How To Shoot Studio Bridals On Location

A few weeks ago Lee and I went out to Las Vegas to ~~club it up~~ check out WPPI which is the largest wedding convention in the US. While out there we were able to meet quite a few of our readers, check out the new gear at the Photoflex booth, and play with a lot of new photo related toys. One of the photographers we met was Michael Corsentino who teamed up with Photoflex in this behind the scenes video on outdoor bridals. Michael is using the new Photoflex Triton Flash along with an octabank and a stripbox to create some studio style portraits outside.

Behind the Scenes: Unique Bridal Portraits w/ Michael Corsentino and Photoflex from Photoflex on Vimeo.

March 14, 2011

Patrick Hall

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A
That sure is some serious gear for such bland photos. Unsubscribing.
http://www.wayneleonephotography.com Wayne Leone
Best photo was at 3:17
Would have gone for more contrast between the lights personally.
Not sure you’d use all this gear at a wedding, mind you, I’d love to try! :)
Thanks for the vid fstoppers.
http://www.rlmorrisweddings.com Lee
@A, bwahaha Photoflex better step up their game if their videos are so offensively bad that you will never come back.
http://www.shoottothrill.co.uk Ramsey
Great video, the final image was stunning.
http://www.patrickhallweddings.com Patrick Hall Admin
@Wayne Leone, I don’t think you’d bring this setup to a wedding but rather just a bridal portrait. I personally would have loved to see more ambient light in the final images. The best image is the video embed pic by far.
Jwaine
I agree with the first post. These were pretty “boring” photos for the lighting set up. Most of the video was spent filming the photo rolling around to talk to the camera.
Is this what wedding photography has become? I’m ashamed to even say I photograph weddings now.
JfromTx
FAIL…
http://www.photoflex.com Jaron Schneider
@A, Yow, really? Bland? Harsh. But I appreciate the comment nonetheless.
Ilya
Bad Engl. :)
Boring light… This man destroy a beautiful Natural light! Insteed to make a “key light”, he killes shadows and “bla-bla-bla” %)
http://www.kieranmorgan.com Kieran
Wow, that’s strange. Corsentino’s work is superb, this video and the photos within…not so much.
It’s a shame too, because Photoflex makes some great stuff, but that didn’t make me want to buy any of it.
http://www.morningroad.nl joop
Some great shots, and sweet lighting gear for sure! But some of the photos could easily have been improved with better composition and less tilting. And… did i see selective coloring?
Anyway, keep posting interesting videos Fstoppers!
Beach
I’m afraid I’ve got to echo some of the earlier comments as far as the lighting goes. It’s almost like he was overwhelmed by having all that stuff. It is actually a great example of “just because you have the equipment doesn’t mean you have to use it in every shot.” Just the large octo at a 45 degree angle and balanced with ambient or maybe a 1/2 stop over would have probably been more pleasing. The desaturation in post doesn’t do any favors either, in my opinion. Then he makes a big deal of the fact they are going to move on to the gold reflector and how it will give this great glow without being “brassy” or whatever and then the example photo is black and white… Then he talks about the strip light and how its going to give a rim light, and the example shot crops off that entire side where it would be evident. I’m not going to go on, although I could. Just a confusing, frustrating video.
Joey
I’m sorry, but this video is quite disappointing due to the fact that the images produced are mediocre at best. With all that nice equipment, one would expect better images.
http://www.RosendahlPhotos.dk Thomas Rosendahl
The bts preview of the video is actually the greatest pictures in this video.. Nice and contrasty :)
http://www.qnetx.com George
Wow. That was extremely disappointing. Not sure if that was the intended look, but to me, those images were way over lit, flat and lacked any pizazz. I prefer an image where the subject is lit in such a way that doesn’t appear artificially lit and where the light naturally contours over the subject’s features with a gradual falloff. IMHO – Not a very good video for promoting a product.
Mike
Lets BLAST her with light and call it good lighting LOL
I especially like the “look Im a cool photographer roll on the ground move”
arnold
With all that nice equipment at the disposal, I would hide the video and not show it as I seen much better images using just one light through an umbrella or natural light from other wedding photographers.
http://www.carlosfabrizio.com carlos yepez
Very disappointing final images. Agreed that the video embedded photo is the best one, imo. It has very nice light balance and exposure. Was it from the 2nd shooter in the video? Sometimes simpler is better, including ambient light only shots.
jenny
I don’t see what you all see! I think this video is great and the portraits reflect what you could use and do as a bridal portrait not a wedding! Good work photoflex… I also think the video was put together just right.. love the beginning images!
http://www.fundysoftware.com Fundy
