Articles about shooting portraits

Free Portraits – Again!

Just a short note for everyone that has been worried about me. I am recovering from my short procedure which turned into a second procedure which turned into a slight infection at the incision. I am doing well and well enough to go do a shoot today.

I will be shooting couples portraits all day at Outfest in Philly. We will be on 12th just north of Pine near Giovanni’s room, the oldest LGBT bookstore in the nation. Photo sessions are free and all revenue from your purchase of any print goes to the Wall Project to save Giovanni’s Room. Stop by & say Hi! We are going to try to put a calendar together too!

I hope that anyone that is in the area will come out and support your LGBT friends and relatives. Its going to be a beautiful day! I look forward to seeing you all there. Stop by and say hi! If you do, I have a free gift for you.

Until then, Happy Shooting!

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Magick Portraits II – I’m doing it again!

My next Magick Portraits event is going to be on National Coming Out Day. In Philadelphia, there is an event called Outfest 2009. You can get a map of the event and information on performers and more at phillypride.com. I will be there doing portraits of couples, gay, straight or ‘other’!

In my continuing effort to ‘pay it forward I recently learned that Giovanni’s Room (www.queerbooks.com) at 12th and Pine Streets is the oldest LGBT book store in the country, and they have a problem: printed books, magazines, newspapers etc. are all suffering because people feel that they can get the type of information supplied by them online rather than going to an actual book store. In some cases that is true. But in many cases it isn’t. Some of the books Giovanni’s handles are not available online or they are at least very hard to find. Because of this financial reality, when the owner learned he had a problem with an exterior wall he didn’t know how he was going to pay for the repairs. If he couldn’t fix it he might have to close the store and go out of business.

When people in the community learned about the problem with the wall they were understandably upset. No one wanted Giovanni’s Room to close so they banded together and decided to help any way they could. Many fund raising efforts have been launched. Everything from book signings to bake sales have either happened or are scheduled. I want to help too.

After consulting with the current owner, Ed Hermance, and his former business partner, Arleen Olshan, I have arranged to do portraits of anyone that would like one. After the portraits are taken prints will be available on my website at a tremendous discount. All proceeds will go to Giovanni’s Room and towards replacing the wall. Additionally, the best twelve portraits will be used to create a 2010 wall calendar, the sale of which will also benefit the wall project.

The calendar will also be available on my website so that those not in the Philadelphia area can help even without getting their portrait done. If you would like to donate and help save a national icon, go to http://www.queerbooks.com or call them at (215) 923-2960 to learn how you can help.

You will find me under the big Magick Michael Photography sign at 12th & Pine Streets. This time I will not be setting appointments. Portraits will be done on a first come first serve basis. The event is taking place over a 5 city block area and there will be plenty to do before and after you have your picture taken. There will be food, music, poetry, games and I heard rumor of giant puppets but don’t hold me to that one.

Come out on October 11th and support the diversity of Philadelphia and your neighborhood too!

Until then,

Happy Shooting!

The “How To” on Free Magick Portraits

I have been contacted by many photographers asking how they can do their own event for Free Magick Portraits for the unemployed. At first it seemed like a compliment to get recognition from my fellow professional photographers. But after many phone calls to all over the country and E-mails around the world I decided to write a white paper for those wanting to create their own event.

To help everyone out there that wants to create their own Free Magick Portraits the white paper gives the basics on what I did and what you can do to have a successful and rewarding event. If you use the title of Free Magick Portraits for…”, let me know and I will make sure that you get a posting and a link for this site to the details about your event. Let’s make it an international success!

You can download the PDF version of the paper by CLICKING HERE.

Until next time
Happy Shooting!

What a Wonderful Day!

 

My oh my, what a wonderful… event! On August 26th I did the Free Business Portraits for the Unemployed and it was fantastic! A stellar turnout! Free Business Portraits for the Unemployed was a raging success!

Originally when I set this up I didn’t know how it would go. I just wanted to do something for the community at large and the unemployed community is pretty large now a days.

Everyone was great. All the people having their shots taken were smiling and everyone was grateful for the service we provided. The volunteers are the ones that should get all the attention. I couldn’t have done it without Eva, Heather, Perry or Kimberly. You guys rock!

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Free Biz Shots – Gaining Momentum!

I know I promised an informational post about lighting flowers and I will be writing that as soon as I am finished this post. I just have to tell you all how many people are truly inspired by this little project of mine.

