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

5. Head Shots

This scenario, like all but one of the Backyard Studio scenarios, was done in available light, with nothing more than a piece of foam core and a reflector (Figure 5.1). As you can see in the setup shot, I placed Trent just inside the shadow of a garage, mostly blocking the morning sun. The bit of the sunlight just peaking over the top of the garage served as the main/hair light. I used a 30x40-inch piece of white foam core with a 6-inch hole cut out of the center as a reflector. The hole allowed me to shoot through the board while keeping the reflector fully upright and close to the subject. This reflecting method is more effective than a handheld reflector, as it allows for a straight-on light source. A traditional reflector, which ...