Michael,
Great video on how to accomplish using studio lighting outside.
I love the final results. Great educational stuff.
Fundy
Brenda
Michael I loved the image by the water fountain. Images at night where my favorite with your lighting set up.
Dennis
Love the vid, very creative editing. Those lights and softboxes rock. I think that the photograpjy is awesome, I don’t see what all of the fuss is about.
Killer Images
I Didn’t read all the replies, as I just wanted to type my opinion and move along.
Myself, and this is only my opinion, I would have liked to see more of the scenery’s colors in the photos and less hard light from the artificial lighting.
When the photographer said he was going to use a gold reflector that wasn’t to brassy, and then showed a black n white photo of the result,,,, eeesh.
But, i give the photographer credit, he said it wouldn’t be to brassy, and it was not to brassy in any part of the black n white image shown…
I was a lil unimpressed by the doorway/gateway shoot and the illimination of the wonderful orange glow from behind the model. But, that’s me, I like a little orange in the background for this type of setting. Let the orange glow seperate the model from the backgrouns maybe? Just a thought.
NOW, that being said, the final two images shown, I LOVED!
Model/bride by the fountain and then the model flailing in the air and including the light setup. THOSE rocked in my opinion and I wouldn’t have changed a thing.
Great location, great model, great wardrobe, great makeup and hair. All in all, a good video.
http://www.richfryephotography.com Rich Frye
Great video by seasoned bay area professionals. Loved seeing the results as stills as I was watching on the video. I have never used powered strobes outside and find this valuable!
Rich
Suzanne
Wow..such negative comments are not warranted here! The lighting is beautiful, the backgrounds and poses are creative, the educational aspect of how to use the lighting equipment was informative and I would’ve killed to have such great shots in my album…Michael knows how to get “ambience” no matter what the lighting is…you people need to look a little closer!
Martin
Great images.. Loved the video !
http://www.jgrahamphoto.com Jennifer
I loved the two light image and set up at the gate!
Photoflex and Michael Corsentino are giving us so many great things here. Inspiration to go out, play and create, solid know how for those just stepping into location lighting and a fun upbeat, creative attitude while you do it.
Thank you for your time and effort in putting this video together. Fantastic!
Sarah
What’s with the hatin y’all? It’s a little disgusting. Photography is about experimenting and the experience of making it happen. Not to mention this was to help demonstrate the equipment. Michael did a fantastic job of juggling lights to create unique and beautiful shots with seeming ease that look different from anything you all would have done.
And personally, I LOVE the roll to instructional. Come on People! That’s funny!
Get off your bums and go play.
http://www.acimage.com Alexis
great job! I wish I had an Octa that big!!! I also really the picture by the water fountain & the one before that! =)
Danielle
Great job Michael! Even though I’m a natural light shooter, I’m envious of that look when it is pulled off well. I love the sepia one of her by the gate and the B&W profile beauty shot.
http://www.melissabphotography.com Melissa
Yeah WOW what a bunch of NEGATIVE comments and HATERS!!!! First of all the Education was on the use of lighting outdoors…. and WHO IS TO SAY HE WAS THE ONE WHO DID THE FINAL EDIT ON WHAT PICTURES WERE SELECTED! Michael the Pics were Great! I love the one when you brought in the reflector! Shooting with lighting outdoors is a HUGE trend in my area for wedding photography! so this is great information for me! as I am trying it out for myself! and the Final scenes at night were great! love the doorway shot and the fountain! the Octo would be too large for me to handle on my own.. I need something a little smaller … but certainly will be trying to master the outdoor lighting for bridals and weddings!
Jamil
Great work Corsentino, love the images in the tree tunnel and the very end fountain. Love how you took great studio lighting and showed us how to utilize them outside. Very educational..
http://www.shaneparkerphoto.com Shane Parker
Gotta echo the others here. This really looked like a very uninspired advertisement video. The B&W’s were flat and it was very odd that there were so many close-up head shots right after he showed off huge banks lighting her entire body. What was the point? I was also scratching my head when he said he was shooting the 70-200 @ 1/60th hand-held. Again, that’s a very tough hand-hold for such a long reach that seems completely unnecessary with all the big lights he was showing off. Although there were a few good photos, and I’m sure the photographer is normally quite excellent, just about everything about this shoot seemed a bit off; almost like he was forced to do something that he didn’t want to do.
kelly
amazing as always!!
http://www.michaelsweeneyphotography.com MikeSweeney
