When I started my photography business, I shot outside around my neighborhood or in the dinning room of my one-bedroom apartment. I would put all the chairs in my bedroom and turn my dining table on its side and move to one side of the room. I would use the natural light coming from the one window, or I would set up lights and use my wall as a backdrop. I painted the wall a light gray, which is a nice color for portraits. The lead image of this article is a male model I photographed in my neighborhood with all natural light. There was a nice reflection coming in from a white car in the street.
I had to work with what I had, and this is still true today. I just did a fashion shoot at a home that my client rented. I had no idea the size of the home, what the yard looked like, or what the neighborhood had to offer. Luckily, I am accustomed to working with what the location has to offer and making it work. I used the kitchen table with one light to shoot the product shots. For the model shots, I used a white wall, which was the garage, I shot in the back alley for a little more interesting look, and then, I found a tree and other interesting textures in the neighbor's front yard. I don’t always get the luxury of shooting in a studio or a great, photo-friendly location.
Work with what you have, and the more challenges you face, the more you will learn for the next shoot.
