Are you still enjoying remote photography sessions without needing to leave your home? Take a look at this tip to create better quality photographs!
We have seen many photographers all over the world improvise during the lockdown by starting remote photo sessions with clients and models alike, such as, Billie Weiss who shot remote portraits of Boston Red Sox team members or Tim Dunk who made the most of his usually busy wedding season by shooting clients remotely from the comfort of his home. Initially, Dunk shared his experiences of setting up and shooting clients in this way but now, over 300 FaceTime photography sessions later, he gives us an insight in how he's improved the final quality of the images.
Before, Dunk used FaceTime, which delivered a decent result, considering the way the sessions were shot. The images had that grainy, of-the-moment retro look, which Dunk describes as having that "charming lo-fi glory." However, now the British photographer shares how he has found a way to shoot images using the full native resolution of his subject's mobile phone to make the most of what iPhones have to offer when it comes to cameras.
The technique is simple. Dunk uses a free mobile app called CLOS, which has named itself as the "app of choice for Vogue Italia's remote shootings." This method again is only available for iPhone and iPad users and requires both the photographer and the subject to own one of those iOS devices, updated to the latest software version.
Once both the photographer and the subject have downloaded the app, you can set up a virtual room and share the link to it with your model or client. Once they have joined, you both are on a video call and you have the ability to take photos and videos using your subject's phone camera. The images or videos created are saved directly on your subject's camera roll, meaning you don't have to actually shoot anything with a camera.
Dunk reminds to have the subject turn on their back camera, facing the screen away from them during the shoot. There are plenty of ways the phone can be supported, with the easiest being placed on a small mobile tripod but if that's not something your clients or models own, Dunk notes that his favorite method is to ask his clients to tie their phone to a "can of beans with a hair-tie". Either technique will work.
Once you are done with the shoot, ask your subject to share the images with you, using one of the file transfer apps, such as, Dropbox, Google Drive, or WeTransfer. Dunk advises not to use the option to share the album within the phone photo app as it will decrease the resolution of your files.
Once all those technicalities are resolved, you're left to your own devices to use your initiative and be creative! If you want to learn more about Dunk's way of shooting, you can visit his website.
Lead image by Tim Dunk, featuring Isabella Maria Grazia Cecere, represented by J'adore Models.
Would there be any Android alternative? for us plebs that aren't on IOS?