Shooting Senior Portraits Outdoors With A Single Light

In another great behind the scenes video from Michael Sasser, Denver Photographer Ryan Tortorelli is shown working with three students at several different locations to capture there senior portraits. Using what seems like a single light setup in conjunction with the sun, the resulting captured images show the quality of this setup. It’s also great to see how Ryan is working with his talent, suggesting poses and giving directions.

BTS

Portraits

Video

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James Verco
what are they getting photos for. what the fuck america.
http://twitter.com/MartinBendix Martin Bendix
Woooow, waaaaay too much skin smoothing. Such a shame…
http://twitter.com/theom3ga José Tomás Tocino
I was to comment the same. That gaussian-blurred face look is awful. How come this got to this blog?
XTC Plus
too bad for awful post processing
http://twitter.com/LevFoto Gur Mike Lev
I was thinking the same thing… but didn’t want to say it. Good captures, bad processing.
http://vimeo.com/mikewilkinson Mike Wilkinson
Whether or not I agree with the post-production methods used in the final images, I found the video itself to be insightful in showing the direction the photographer was giving to the talent, and also how it demonstrated the use of a single light in multiple outdoor settings to get quality captures.
http://www.facebook.com/barrosandrew Andrew Barros
very insightful on how he works with the clients.
side note, anyone know what kind of batman utility belt he’s using in that video. looks very useful.
http://twitter.com/martinbeebee Martin Beebee
Another nice commercial, and nice to see him giving direction to the model by acting out the poses himself. But no real BTS info.
raena colby
omg. i can’t stop looking at how dirty that girl’s feet are in the default image. hahahahha
http://www.learningdslrvideo.com Dugdale
These are great BTS videos, keep them coming. I always learn something. On this one I don’t personally like the way he made the skin a little to plastic on the close ups, but I think it works really well when it is a full shot like the one where she puts her feet up in the car.
Michael thanks for sharing your work online, looks like you really work well with your clients.
http://twitter.com/AdamOttkePhoto Adam
I’m not sure about ‘batman.’ And not sure about this one. But ThinkTank has a great belt system with all kinds of great accessories. To hold the camera on there, these two companies have their own solutions…
http://www.peakdesignltd.com/
http://www.spiderholster.com/
BK553
Another photographer makes a commercial, and again fstoppers features it. How is this of any use to anyone interested in photography? I’m sure it looks cool to his clients, but what use is it to us? There’s no actual information in it, and it’s nothing that a lot of us don’t do every day.
http://www.facebook.com/michaelhsasser Michael Sasser
To clarify, these last two videos were made for the purpose of booking High School Seniors. Not to show other photographers how to shoot. They are designed to show the senior what it is like to have us for a shoot, and what it is like to work with us. Hopefully photographers get something out of it as well.
http://www.facebook.com/michaelhsasser Michael Sasser
It is the spider holster. I use the think tank belt system though. It holds lots of different lenses and an extra body if you want. check it out.
Nicholas Vettese
I hear you. That was my total focus too.
http://twitter.com/nerdybails nerdybails
Yeah I think the term BTS is getting pretty vague, maybe this is in a literal sense. But usually BTS shoots are expected to be informational. Or maybe I’m making an assumption about the term BTS, who knows :)
http://twitter.com/FredoDupoux Frederic Dupoux
what are these things you have glued on your Speed lights and SU800 ?
Ryan Tortorelli
Frederic Dupoux I have Radio poppers on my SU800 and on my flashes. I love the Raddio poppers system the freedom to be iTTL with out line of sight is so awesome!
http://www.facebook.com/PERSONA.STUDIO Ryan Tortorelli
Thanks to the fstoppers for featuring Michael Sasser and Persona Studios Video.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Cole-Ewert/1355973251 Cole Ewert
I was not very complicated from what I saw in the video, but I would have liked it if he explained his lighting set ups since this video was supposed to be about one light senior portraits. I did however like how he demonstrated the poses himself for the models understand exactly what he was looking for. also, too much skin softening.
http://twitter.com/JeremyCupp Jeremy Cupp
I enjoyed this video and his last one. I thought they were well put together. I agree with the others though. Drop that smoothing down to 50% opacity and you have some winners, but if that is the look him and his clients like then cool.
http://www.patrickhallphotography.com Patrick Hall
send us your bts videos and we will feature them too
BK553
That’s my point though. This isn’t a bts, this guy paid to make a commercial and you guys feature it because it was shot with shallow depth of field and has trendy music.
http://www.facebook.com/john.afravi John Afravi
Keep doing what you’re doing. I enjoy these vids.
http://www.facebook.com/john.afravi John Afravi
Keep them coming. Alot of us photographers enjoy watching stuff like this. The rest of you need to lighten up and just enjoy the videos. It’s cool to see how the photographer interacts with his subject. Enjoy it for what it is and stop acting like there is a monopod stuck up your……*bleep*. Please….feel free to submit your own BTS vids if you think you’re that much better.
http://www.lifeiniceland.tumblr.com Jacob Schneider
Cool photography, post production made me want to replace my eye sockets with lighter fluid.
flyrcairplanes
Another vote for keep em coming. I always like to get a feel for how other photographers work and pick up a few tricks now and then.
Ryan Tortorelli
Hey thanks all! Im the Photographer thats in the Video and while some of you don’t like the retouching thats cool to each their own. I make a great living with doing only about 30-40 High school seniors a year and my clients LOVE what and How I do what I do. With my work I have also almost earned my Masters in Photography through the PPA. So if its not too much skin smoothing with the PPA Judges its good enough for my clients.
Chris_Hoffmann
