Do you shoot in other peoples homes?

Jelster

Jelster

Messages
9,617
Name
Steve
Edit My Images
Yes
Looking at the (lack of) room in my lounge, I wonder what others do, especially the pro's when they shoot portraits in other peoples homes when you are very restricted for space.

By the time I have set up one light with soft box and a reflector, I just wonder how some of you get the results that you do. I'm very aware that, if you position the lights correctly you can make any background look black/dark, but before I invest in a background system I'd like to understand what others do in thins situation.

Steve

Sent from my iPad using TP Forums
 
Why would you use a background in someone's home? If you want to shoot in someone's home then it should be a natural setting and I would even dissuade you from using a softbox etc. Try to use natural lighting and capture the subject in their habitat.

Otherwise rent some studio space to use for your backdrop and equipment.

Just my 2c.
 
I'm surprised this hasn't had more replies, as more than a few on here shoot in peoples homes using backdrops, flash, etc.... :shrug:
 
Ruhan said:
Why would you use a background in someone's home? If you want to shoot in someone's home then it should be a natural setting and I would even dissuade you from using a softbox etc. Try to use natural lighting and capture the subject in their habitat.

Otherwise rent some studio space to use for your backdrop and equipment.

Just my 2c.
Click to expand...

A number of people on here shoot people in their homes with backgrounds, and you can't use natural sunlight at 8PM on a winters night. Yes, I would prefer to shoot using natural daylight, but it's not always an option.

Steve

Sent from my iPad using TP Forums
 
Jelster said:
Looking at the (lack of) room in my lounge, I wonder what others do, especially the pro's when they shoot portraits in other peoples homes when you are very restricted for space.

By the time I have set up one light with soft box and a reflector, I just wonder how some of you get the results that you do. I'm very aware that, if you position the lights correctly you can make any background look black/dark, but before I invest in a background system I'd like to understand what others do in thins situation.

Steve

Sent from my iPad using TP Forums
Click to expand...


Well I have just started doing a few home shoots for family and fiends, sometimes at mine, sometimes at theirs. I have a couple of options to play with, one is a proper background stand with a white 2 metre wide x 5m. vynyl that I picked up from a local tarpaulin company (£35.00) , a 2m x 2.5m black alterative ( not really used that much), I can get this reasonably sorted either in my lounge or kitchen, and occassionally in other homes. If space is an issue, or full length shots not needed, I have my "Acme patented plumbers plastic tube and sheet frame" ........... tadaaaaa .......... basicaly 4 x 2metre lengths of 40mm white plastic pipe and 4 x 90 degree elbows (B+Q is your friend ..... unless your boss is kind and lets you have it free .... :naughty: .... all pushed together to make a square frame. At the same time as obtaining your pipe etc, remember to get about 20 pipe clips, the ones that you screw to the wall and just push the pipe into, very handy for the next bit ............ Nice cheap sheet (King Size) ... your colour choice .... hang over the top and push 4 or 5 clips on .... like pegs really .... then just work your way round it so its clipped all the way round, and just keep adjusting it so its nice and tight ......... doesnt take long at all ...... try and make it your first job so most of the creases get pulled out, when its done it doesnt weigh much and is really easy to move about ............ and when you have finished its a couple of mins to break it down clips in a bag, bit of tape round the poles and sorted. Any creases that do show up are quite easy to PP out .... still practising that ... and certainly better than cluttered backgrounds or flowery wallpaper.

Lighting set ups are really limited to the space thats available, so just have a practice (play) at home to get the best out of tight situations, really dont know that much about lighting and mine is a bit made up as I go along, I am sure there are othes who have far more ideas then me (I)


Hope you find this easy enough to follow, it really is simple.



Dave ....
 
Keep it simple.

Depends what you are shooting

Babies are small so you can use a small background. Pice of foamcore with nice wallpaper pasted on can look fab. Lots of baby photographers carry small sections of laminate or vinyl flooring with them.

Or....wide aperture and select your b/g. This was done in dimish window light with just a camera and lens.

http://peoplebyryan.com/photoblog/hello-baby

Bigger groups/older people - most houses have a sofa with some kind of wall behind it. Get enough separation and anything can look good. Especially if you whack enough front light on it (use more light to make the picture darker....)

And if you want "natural" light at 8pm on a winter's night then try one of those new cool continuous lights. Or maybe rebook.
 
As Jonathon has said shooting wide open can really help, do try and us your environment to your advantage. If you want use a back drop, try a cloth one and get some large clips, to attach it to curtain poles, saves having stands in the way.
 
Some great ideas there, especially the making the frame, thanks for that Dave.

I had been thinking about using the sofa etc, and getting the separation from the wall/background is the important bit.

