Elle Canada
Photographer: Arkan Zakharov
Stylist: Juliana Schiavinatto
Art Direction: Denis Desro

Check out this great article on Emily Soto’s blog from Creative Live’s Modern Women’s Portraiture course in Las Vegas.

The new Rayo reflector and Fionna Quinn:
»I wanted this beauty shoot to have a darker but dramatic feeling and I wanted a direct contrasty, quite hard light source. The shadows would deep and crisp and there would be little spill onto the background.«

Fionna has added a diffused layer to the front of reflector to slightly soften the overall look without distorting the true effect of the reflector. The Rayo was designed not to use our standard diffusion material as it would compromise the directional quality we were after. Using different fabrics as well as the slightest amount of diffusion can make the light just right. Sometimes the slightest amount of the right material will be all it needs. We have found these products by Lee to be very useful.

Here is a nice departure by Fiona Quinn. Spring…which has eluded us for the last several months. Shot in studio with the Setti – white interior, with and without the diffuser to vary the contrast, brightness and directionality.

Eric Fagerheim is a photographer based in Norway where he runs his company www.fotofashion.no.

»I enjoy all types of photography from fashion, composite images to weddings, I find challenges in them all.

I have been shooting for more than five years now, and always try to make my images unique. My style often comes from how I light my set, more time spent lighting means less time editing. My rule is that one image shouldn’t take more than an hour to edit. The past two years I’ve spent studying 3D graphics, so that I can implement new elements into my images.

Beside shooting I do run some occasional workshops concentrating on fashion style.

I use my Mola DEMI 22″ for almost every shoot and often combine other modifiers. I find my Mola gives me soft light and contrast as well, which gives my images that extra punch. It’s great for close up beauty shots and full body. It’s is a very important tool.«

Michael Corsentino is an award-winning contemporary photographer, lighting evangelist, author, speaker and workshop leader.

His 30 year love affair with the magic and science of photography has allowed him to create stylish, dramatic and edgy images. Michael also enjoys educating others about everything photography including business workflow and strategies.

In this issue of Shutter Magazine Michael details the secrets to creating dramatic headshots.

Please click here to be directed to the PDF (25MB).

»I wanted a strong contrasty look with deep shadows and didn’t mind some drop off, I also shot this on the tungsten colour balance to give the shots a cooler colour cast.

I asked my stylist to source a few things for me when she was working on another shoot – I wanted a slight androgynous feeling but some shots with a more feminine twist which is indicative of the era. Its important with fashion to not be to literal when you are shooting an era style – it must be a modern interpretation of just referencing some key elements and using current fashion and makeup trends otherwise it can look too costume and themed.

I also wanted to use the Coke Can in the hair – Diet Coke though to give another dimension to the look. Initially I had thought it would be a beauty shoot but as I shot it I decided it would work best with some long shots also.

I work with some very clever people, the talented Sara Allsop was on hair and Paige Best on makeup.«

Fiona Quinn

Olivier Chauvignat’s love for photography started in the 70’s.

He is now a Beauty & Fashion Photographer in Paris, France. His favourite subject is… light! His specialties are Fashion, Swimwear and Beauty featuring body, hair and jewlery. His work in studio with sophisticated lighting and using available light with the addition of flash is what gives his work that added edge.

Mola Demi silver with 20 degree black polycarbonate grid

Photographer: Duck Feeney
Styling: Cameron Carpenter
Hair: Matthew Green
Makeup: Jennifer Nam
Styling Assistant: Tyron Jones
Model: Linsey Byard at Muse

Mola Demi silver with 20 degree black polycarbonate grid

Photographer: Duck Feeney
Styling: Sherah Jones
Hair: Uno
Makeup: Rose Fortuna
Model: Amedine Elina