Ready, steady, throw!

Claire Gillo reveals how to launch flour into the mix to create fun portraits under a simple flash setup.

There is nothing more energising than a fun portrait that uses a creative approach. For this shooting tutorial we’re going to show you how to capture an action portrait using two external flashguns, a diffuser panel, a reflector, a black backdrop and a bag of flour.

When it comes to finding a model you’ll need to find a willing participant who doesn’t mind getting messy. For this photoshoot we had a mini one who was more than happy to get covered from head to toe in flour, and had a great time in the process! We advise when working with children to give strong and clear direction, as they are slightly more unpredictable than adults when throwing flour.

Flour is a fine white substance, so it can be a real kit killer. If you’re worried about your camera, place it in a bag or tape up any large gaps where you think the flour may seep in. We placed a clear plastic bag over our rear flashgun that was in the messy zone, and throughout the shoot we kept checking on and dusting down our gear.

Finally, you’ll need to think about where you can shoot this. Doing it outdoors is tricky if there is any wind, so we opted to shoot this setup in a dusty workshop, where making a mess didn’t matter.

Before BEFORE THE FLOUR Although this is a nicely lit image by itself, the fun and charisma of the shot comes with the flour being thrown. Before the action, check your background is dark and the face is well lit.

2 CHOOSE CAMERA SETTINGS Keep in mind that you need to sync the shutter speed to the flash. For that reason we’re shooting in Manual mode at 1/200 sec, and we have the aperture set to f/9 and ISO at 100. Set your focus to the single-point tracking feature.

1 PREPARE THE BACKGROUND Find a suitable space and hang up a black or dark background. It’s going to get covered in flour, so pick a material that is washable, like a sheet, or use a roll of paper you can replace. Make sure you cover any kit you want to keep clean.

3 PLACE KEY LIGHT Set up the key light (to the camera’s right) and place a diffuser panel in front of the flashgun for a softbox effect. Take a test shot and change to full power. Open the aperture up if you need more light and are at maximum flash strength.

After IN ACTION One, two, three go! Count your model in to get the timing of the shot perfect. Make sure you keep checking and tweaking the flash strength, as the flour in the frame can bring in more light.