By Jeff Newton
As a photographer, I must consider that unless the end buyer is confident that I can shoot the particular style their client is looking for, they may be reluctant to hire me. It took me a while to understand that, but it’s the truth. So after looking through my current body of work, I realized that I needed to add more images that showcase my studio lighting capabilities.
And here’s the craziest part of it all…we shot this at my studio. It’s not like I needed to go and rent a studio for the day. I have one, directly in the heart of Hollywood. But as a freelance photographer, you shoot where you’re commissioned. And more often than not, that’s on location or out of state. And as you can see from my current portfolio, I love walking into an unknown location where you need to search to find the right shot. But I also love the challenge of shooting in studio. Simply because you are forced to create the atmosphere and build light out of nothing in a white cove. You don’t have the sun there to act as your lighting tech, adding reflections and shadows all around your location.
Now comes the hard truth: A shoot on this scale is not going to be a cheap. I had to consider the cost associated with this type of production. I would need to hire models, a stylist, hair/make up and assistants. Oh, and I’ll need to feed everyone. Then I had to ask myself: Do I drop a couple thousand dollars into new gear….or new work? Seeing that I’ve already purchased new gear…it’s was now time to put my money in front of the camera.
I partnered up with Georgie Perrins, a fashion stylist that I recently met through a mutual friend. Thankfully, we were both needing more commercial studio work in our portfolios. She recommended Veronica Sinclair who we then brought on for hair and make up.
I reached out to some modeling agencies and gave them my budget per model, knowing that I was looking to book three total. We ended up casting the women from FORD LA and the male from LA Models. They were all true pros and rocked it in front of the camera.
Lastly, I have to give a shot out to my friend and fellow photographer, Juan Luis Garcia for coming in and rocking out some amazing behind the scenes footage. I wasn’t able to fit everything in the edit but I do feel that he captured all of the hard work that everyone put into this shoot.
No matter how digital my world has become I still rely on a yellow notepad for my daily “to do lists” and lighting notes.
New Self Commissioned WorkGear Used:
Camera: 2 – Canon 5D Mark III bodies
Lenses – 35mm – 50mm – 85mm primes
Capture: Lightroom 4
Lighting: Profoto
Diffusers: Elinchrom Octabank, Elinchrom Rotalux 39″, Profoto White Beauty Dish, 4×8 foam core
Cables: Tether Tools – the best tethering cables I’ve used.
To see more of Jeff Newton’s work go to his website and Altpick page.
altpick.com connects 