Mr Ryan, I may well book again especially if you could offer a 1-2-1 session. :D

Steve

Sent from my iPad using TP Forums
 
Last edited:
I specialise in shooting on location either at homes or at an agreed location and we'll shoot using what we have available, I shoot natural lighting because really I don't have much of a choice due to being short on finances and so I just take my 50mm and flash around and get photos that I'm happy with and most importantly the client is happy with.
 
Personally, I don't see the fascination with backgrounds, especially when shooting in someone's home (or your own for that matter).

Yes, I know there is a market for it or else people wouldn't do it, but with a little care and attention I think portraits in natural surroundings can have much more appeal than a plain white or black background which could have been shot anywhere.

I also believe it can 'seat' an image in time as well, further adding to its sentiment/meaning.
 
Simmotino said:
Personally, I don't see the fascination with backgrounds, especially when shooting in someone's home (or your own for that matter).

Yes, I know there is a market for it or else people wouldn't do it, but with a little care and attention I think portraits in natural surroundings can have much more appeal than a plain white or black background which could have been shot anywhere.

I also believe it can 'seat' an image in time as well, further adding to its sentiment/meaning.
Click to expand...


I'm going to have a shot a shooting the Mrs while she's sat on the sofa this evening. It is right up against a wall though unfortunately, but I'll do my best to mitigate against that by lighting the wall separately.

I had a look at the tubing in B&Q yesterday, the 2m tubes are £2.00 each, and the right angle connectors just over a quid. So for about £15.00 you can build your frame, and then it's just the cost of something to cover it. That will be a project for next weekend me thinks....

Steve
 
Working for the papers on a weekly bassis i go to peoples homes to shoot features, some of the houses are amazing and others are 1 bed flats with rubish everywhere. You adapt to the settings, move stuff around. Take pictures off walls, Shoot down on people to loose the messy background etc.. It will make you a better photographer if you can go into someones house think on your toes to get the best picture. I often use 2 flash guns with umbrellas, sometimes natural light works but it depends who i am shooting it for.
 
Jelster, if you shoot your partner sat on the sofa, remember to ask her to sit on the edge so she holds her back up, there is nothing worse than a photo of someone slouched in a chair. Have fun
 
I agree, some of the best portraits I've seen (and some I've shot myself) have been with simple kit, a 50mm, available light (which you can't beat) and a blurred out background of their own home, or sat up on a window sill. It just looks so calm and relaxed, unlike the very 'studio-ish' white backdrop that seems to be the in thing nowadays. Often my clients like to have a portrait of their kids in a meaningful setting, it gives it a place and time.
 
Whenever I shoot at the subject's home, it becomes a lifestyle shot. I don't bother trying to recreate what I shoot in my studio, simply because it's not practical, and soooooo boooooooorrrring!!!

First thing I do is talk to the client/subject, and find out about them over a drink. Find out what they like, what they do for living, about their families, etc. once I have a rapport, it's easy to build a shot around their lifestyle. Then you build a set in their surroundings, then create a character the subject is to portray. it might be their work persona, or the homely dad, or anyone else you want them to be, and they are happy to be. it's not about the background. it's about the character.
 
I agree with the lifestyle shot, use the surroundings (carefully selected) and natural light with fast glass and you get something more personal and classy than trying to replicate a studio shot.
 
I've been doing it for a couple of years. White backdrop, three flash heads and a softbox. Simple but does the job just fine. It's all very well saying use the natural light, but if the client wants a white background then that's what they get. It's ever so boring and tedious but it's still a big earner for me.

I've had some tight spaces to work in but never yet not been able to set up. I always state what my minimum requirements are in terms of space before the shoot and they just move furniture around if need be.
 
Have to agree with Dave, If they want white background then I'll shoot that in their home. Its a very big earner for me to nowdays
 
Great to know. I'm trying to build up some experience in this area and have been doing some location shoots. Mostly just in the home environment.

I have been looking into getting a background and I think it would be a benefit to have even if I didn't use it every time.
 
I totally get what your saying!! The aproach I would take is that you are in their house Show it!! Sort of environmental portrait, ask them where they would prefer you shoot them! and I use a basic interfit portrait kit aprox £100 and an off camera flash stand!! It gives decent results and allows for plenty of scope in post production. The interfit kit is not the best but it really does well in the situation you described.
 
I have being asked to take a very large family pic the mother will be 90 and will have 5 generations to take a photo off.
Any tips on taking a few different than the standard photos of mother Granny Granny etc?
 
I have been doing quite a lot in people's homes recently but been struggling to get that 'natural' lifestyle look. This has been a useful thread for advice but more needed if possible. I chat away with the clients, put them at ease, but am still aware that I am pointing a camera in their faces!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top