I have gotten positive feedback from unemployed people, other photographers, the local TV news (well, 2 out of 4 of them anyway), you name it! I have gotten calls from across the country and e-mails from around the world! On my way to Vermont last Friday I had to pull over 3 times just to take calls about the Free Business Portraits for the Unemployed! This ‘working vacation’ has turned out to be more working than vacation!
But you know, I don’t mind. If this is what working is all about, I have been missing something for the last 30 years. I am consumed by this project. I am so proud to be giving something to people that makes them feel good. Add to that the desire of other photographers to also do the same thing! I just found one this morning that says on their page that they are “considering doing the same thing”. Follow Troutman Photography on Twitter and encourage them to do it. The rewards are amazing!

The project has gotten write ups from Picture Soup and one of my favorite people Beate Chelette who has worked with one of my idols, Helmut Newton. The project itself may become something greater than it already is if people all over the world set dates and do this too! Imagine if at least one photographer in one major city in every state in the US and one major city in every country were to pick up their cameras for free for just one day to give back to their local area. Imagine the energy and the positive emotions that would flow out to the world. Can you imagine it? I can.

To have many more people take the Free Biz Shots to the next level would be the ultimate compliment to me and a fantastic benefit for all the people out of work. I want to dream of it and I want to hear from all the photographers out there that are thinking about doing it. I want to give them all my experience and tell them how to get the idea rolling in their cities and neighborhoods. I want to see the smiles on all the faces of all the people who have their pictures taken and all the smiles from those helping take the pictures. I could go on for hours!

But not right now. I owe you all a blog entry on lighting flowers. After another cup of coffee, I will work on that.

Until then, and I truly, truly mean this, Happy Shooting!

Got a Job? Still Need a Portrait?

Got a job? Still need your portrait done? Guess what? I do those too! Just because you are going to miss the free portraits just because you have a job doesn’t mean I am going to charge you full price. I have my standard rates but I am on a roll here. I am trying to something for the economy too. Call it the “Magick” stimulus package.

So what you have a job? Like most of us that are working, time is always crunched. You have go to work, fix house, do the dishes, walk the dog (or clean the litter box), on and on it goes. So many responsibilities, so little time. When on earth would you have time to go to a photography studio just to sit there for 30-60 minutes and let someone shine bright lights in your eyes? Let me tell you a little secret, you don’t have to. Shhh! Not so loud! Do you want everyone to know?

Seriously, I come to you. My studio is 100% mobile and I will come to your home or office and get those shots you need to find a better job! You can update your LinkedIn or Facebook pages too. And because I am in such a giving mood this month I am going to do something I have never done before. I am going to run a “special”! Set an appointment to have your portrait taken before September 12th and I will give you 20% off my rates!

This doesn’t just apply to business shots either. You can get family portraits too! Heck I will even photograph the family pets! I am easy, and now I am cheap too! Get all the details (and more) on the MMP News page!

I am working on an article about lighting flowers. Check back soon for the article. Until then:

Happy Shooting!

Free Business Portraits For the Unemployed

I have just booked a location to do free business portraits for those that are unemployed, between positions or just plain out of work. I want to give back to the community and the best way I can think to do that is to help others somehow. These are difficult times and what can be more difficult than going to work one day and coming home unemployed? Well there are many worse things, illness, disease… but this isn’t about what I can’t fix. This is about helping fix what I can.

I was at home last week wondering what I can do to help others. I can’t do this, I don’t know how to do that, but you know what? I can take a pretty damn good picture. How can a photo help somebody? Recently many experts have been advising people to include a picture of themselves on their resume or to make their social media image ‘business like’ if they are looking for a new position. Now that is something can help with! Finally I found a way that I know I can help people.

On Wednesday August 26th in Philadelphia, I will be doing as many business portraits as I can squeeze into 6 hours. I have done bulk portraits at events before. You know that photographer standing by the coat room at your companies holiday party? Yeah, that’s me. I have been able to take over 250 shots in just over 3 hours at an event like that. I am hoping that I can beat that record and help some people in need. hell, if only one person shows up and it helps them get the job they need, I will call it a win. If two show up then its a win-win! If three show up, it will be a win-win-win, and if four… You get the idea.

If you want to be included all you have to do is be out of work and be willing to show up in some type of business appropriate attire.

To learn more send your questions or request for a time to bizshots@ (email no longer active) and someone will get back to you as soon as possible. I have no clue as to how popular this shoot will be so please be patient.

Until then or until my next post, Happy Shooting!

Appearance! By me of all people!

I will be showing some of my work at the FRESH GROUND COFFEE HOUSE in Willow Grove PA this coming Friday evening July 24th from 8pm until Midnight! Fresh Ground was put together by a friend of mine in a wonderful little church in Willow Grove and they had their first one last month. I attended and the church wasn’t struck by lightning. Amazing!

