bride is presented to all her guests and, in particular, to the groom. Tears and smiles trade places on many of the familiar faces as the bride makes her way to the altar where her love awaits for her. A pristine dress and a beautifully adorned bride provide me with plenty of photo opportunities to photograph and record for those future memories I spoke of earlier.

Between the ceremony and the reception, I always prepare a couple of wedding portrait ideas for the bride and groom (now the newlyweds) to be photographed in. I prepare some fun contemporary poses as well as some traditional ones to offer variety and fun. My assistants and I move through this session promptly so as to not take up too much time away from the festivities.

The reception nears as the guests welcome the bride and groom into the festive atmosphere of friends and family. Many photographs are taken here too! Every emotion is captured beginning with their first dance - as they dance for the first time as husband and wife. Following, is the father and daughter dance and the mother and son dance. Part way during the reception, I ask the newlyweds to accompany me to a nearby location where additional portraits are taken of them together - now as husband and wife. Many of the fancy portraits of wedding couples you see are taken during these brief photo opportunities away from the reception. But don't worry... these brief dissappearances for pictures do not last more than 8-10 minutes.

As the cake cutting approaches, I will advise the DJ to ask all the guests to gather round about the bride and groom to cheer them on as they cut their wedding cake. The mutual serving of the wedding cake to each other can yield all kinds of surprises and I never now what to expect. But no matter what happens, it is captured from beginning to end.

And no sooner has the day begun, that it's end draws near. The farewell for the newlyweds is often filled with lots of variety. Sparklers, confetti, bubbles and rice are often great props to enliven the farewell occasion as the bride and groom depart on their honeymoon. And in the end, I (the wedding photographer) walk away content to know that I have done my very best to capture the beautiful memories my clients can enjoy for the rest of their lives.


by Angel Navarro

Wedding Photographer - Sarasota | Bradenton | Tampa | Clearwater | Venice
Angel Navarro Photography
(941) 538-6804
Website: www.angelnavarrophotography.com
Blog: www.angelnavarroblog.com
E-mail: angel@angelnavarrophotography.com

Instant Messenger: angelnavarroaim