Balancing risk and creativity is something every photographer has to navigate. Sometimes, a project can feel like it’s on the verge of success or failure, and that uncertainty is both exciting and daunting.
Coming to you from Scott Choucino with Tin House Studio, this revealing video follows Choucino’s journey as he tackles a major portrait shoot that could either elevate his career or go terribly wrong. Choucino is no stranger to photography, having spent over a decade in the field, but this new project is about expanding his body of work. His goal is to create a portrait portfolio that matches the quality of his still life photography, which he’s mastered over the years.
The video gives a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges Choucino faces as he prepares for the shoot. From selecting models to choosing the right gear, there are many moving parts. Lighting is another critical element. Choucino explains how he’s trying to bring the lighting techniques he uses in still life photography into his portrait work.
Choucino’s approach to booking models is cautious. He’s aware that working with new faces at a lower budget comes with risks, so he schedules two people for each time slot to cover for potential no-shows. The models are a mix of musicians, actors, and more, each bringing something unique to the shoot. His goal is to capture interesting characters rather than conventional high-fashion looks.
As the video progresses, Choucino shares his thoughts on the first day of shooting. It was a long, grueling day, but he’s pleased with the results. The portraits have the look he envisioned, though there’s always room for improvement. Today’s focus, he explains, is to avoid repeating what worked yesterday and push for something new. This transparency is what makes the video so engaging. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Choucino.
If you would like to continue learning about the art of portraiture, be sure to check out our range of tutorials on the subject in the Fstoppers store.
