Studio Anywhere: A Photographer’s Guide to Shooting in Unconventional Locations

Studio Anywhere: A Photographer’s Guide to Shooting in Unconventional Locations

Released March 2015
Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
ISBN: 9780134084206

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Book description

What’s your definition of a photo studio? Is it a room with a white seamless backdrop or a cyc wall? Maybe it’s simply anywhere you’re in control of the lighting. In a perfect world, where every day is a breezy 72 degrees with partial cloud coverage, we would all have a 5,000-square-foot studio–and the entire catalog of B&H™ in our equipment lockups.

But the reality is that you may have an outdated DSLR with two decent lenses (which took you several years to save up for), and all you have at your disposal is an unfinished basement, your garage, or the empty conference room at your office. That’s where Studio Anywhere comes in. With photographer Nick Fancher as your guide, you’ll learn how to get portfolio-ready photos while working in some of the most problematic scenarios imaginable. Whether shooting a corporate portrait, a test shoot with a model, or a promo shoot with a band, you’ll discover that most of the time, there’s no need for an expensive studio–you just have to get creative.

Studio Anywhere is a resource for photographers to learn through behind-the-scenes photos and lighting diagrams from a range of photo shoots–but it doesn’t stop there. Because directing a photo shoot involves more than simply knowing how to wield a camera or process a raw file, Nick also lets you in on the aesthetic decisions he makes in his signature photos, inspiring you to develop your own vision. And, finally, he describes his Lightroom and Photoshop workflow so you can learn how to deftly navigate post-processing.

  • Shows how to create images with minimal equipment that is within reach of anyone’s budget

  • Takes you through the entire shoot, from concept to lighting to exposure to post-processing in Lightroom and Photoshop

  • Teaches how to build a portfolio without a dedicated studio space

    •

    Table of contents

    1. Title Page
    2. Copyright Page
    3. Dedication Page
    4. Acknowledgments
    5. Contents
    6. Introduction
      1. No Studio? No Problem
      2. Take Control: Gear
      3. Deconstruct the Lighting
    7. Part I: The Living Room Studio
      1. 1. White Light, White Wall
        1. Edit for Effect
        2. Check Your Work
        3. Lit Background
      2. 2. It’s the Mood That Makes It Good
        1. Aesthetic Decisions
        2. Finishing Touches in Post
        3. Once More, With Feeling
      3. 3. Window Light
        1. Subject Direction
        2. Rugged Sophistication
      4. 4. Using Existing Environments
        1. Aesthetic Decisions
        2. Editing
      5. Quiz 1: Deconstruct the Lighting
    8. Part II: The Backyard Studio
      1. 5. Head Shots
        1. Soft Light
        2. Directional Light
      2. 6. When It’s Good to Be Shallow
        1. Legendary Pink Dots
        2. Alley Cat
      3. 7. In the Garage
        1. Directional Light
      4. 8. Kiddie Pools. Who’d a Thunk It?
        1. Blackout
        2. Applying the Experiment
      5. 9. Shooting Product
      6. Quiz 2: Deconstruct the Lighting
    9. Part III: The Basement Studio
      1. 10. Soft Light
        1. On White
        2. On Gray
      2. 11. Moody Light
        1. The First Rule of Moody Lighting...
        2. Black on Black on Black
        3. Are You Gellin’?
      3. 12. Creative Backdrops
        1. No Paris? No Problem.
        2. Channeling the ‘80s
        3. Pegboard Pinlight
      4. 13. Shooting Product
        1. Lighting a Product with a Reflective Surface
        2. Shooting a Product on a Reflective Surface
        3. Re-creating Window Light
      5. Quiz 3: Deconstruct the Lighting
    10. Part IV: The Office Studio
      1. 14. Portraits on White
        1. Travel Light
        2. It’s the Wood That Makes It Good
      2. 15. Environmental Portraits
        1. Getting the Drop on Narrow Spaces
        2. Curtain Call
      3. 16. Shooting Product
        1. Time to Reflect
        2. Put ‘em on the Glass
      4. Quiz 4: Deconstruct the Lighting
    11. Part V: The Park Studio
      1. 17. Still Waters Don’t Need to Run Deep
        1. After the Rain
        2. Bridge Over Dappled Waters
      2. 18. Transform the Weather
        1. Gettin’ Shifty with It
        2. Fake It ‘Til You Make It
      3. 19. Eclipse the Sun
        1. A Gun at a Knife Fight
      4. Quiz 5: Deconstruct the Lighting
    12. Part VI: The Street Studio
      1. 20. On the Beaten Path
        1. Dancer in the Dark
        2. Homage to Street
      2. 21. Get on Up
        1. Up on the Roof
        2. Welcome to the Thunderdome
      3. 22. Concrete Jungle
        1. Creating a Story
        2. One Wall, Two Looks
      4. 23. Parking Garages
        1. A GQ View
        2. Always the Sun
      5. Quiz 6: Deconstruct the Lighting
    13. Epilogue: What’s Next?
      1. Testing New Waters
      2. Edit Yourself
      3. Building Your SEO
    14. Quiz Answer Key
    15. Index

    Product information

    • Title: Studio Anywhere: A Photographer’s Guide to Shooting in Unconventional Locations
    • Author(s):
    • Release date: March 2015
    • Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
    • ISBN: 9780134084206