Dream Project shoot

Working with a complete creative team is a real joy, when you add a multitude of amazing models, outfits, styling, hair & make-up it is only right to call it the Dream Project.

In just a few, all too short, hours I worked with a number of different models, locations and lighting setups.

Model Misty Bailey | Make-up artist Ophelia Mua | Hairstylist Elisabeth Noir | Designer Maame Pokuah | Stylist Maximilian Vermilye, Dee Maat, Ng Thompson

I lit Misty with the Lastolite Ezybox II Octa. The hard part was avoiding too much light in the mirror in the background.

Models (L-to-R) Bill Alvin Eweka, Phyll McPhyll | Designer Sevgul Leyla Metin | Hairstylist Brenda Tukei | Make-up artist Dorcas Teza | Stylist Maximilian Vermilye, Dee Maat, Ng Thompson

Bill and Phyll just worked amazingly together. Lighting is the smaller Lastolite Ezybox II medium.

Models (L-to-R) Gilda Palas, Misty Bailey, Orienne Brown, Bianca DeBanks | Designers Maame Pokuah, Sevgul Leyla Metin | Hairstylist Brenda Tukei, Neusa Goncalves, Elisabeth Diamond, Roshan Noir | Make-up artist Dorcas Teza, Ophelia Mua, Victoria JJust | Stylist Dee Maat, Ng Thompson, Maximilian Vermilye

The smaller Lastolite Ezybox II medium again, but pulled a little further back making the shadows harder.

Model Laura Bailey | Make-up artist Ophelia Mua | Designer Maame Pokuah | Hairstylist Brenda Tukei | Stylist Maximilian Vermilye, Dee Maat, Ng Thompson

For this shot of Laura – in what was becoming a favourite location – I have the Lastolite Ezybox Octa to the camera right, and there’s a bare Speedlite on the back of the seat to put some light on to the texture in the walls.

Models (L-to-R) Misty Bailey, Bill Alvin Eweka, Bianca DeBanks | Designer Sevgul Leyla Metin | Hairstylist Neusa Goncalves, Elisabeth Noir | Makeup Ophelia Mua, Dorcas Teza, Elisabeth Noir | Stylist Maximilian Vermilye, Dee Maat, Ng Thompson

If in doubt go large… the Lastolite Ezybox II Octa to the camera right and only a little in front of the group. Having the darkest dress close to the light helps balance the fact that the light will reduce in power as it moves across the frame from right to left.

Model Bianca DeBanks | Make-up artist Dorcas Teza | Hairstylist Elisabeth Noir | Designer Sevgul Leyla Metin

Again the Lastolite Octa was used, but I moved round behind Bianca to shoot over her shoulder. The Octa is rapidly becoming a real friend for it’s awesome light on all people.

Model Gilda Palas | Make-up artist Dorcas Teza | Hairstylist Brenda Tukei | Designer Sevgul Leyla Metin | Stylist Dee Maat, Ng Thompson, Maximilian Vermilye

I had started with the small Lastolite Ezybox Speed Lite 2 but this is back to the medium Lastolite Ezybox II, kept just out of the frame.

Model Phyll McPhyll | Make-up artist Dorcas Teza | Hairstylist Brenda Tukei | Designer Anita | Stylist Maximilian Vermilye, Dee Maat, Ng Thompson

Again the Lastolite Ezybox II medium, but I also added a bare flash pointed at the wall to the left side. Possibly a little over hot, but it will get darker in post quite readily.

Model Orienne Brown | Make-up artist Victoria JJust | Hairstylist Brenda Tukei | Designer Maame Pokuah | Stylist Maximilian Vermilye, Dee Maat, Ng Thompson

Orienne is really close to the front of the Lastolite Ezybox II medium, and there’s two more flashes on the background – actually in the frame. If you put lights in the picture, then you will better use manual for those groups. E-TTL can get a bit “funky”.

Model Núria Morell | Make-up artist Brenda Tukei | Hairstylist Elisabeth Noir | Designer Maame Pokuah | Stylist Maximilian Vermilye, Dee Maat, Ng Thompson

Back to the bar with Núria, and the Ezybox II medium as the main light almost behind her, and then another Speedlite back past the other end of the bar.

Model Phyll McPhyll | Make-up artist Dorcas Teza | Hairstylist Brenda Tukei | Designer Anita | Stylist Maximilian Vermilye, Dee Maat, Ng Thompson

The Lastolite Ezybox II Octa has such wonderful light and the edge is really great. Just make sure you use a lens hood as light aimed at the camera does soften pictures even if you can’t see obvious flare.

Model Alex La | Make-up artist Elisabeth Noir | Stylist Maximilian Vermilye

For Alex, I opted for a harder light setup, a Honl grid on the single Speedlite is the main light, and then there’s a second flash with a red gel in the left of the picture. Using the gridded Speedlite I made use of the modelling light feature to check that Alex was in the right spot.

A big huge thanks to Abigirl Isaac too for pulling the whole event together, she deserves a medal.

All the images in this post have only been processed simply using Lightroom, Photoshop was not necessary this time 🙂