Happy Christmas

A very happy Christmas to all the photographers, models and clients who have been to Ian’s Studio in 2013. Also all the best for 2014.

For those who are interested… the image above was created back in July at a photography event which was all about creating ‘bokeh’ in photographs. The stars in the background are actually out of focus Christmas lights photographed through a simple star shaped mask which makes the blurs appear to be star shaped.

In this festive newsletter I’m including my usual rundown of forthcoming events. I would like to draw special attention to this Friday’s Glamour event with model Cherry Blush. We have two sessions 3pm till 6pm and 7pm till 10pm. You can book to come to either or both sessions. What we shoot in each session will be different. I’ve now worked with Cherry twice and have been very impressed with both professionalism and her skills as a model. You will not be disappointed if you come to this event.

If you are wondering what to spend your Christmas money on, let me draw your attention to the two courses that are starting at the end of January. The Intermediate Photography Course is classroom based teaching backed up with practical assignments and critiques. The comprehensive studio course is practical and covers all aspects of photographing people in a studio environment. If you are thinking of setting yourself a photography goal for 2014, either of these course would be a great way to improve your photography and take it to the next level.

Places are already beginning to sell for the Lightroom Day on Saturday 25th January. I know of various people who have expressed interest but haven’t yet booked. If you are one of them book soon to make sure you get your place.

Finally, I’ve included some recent “Photos of the Day” they are mainly from recent studio events.

For all of this and more… read on…

Forthcoming Events

Friday, 27 December 2013 – Glamour Day & Night

Glamour Day & Night

Location: Ian’s Studio
Time: 3:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Price: £35 or £65

Two three hour sessions with a leading glamour model. Book for either afternoon or evening or both. We will be shooting different set-ups each session so worth booking for both if you can! The afternoon session will be 3pm – 6pm and the evening 7pm – 10pm.

Our model will be working up to nude at both sessions for this event. It is anticipated that each session will include one room set (eg Boudoir, Office, Lounge or Bed); one paper background set, and one set using other studio features such as the parquet floor or the walls.

I am pleased to announce that the model for this event will be Cherry Blush (the model pictured in the eFlyer for this event). Cherry is a widely published glamour model she has been published in newspapers, magazines and on too many websites to mention! Cherry has model at the studio for bespoke art nude training and she is one of the the best art nude / glamour models I have ever had the chance to work with.

You can see examples of Cherry’s work on my website:
http://photos.imb.biz/model/name/cherryblush

You can also see her profiles on the various model sites here:
http://purpleport.com/portfolio/startoni/?referrer=iansstudio
http://www.purestorm.com/tonileanne
http://www.madcowmodels.co.uk/cherryblush

Price: £35 afternoon OR evening; £65 both sessions

Please book via my website: http://www.ians-studio.co.uk/events/glamour-day-night/

Friday, 10 January 2014 – Drama through Lighting

Drama through Lighting

Location: Ian’s Studio
Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Price: £25

Tonight’s Friday Night at the Studio event will be led by Rick Bradbury. Rick is known for his use of dramatic lighting in his portraiture work.

For this event we will be looking at all kinds of dramatic lighting, using all types of modifiers from grids to big umbrellas to create images with drama/tension.

Many people think for dramatic lighting you need to use grids or hard light… whilst that works great you can also create drama with light with a larger light source.

Bring your camera and plenty of cards for a dramatic nights shooting.

Details of the model for this event will be release closer to the event date.

Price: £25

Please book via my website: http://www.ians-studio.co.uk/events/drama-through-lighting/

Friday, 24 January 2014 – Full Colour Pin-up

Full Colour Pin-up

Location: Ian’s Studio
Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Price: £27

Tonight’s Friday Night at the Studio event will be on the theme of ‘pin-up’. We will be working with an established pin-up model to create pin-up images with bright and bold colours.

Coloured back grounds will be the order of the day. We have a good selection of colourfull background papers at the studio and we will be augmenting these with coloured gels to increase the coulors we can shoot against.

Details of the model for this event will be published shortly

Price: £27

Please book via my website: http://www.ians-studio.co.uk/events/full-colour-pin-up/

Saturday, 25 January 2014 – Lightroom Training Day

Lightroom Training Day

Location: Ian’s Studio
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Price: £65

Learn Adobe Photoshop Lightroom in one day. This intensive and extensive training day will equip you to get the best out Lightroom and will help you streamline your photography workflow.