Pretty cool video. Short and to the point and it shows a real fine art portrait session, not a run and gun with piece o’ tupperware. The B/W shots were clean.. nicely done. These are the shots that can pay the months bills if done well. I have not carried anything quite this size to a bridal shoot but, I have come close with a couple of clients that knew they wanted art and not the typical blasted flash look.
Thanks for sharing a fun session video
http://thinkofnow.wordpress.com Erin
Great images and educational video, learned a lot, thanks as always for the tips!
brettpatrick
How is this guy sponsored? His lighting is not very good, nor are his photos and compositions. He didn’t make very good use of the location or the ambient lighting the sun was providing.
Arian
Wow, so much negativity. Cool video, and I love the shot by the fountain at the end. Nice work!
http://hauteshots.com Stacie Frazier
What is wrong with everyone here? This is the rudest thing I have ever seen especially in regards to someone as talented as Michael C. It almost reads as a conspiracy or something…lol. I personally looooove these shots! Great job Michael! Keep up the good work! I look forward to seeing what’s next to come from you.
lyn
Relax. What is wrong with something new and innovative? IMO this is pretty impressive! Kudos for the ideas! Hi Dennis! Thank you for the video, it is great to see the hands-on tutorial. Everyone’s results will vary–we are artists, no?
http://www.studio-br.com/ Wendy
Great examples and possibilities…makes me want to get out and experiment with different light setups for sure. Loved the fountain shot!
Jim
While I agree with the opinion that the majority of the photos in the video are sub par (the embed pic was quite nice), I’m disappointed by the amount of juvenile comments on this post. I realize there are a lot of people out there who feel the need to prop up their own fragile egos by being crass and rude while hiding behind the anonymity of the internet, but it’s getting ridiculous. We’re all aware that you could/would have shot it better; that your lighting setup would have made Joe McNally sit up and take notice; that you’re the greatest photographer never known but unfortunately, Photoflex didn’t call you. More’s the pity.
It’s fine to express negative opinions, but at least be civil about it.
Alvin Toro
I have to agree with a lot of the comments here. The final images do not represent the photographers best work. I personally had a chance to see the Triton in action at WPPI and trust me when I say as uninspiring as the promo might seem, the product is nothing short of amazing. The performance, size, weight and overall value of what you’ll get for your money will open up a new market that will sit between small speedlights and big studio strobes. Although I believe the product will sell itself once it hits the streets, the video would have showcased a lot better if: it’d been done by a lighting guy, not a wedding guy AND who ever they picked got a lot more creative control over the finished video. After all the product is aimed at photographers not brides.
berto
composition, man!
http://www.khappucino.com khappucino
pre-raphaelite lighting?
http://www.elenahernandez.com Elena Hernandez
I think the video is just a teaser of the bigger video that shows more in depth detail and variety on the Photoflex site.
Michael Corsentino is an exceptional man because he is willing to put himself out there to help anyone who wants to learn the craft of photography. He demonstrates his Passion of teaching by using many great products that are available for photographers today.
From Lightroom demos, to doing a book that helps photographers do their work flow easier, to jumping in and helping to promote a product like the photoflex soft box, He is multi-tasking and multi-talented.
I think the comments posted here from some of the people are very unkind and imply that they feel they are entitled to more than what the video is and that is it is just a teaser for a bigger educational video on the photoflex site. I admire anyone who has a passion for the love of teaching others to be better at the craft.
http://www.blog.foto-horyzont.pl Peter “PedroF” GRAJEK
Well… That was most least educating video ever I saw on Fstoppers. Guys, don’t lift your Professionalism down. I watched alot of very good videos here, been teached a lot but this.. Sorrry, I do not agree.
http://www.tombarkerphotography.co.uk Tom Barker
You know when I first checked this video out I was sure he was using a green-screen to add himself to every scene… it definitely gets better towards the end, last two photos are great but i’m not a fan of the rest.
http://www.morningroad.nl joop
Just an interesting observation about the comments: notice the disparity between male and female opinions. It’s quite remarkable!
ckBren
Sorry to join the poo-poo crowd but yea, the pictures were nothing to write home about. I would have wanted something more dynamic and contrasty. I understand using the 7 foot octa, contrast isnt its strong point, but at least the images should not be desaturated afterwards.
A well produced video with some good ideas but rather ho-hum final results.

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