The problem with complaining about the pot-processing is: that is what these girls want. They want to look like 20-something models with perfect skin. I’m not saying it’s right, but it is the world we live in today. Kids growing up (or thinking they are grown up) way too fast.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Rafal-Jurczak/100000193339484 Rafal Jurczak
It wasnt a single light shoot !!! It was 2 light setup. He wasnt in any studio with 1 strobe or 1 source of light where was no daylight access.
http://twitter.com/BraleyPHOTO Randy Braley
This video provides me the opportunity to ask about the use of unlicensed music for promo videos. (My assumption that it is unlicensed – if not, my bad) Seems we as photographers would have a problem if someone used our images to help promote a product, etc., without our blessing. I know a lot of photographers use music on their websites and videos and am just wanting to know what is legally acceptable?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Patrick-Patro-Lind-Lino/100000930487497 Patrick Patro Lind Lino
Working photographers earn a living by making (and keeping) their clients happy. They don’t seek approval of other photographers because quite frankly that doesn’t pay the bills.
http://twitter.com/B_Y_O B_Y_O
We don’t have the concept of “senior’s” at High School in my country so I actually clicked on the link thinking, “Oh, cool – a video about how to shoot and direct old people.” This was not that video…
http://profile.yahoo.com/NBLMTA2DKZE5HGX2E6364PISWU Ero
Not the worst video, quite nice compositions, very nice girls, BUT retouching and post p. are so bad, this “plastic fantastic” things are gone in the wind long time ago, it looks so amateurish and expositions also are far into argue wether it is such idea or is it lack of skills.
Best wishes,
http://www.fotorumba.de
NursultanTulyakbay
In the USA intellectual property is owned by the person who creates it. The owner can sue anyone that uses it without permission. We would have no way of knowing if the owner of this song gave permission or not. I am sure that there are lots of photographers out there that have music on their website that is used without permission, but never get sued. Bottom line, you need to get permission.
NursultanTulyakbay
Compare the shots at 1:52 and the one at 2:11. Same model, one with smoothing one without. The smoothing is not necessary. I can’t imagine that she would actually want it with has a good of skin as she has. Seems to be the work of an overzealous retoucher with a warped sense style.
Arlan Crane
Nice work Ryan. Very nice film. I’m surprised by the number of jealous complainers on this site. Ignore them.
http://twitter.com/EtherLing Ether
With all this talk about retouching, I’m surprised that no one has brought up the name Nick Saglimbeni. He sure knows how to retouch the most troublesome skin while keeping skin texture/pores intact, obviously without touching the Gaussian Blur (turning flesh into rubber/plastic).
http://www.facebook.com/people/Fernando-Garcia/705346784 Fernando Garcia
I enjoyed the video. Thank you FStoppers. From the video stand point. I love the transitions and the steadycam movements. You can tell the photographer knows how to interact with his models. Yes, I do agree with the post production retouch it may had gone a bit too far, but not as far like some of the comments here. We’re here to learn from one another and hear productive criticism and not offensive comments. Overall, FStoppers team please keep them coming. Cool stuff!!! : )
http://www.facebook.com/michaelhsasser Michael Sasser
Well put Patrick.
Chris_Hoffmann
The problem with shooting actual skin tones with all the pots and faults is people simply do not want to see themselves that way. Below is an example of what I think is a nice edgy portrait. The client disagreed.
http://twitter.com/theom3ga José Tomás Tocino
There are better ways of making them look like that. You know, if you’re with the rush, you could use Portraiture that it’s fast and gives better results that gaussian blur. If you have some time, please, there are lots of tutorials on the net showing professional techniques like frequency separation.
And, by the way, why would those 20-ish senior students want to look like 20-ish models? They’re not exactly old.
Chris_Hoffmann
First off, I don’t use either. I’m simply stating the possible reasoning of this particular photog. Second, these are most likely 15/16 year old students, not 20ish as you state and they want to look like mid 20′s adults because they think they are old and mature. I personally think a mid-teen should look like a mid-teen.
http://www.facebook.com/steno12 Stefano Druetta
it’s way overdone, don’t you think? i dig adding noise, but skin features should not be pushed in either direction…
http://www.facebook.com/steno12 Stefano Druetta
the guy seems pretty confident with directing girls, yet creepy at times. gummy faces don’t look good, thou..
Chris_Hoffmann
No, actually I don’t. That is a late 20′s man who’s lived a hard life and I think the picture represents who he is. This is him, with all the blemishes that life provides us with.
http://twitter.com/PhotoFamilia Brandon Duncan
A little too “sexy” for high school senior girls in some scenes – not only wardrobe, but also poses. Tasteful wardrobe and youthfulness can be exhibited in other ways, not just by showing more skin.
http://twitter.com/PhotoFamilia Brandon Duncan
Not intending to sound prudish, as not all shots were distasteful, but it appears to me that Senior portraits these days for young ladies are taking on a more “supermodel” look and feel. I’m all about giving my client a great experience and make them feel like a model, but I think some photogs might be taking it a bit too far.
Chip Johansen
I got something out of both of the last 2 videos. I learned something on how to direct the model (I liked the “walk” on the last video) and I paid close attention to how you placed your single light on this one. I noticed that on almost all shots the light was very indirect and feathered and then you showed the finished shot and I observed how the light fell on the model’s face and the type of catch lights it created. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing.
Chip Johansen
I agree, Portraiture would give much better results and is extremely fast.

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