Attendees may wish to be bring a laptop with with Lightroom installed, to follow the through the training on their own screens.

All participants will get printed notes.

Cost: £65.00 (Price includes lunch)

Topics covered include:

The Lightroom Philosophy

Learn to work the Lightroom way.

Configuring Lightroom

Set-up options you MUST change
Where to store your files
Setting up metadata defaults

Library Module

DAM – Digital Asset Management – what is it? Why do I need it?
Finding images
The filter bar
Importing
– Getting images into Lightroom
– Naming conventions
– DNG – what is it? Why convert to DNG?
Setting metadata
– Using the panels
– Using the painter
– Using presets
– Synchronising metadata
– Saving metadata!
Using keywords and keyword hierarchies
Reviewing your images
– Flags and ratings
Collections and smart collections

Develop Module

Understanding the adjustment panels (we go through each panel in turn an look at what it can do.)
Using adjustment brushes, graduated filters and other editing tools
Using presets
Snapshots, history and virtual copies

Output Modules

Printing
Slide show
Web

Exporting Images

Export & Publish – what’s the difference.

Plug-ins

Third party publishing tools – Flickr, Zenfolio, Alamy
Export plug-ins -Adding frames to your images
GPS
Defining your own metadata fields

Workflow hints and tips

Using keyword to mange workflow

Please book via my website: http://www.ians-studio.co.uk/events/lightroom-training-day-140125/

Sunday, 26 January 2014 – Intermediate Photography Course (8 Sessions)

Intermediate Photography Course (8 Sessions)

Location: Ian’s Studio
Time: 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Price: £165 (8 sessions) £155 (7 sessions)

Weekly on Sunday Afternoons 3pm till 5.30pm (approx) from Sunday 26th January 2014

The course will consist of eight sessions (session 5 on glamour, boudoir, & art nude is optional). Each session will be two and half hours in length.

Please note this is classroom based training with practical homework assignments to back-up what we have covered in each session. Discounts will be available to course attendees to attend other events at the studio.

Each session will look at one or two related genres of photography. We will cover techniques and equipment, and I will be providing practical advice and where appropriate I’ll share experiences from a professional perspective.

Session 1 : Travel and Architecture
Session 2 : Available light portraiture and Weddings
Session 3 : Off Camera flash and strobist techniques
Session 4 : Studio portrature
Session 5 : Glamour, boudoir and art nude photography
Session 6 : Events, theatre and performance photography
Session 7 : Macro, product and commercial photography
Session 8 : Sports and wildlife photography

Each session will leave you with some homework to reinforce the skills and techniques we have talked about.

Price:
8 Sessions: £165.
or 7 Sessions (omitting session 5) : £155

The course is aimed at photographers who have a reasonable level of photographic knowledge. I have designed the course to be particularly suitable for those who have already completed my “Introduction to Digital Photography” course. If you have not completed that course, you should have an understanding of photographic techniques such as exposure, aperture, controlling depth of field, etc. Experience of using flash guns is useful but not essential. As with any course the time spent on any given subject will be tailored to reflect the current knowledge and experience of those attending.

Printed course materials will be provided to all attendees. Throughout the course there will be opportunities should you wish to have your photographs assessed to help you improve.

Places on the course will be limited.

Please note: The course is designed for users of DSLR cameras. If you have a “compact” camera or a “bridge” camera please contact me to discuss its suitability for this course.

Please book via my website: http://www.ians-studio.co.uk/events/intermediate-photography-course-8-sessions/

Tuesday, 28 January 2014 – Comprehensive Studio Photography Course

Comprehensive Studio Photography Course

Location: Ian’s Studio
Time: 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Price: ££299

Starting on Tuesday 28th January….. The Comprehensive Studio Photography Course.

This nine session course will cover all aspects of studio based people photography. Each week we will work with different models to create great images, and learn studio techniques.

Session 1 : Understanding the light – In this first session we will create dramatic head-shots using a single light source and a large range of different light modifiers. By the end of this session you will understand how to set up a studio light, and what effect each modifier has on the final image we are creating.
Session 2 : Multiple lights – In this session we create interesting portraits by adding in additional light sources. We look at ratios and metering multiple light sources By the end of the session you will be able to set up multiple lights, and under why and when you need to add an extra light.
Session 3 : Posing & Fashion – In this session we concentrate on how to pose your subjects. We will also look at how to use grey backgrounds and introduce the use of gels to colour light.
Session 4 : Photographing men & couples – In this session we work with male and female models. We consider some of the techniques for photographing men and how to pose and light couples.
Session 5 : Boudoir & Lingerie – using low-key lighting and specially created studio sets we look at different ways to create boudoir images.
Session 6 : Latex, tatoos and alternative models – in this session you will be encouraged to design and set-up your own lighting to best show off our alternative model.
Session 7 : Glamour – In this session we look at glamour photography. The emphasis will be on hi key lighting set-ups either seamless white or using coloured background papers.