You can get all the details on Facebook.com (just click here to check it out) but I can tell you that there will be live music from Bill Haney and Friends, fresh coffee, good people, conversation and you can see my work all for free! I like free, free is good. If you’re like me and thinking, “they are going to go all religious on me,” don’t worry. Last month the only time I heard the ‘G’ word was when someone stubbed their toe and that was followed by a word other than ‘bless’.

I look forward to seeing you there! Yes, you.

To leave a comment, click the link below.

So you’re here. Maybe its not Friday yet, maybe it has past and you came by and said hi. Leave a comment and tell everyone else what you think.

Happy Shooting!

Single, Small Light Source (sort of)

How many times have you heard a photographer or photography supplier say, “Oh, to get a good portrait you need strobes/flash/hot lights.”? Or maybe you have just read a few books about portraits and you see all the diagrams with snoots and gobos and umbrellas and big light sources. I am here to tell you that you don’t have to have a bunch of expensive equipment to get great shots.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that there is no need for all kinds of different equipment. But do you have to have it to get the shot? Nope. Joe McNally said in both his books that to get something you have to give something and that’s very true.

Keep reading to see how I got this shot with just a 40watt light bulb in a 20 year old bedside lamp.
In the shot above I had my model, Lynn, lit only by an old bedside lamp with a 40watt bulb in it. All the windows in the room were blacked out and a black backdrop over that. I had the camera set to ISO 200, ¼ of second at f4.5 at 57mm and of course I was using a tripod. By doing the fairly long exposure I was able to capture the subtle shadows across Lynn’s face and still light her eyes. See the diagram below.

 

 

What I had to do was have Lynn hold very still and look right into the lens. Now I could have pulled this off with a speedlight or two and cranked up the exposure time to say 100th. Then you have to balance the light, take time to set everything, test shoot and retest and reshoot… But if you are patient and take the time, you need very little light. Just remember, little light equals long exposure.

In Lynn’s image above I was able to get a good key light reflection in her eyes because she was almost facing the light. Not the case with Amy’s shot below.

I wanted to cast more shadow across Amy’s face and I wanted more of a hair light look (not in this frame). That meant moving the light behind her. But that presented a problem, how to get the catch light in her eyes. I had to go out and get a light. Now being the cheap bastard I am I wasn’t going to buy a speedlight/hot light or strobe, after all I am working with a 40watt bulb here! SO what is the next best thing that will give that warm glow to the face? A $0.99 Bic Lighter. Yes I cheated; I used 2 light sources. The lighter is camera right, just in front of her face and at that speed provides a nice glow to her face. See the diagram below.

 

Now with the setup for Amy obviously I was using a tripod. The camera was set to ISO 200, 125mm, for 1 second at f5.6. Yes it took a full second but like I said above, the light is there, you just have to wait for it. [Note: these were shot in the same studio, with identical setups but on different dates]

Until next time, Happy Shooting!

Go with the Feeling

Sometimes you get everything to work just right. I have spent many a shoot trying to get the lighting to work in a way that shows my subject in the way I envisioned when planning the shoot. Other times I go with just a hint of an idea. It’s usually the latter that works out best. At least for me.

I have spent days planning a shoot, getting all the equipment ready, making sure that everything works properly . It’s those times that I load up damn near the entire studio and pack it in the car. Still I’ll be missing the one reflector or lens or whatever I need and the shoot goes well, but not as well as I want it too. Other times I just go with a basic idea or feeling and BANG! I get the shot I wanted and more.

Jim, the man in this shot was one of those ‘go with the feeling’ times. We spent an entire day at 3 different locations. This shot was from the first location.

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The sun was mid morning coming over the wall behind Jim and putting him a dark shadow. If you look closely you can see the glare reflecting off his head a bit. I used 2 SB 800s to light Jim and the wall. The first SB 800(A) is bungeed to a light pole about 6’ in the air, set to wide, set to ½ power and aimed at the back wall. The second SB 800 (B) is sitting on top of a post at about waist level (3’ or so) and is snooted for light directly onto Jim’s beard and set on full. The camera is set to ISO 400, 1/60th at F18,focal length of about 70mm and handheld. A diagram of the setup is below. Notice the camera is in the street. The street is a one way coming from behind me. This setup of the speedlights left an interesting fall off as the light traveled up his face.

 

 

This left the eyes dark and cold with no key light to speak of. The resulting image was a strong look but it was only about 80% of the way there. Photoshop would get me to where I wanted to be. I took the image into Camera Raw and used a technique I learned via Scott Kelby and the NAPP website. The technique is Scott’s down and dirty Grunge Look. It can be done in Camera Raw or in Lightroom 2. If you are already a member of NAPP just give a search for Grunge. So with just that little Photoshop tweak I got this result. I wanted the beard to seem scratchy and course as the man wearing it. I think I got that in this image. What do you think?

Until next time, Happy Shooting!