Blending technical precision with creative freedom is crucial when working in a studio. Lighting, backdrop choices, and how you adapt to the moment all play a role in creating impactful images.
Coming to you from John Gress, this intriguing video provides a behind-the-scenes look at how he combines technical expertise with an adaptable mindset. For this shoot, Gress started with a mood board but gave the dancers the space to interpret and perform. His goal was to freeze motion, but he ended up focusing on more static, expressive poses instead. He initially planned to use complementary color schemes like orange and blue to create high-contrast images, but the results lacked the emotional depth he was looking for. Switching gears, the dancers changed into neutral brown outfits, prompting Gress to rethink the backdrop and lighting to match their new look.
A major takeaway from the video is how adjusting your setup mid-shoot can make a significant impact. Gress introduced a brown painted canvas backdrop and added a second matching backdrop to extend the scene and create layered shadows. This technique helped bring more visual interest and depth to the photos. He describes how these changes helped him achieve a moody, painterly effect that wasn’t possible with the initial setup. Gress’ openness to shifting his approach mid-session reflects the importance of not getting too attached to preconceived ideas during a shoot.
Lighting played a critical role in shaping the final images. Gress used an Elinchrom 190cm Indirect Octabox as his primary light source, set up on a boom stand to allow precise positioning. This large modifier, paired with two Elinchrom Indirect Stripboxes, created a balanced, soft light that highlighted the dancers’ movements and expressions. He meticulously positioned the strip lights to create an edge lighting effect, giving the dancers’ bodies a defined outline. Gress also shared his experience with adjusting flash duration to freeze motion and achieve sharper images when capturing dynamic poses.
For color grading, Gress experimented with different film emulations in Capture One to create a warm, cohesive look. He explains that he adjusted the white balance and applied a Kodak-inspired film stock emulation to bring out golden hues in the skin tones and backgrounds. This choice enhanced the emotional quality of the images and brought all the elements together. The result was a set of photos that felt more like paintings than digital captures. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Gress.
If you would like to continue learning about how to light a portrait, be sure to check out "Illuminating The Face: Lighting for Headshots and Portraits With Peter Hurley!"