Session 8 : Art Nude – For this session the emphasis switches to low-key lighting as we consider the creation of art nude images.
Session 9 : Working with water and other messy substances – for the final session we we look at some of the challenges of working with water and other messy substances such as paint/slime in the studio.

All course participants will receive full printed full printed notes to accompany the course. The notes will cover topics such as posing guidelines, advice on working with models, and sample lighting set-ups.

Additionally each attendee will receive a voucher for 3hrs fee studio hire (worth £50) – to be taken within 6 months of the end of the course. This is your chance to put in to practice all the skill you have learned on the course.

Cost: £299
If you want help spreading the cost and wish to pay by installments please contact me for details

To be able to run the course I need a minimum of three people to book.

Please book via my website: http://www.ians-studio.co.uk/events/comprehensive-studio-photography-course-2/

Photo of the Day

POTD Wed, 18 Dec 2013: Cherry Blush

Cherry Blush at bespoke art nude training at Ian’s Studio

This image comes from another day of bespoke art nude training at the studio. The model is Cherry Blush. Cherry will be visiting the studio again on Friday 27th December for an afternoon and evening of glamour photography. (See: http://www.ians-studio.co.uk/events/glamour-day-night/)

Image Reference: FF1218A-G03598

POTD 17 Dec 2013 – Zara Du Rose

Zara Du Rose

A bit cheeky this Photo of the Day image. Zara was at my studio working for another photographer.

I was setting up lighting. I don’t normally take photos when someone else is hiring the studio and paying for the model, but on this occasion the photographer was brewing up while I did the lights. In the absence of the photographer I tested the lighting as best I could using ‘shirley’ the studio mannequin head, but as Zara’s outfit was latex I really needed to check the lighting with her in place so I could make sure we had the enough reflections to show the shiny latex off to it’s best. Because I am hoping to book Zara for some events at the studio I asked her permission and the photographer’s permission if I could just take a couple of shots while I set the lights this would enable me to confirm the lighting would give the reflections on the latex, and would mean I had some images to promote any events in the future for which I booked Zara.

Three shutter clicks later I had an image of Zara and had confirmed the lighting was spot on for the latex shoot.

You know at times, I hate being accurate with my lighting. If I had got it wrong I could have taken a lot more images of the amazing Zara while I sorted it out! [I am joking BTW]. Hopefully I will be able to book her for an event next year and I will be able to photographer her again.

Image Reference: FF1217A-G03535

POTD 13 Dec 2013 – Water doplet colision

Water droplet collision in a wine glass

This week’s Friday Night at the Studio event was a water based table top night. This is my image of the night. A water droplet collision in a wine glass.

Earlier in the day week I had some problems with the equipment that is used to create the droplet collisions. Eventually tracked down to be a problem with the mains power supply unit. This had reduced the time I needed to find the right settings to get the collisions to happen. As the evening wore on it started to look as though it would never happen. Then finally in the last 20 mins we got the right settings and hey presto repeatable collisions.

We also had the drop tank and a water splash wine glass set-up available. My images from the evening and from the time setting up can be seen here: http://photos.imb.biz/studio/waternight

Image Reference: FF1213A-G03516

POTD 6 Dec 2013 – Dante-Layla

Dante-Layla at Latex Night at the Studio

The title for this Friday Night at the Studio event was “Latex Night” our model Dante-Layla came with a good range of latex outfits. We used a range of different lighting styles mostly dramatic lighting with plenty of shadow. You can see the full set of images from the shoot here:http://photos.imb.biz/model/shoot/dantelatex

Image Reference: FF1206A-G03091

POTD 5 Dec 2013 – Skellig

Skellig

Images from the dress rehearsal of Stockport Garrick’s production of Skellig are now up on my website: http://bit.ly/18nzKSg – the production was challenging but enjoyable to photograph. The lighting was constantly changing which looks great for anyone viewing the production but means that I have to work harder as photographer.

Image Reference: FF1205A-G02822