One sign of a good photographer is their ability to make something out of nothing, and finding locations that work well for shooting fashion and portraits can be hard work — until you know how. Photographer Julia Trotti runs you through some great advice on how to find and create the perfect spot.
Trotti offers some excellent tips in the graphic overlays that she includes as part of her video, so it’s worth paying close attention to all of the small details that go towards making each shot work.
Trotti’s tool of choice in this video is the Canon 5D Mark IV coupled with the beast that is the EF 35mm f/1.4 L. The body isn’t cheap but that lens is also a pricey piece of glass, weighing in at $1,699. However, while you might think that shooting wide open at f/1.4 is giving Trotti an edge over the rest of us shooting on much cheaper glass, it’s worth noting that quite a few of her photos are shot at f/2, not the maximum aperture of f/1.4.
With that in mind, a much more affordable option would be the classic Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM at $549, or if you fancy a bit more separation for a similar price, it’s worth checking out the highly regarded Tamron SP 35mm f/1.8 Di VC USD.
Note also how Trotti keeps her subject’s face in the center of her frame. Getting close to people while shooting with a 35mm lens means that features can be stretched by the wide angle, and keeping the face away from the frame’s edges helps to avoid weird things from happening.
If you have more tips on how to make the most of otherwise mundane locations, be sure to leave a comment below.
