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The team at Double Exposure reveal their tips for capturing images on location
The Double Exposure Photographic team on capturing images on location
Shooting people on location is no easy task! The reality is that it often takes meticulous planning, patience and practice. There’s always that one lucky shot around the corner, but to give yourself the best chance of achieving stunning location lifestyle images, it’s worth putting the effort in.
First off, plan your shoot – do this by thinking about the overall concept beforehand. Does the shot in your head sound like a good idea, and does it excite you? An inspired photographer will always go that extra mile. Check things are in place for your shoot; is the weather on your side, where will the sun be, is the location accessible, does your subject look right in the setting? Finally, ensure your gear is lightweight, adaptable and appropriate.
When you’re on location, get the basics set up, and use a high-resolution camera with good ISO capabilities to get the most from variable lighting conditions. Check your speed first – is it quick enough to freeze the movement, and will it sync with your off-camera flash? You don’t want to miss a moment. Check your aperture and ISO, and make a call on what’s more important for the shot: depth of field or quality? Don’t be afraid to sacrifice some settings, a bit of noise won’t be noticed if the shot is amazing! Give yourself enough time at the start to get an exposure you’re happy with – you can make changes on the fly but having a solid start takes the pressure off.
Work with the sun to give you some gorgeous rim light, and use off-camera flash or bounce to fill in the shadows. Choose a bright portrait lens and get stuck in. We’ve waded into oceans, been elevated on cranes, and gotten up at the crack of dawn for our best work over the years. With this in mind, try to think about where you are, and what might be a dynamic camera angle. If you need to get somewhere, roll those trousers up and get stuck in – no great picture was made by a comfortable photographer!
Always direct the model. Try not to forget that you have a concept in your head, so give instructions to your subject to achieve this. Good patter will go a long way, too, and if the person(s) you’re shooting are uncomfortable it will most likely show. Finally, relax into the shoot, and go with the moment; by now you should have put enough in place to not worry! Let your subject be impulsive, and forget your kit. Look straight through the lens, and hit the shutter button when you see that special moment!