Photo Composites Behind the Scenes
Today I am giving you a little behind the scenes look at a technique I use in my photography, photo compositing. In this day and age the camera, be it for still photography or video, is merely the first step in a process of production. The tools available to artists and creative professionals are very powerful. In talented hands the camera and the software combine to create images that are works of art. I use this photo compositing and layering in almost every aspect of my photography, from real estate to weddings and everything else. In this particular example we see that I was able to create a scene that was not really there at all.
From the before and after shot above, you can see that in reality the room we were in was not an up-scale dressing room at all. We were basically in a basement. I always light everything, but in photo compositing one has no choice. In order to suspend disbelief, I have to think about direction of shadows and light source size. This was a very small space and this meant that I had to use grid spots to control bounce and reflection. This also helped keep flare from the giant mirror sneaking in to any shots.
I am sure that for Ashley and her mother Traci it was a little strange to be in this spot, with me trying to describe to them what I intended to do with the photos. Even though I show everyone their pictures as we go, there is no way that I can get my ultimate vision across until the composite is completely finished. Think about it; when I showed them the photos as they were shot, all they could see was the image on the left.
Great Ideas Come From Everywhere
I have to know how to get the images that I want, but I also have to be able to give my clients the pictures they want. The photo below is a fine example of this. Traci asked me if it would be possible to use a baby picture of Ashley in one of the composite photos. Her request resulted in this photo, which in my opinion was the signature photo of the whole session. That is exactly why I love doing this so much. I love when I am able to deliver exactly what a client wants and blow them away all at the same time.
The photo above is a great behind the scenes shot. In it you can see me shooting from a perspective relative to the mirror that would be impossible if not for this technique. You can also see one of the gridded speedlights in the top right corner of the original image. For the final picture on the right I had to blur the background so that it matched the Ashley that is in the foreground of the picture. If you think about it, the background is actually behind where I was standing, so depth of field requires that it be out of focus. Again, just one of the many facets to think about when creating a photo composite.
This is a technique that I use in almost every aspect of my work. Not many people do this sort of work for portraits or weddings. I happen to do this for everything, and it is one of the many things that sets me apart from my fellow photographers. Images like the ones above can only be made, not taken. Should you desire pictures that other photographers simply cannot produce, be they for portraits, weddings, real estate or advertising, you have come to the right place. Big thanks to Ashley and Traci for letting me produce Ashley’s Senior photos.