So many factors contribute to a shoot. What is their personality? What sort of clothes did they bring to the shoot? I can tell as soon as I see the selection of outfits someone brings to my session, how they want to be photographed. But as you know I always ask “How do they want to be photographed” Then there’s unfolding their personality and their desires, this is the most fun, watching them transform with makeup and confidence and trust. When you know they trust you and you can keep pushing them to that next level of posing and connection. Watching poses turn into direction and connection. Finding magical light and manipulating it.
Then I have little trends that I throw in. Like shooting in the dark without reflectors and bringing the highlights up with Photoshop (Both layer mask and dodge tool does this) I do this because it’s a look I cannot achieve the opposite way, shooting lighter and burning in. It creates an almost painterly effect. Then I drop the image into B/W and add lots of contrast – I call this look Film Noir. After I shot George in the Dark GQ style for his Man Portrait session, I used the same treatment with todays shoot. She had a beautiful set of lingerie to finish with. I had 5pm window light in Banff. Low light and shot a little under exposed, one metre from the window, no reflector just like the film noir but instead of B/W keep the colour slightly desaturate and a hint towards green. For George’s portrait shoot I had no reflector, nice hard shadow for a masculine face and for Jaime today face turned into the light, I personally never leave shadow on a woman’s face.
My preshoot process is has two patterns, I access the visual part of my brain that has shot for 22 years and draw upon what I have done and what I know, and I draw little Shoot lists. Visual ones, stick figure cartoons. When I teach photographers I teach them to map shoots visually using my posing cards. This helps not only plan out a shoot but helps you move through it efficiently and not miss any great shots in the heat of the moment. Then I incorporate different variables of ‘this will look good with that’ and I’ll try adding this look and so on. Then I have my little map of creative options and my client has finished Hair and Makeup I’m ready to go. When I start one of the visual ideas and my client is moving in another direction I go with it, everybody brings something new but it’s always great to start confidently. Your client will trust you if you take control first and then let a pose/scenario evolve. If you are shooting like mad telling them to just do their things you may happen upon 2 good shots out of 200 but if you direct and take charge you will get 50 out of 60.
This beautiful sequence is A little bit boudoir and a whole lot beauty, with lots of mood and sexiness. Perfectly Jaime. As I was finishing the shoot and the day and light was leaving, I couldn’t move far from the window so when I got bored with the corner we went down to the floor. I shot this sequence all in Landscape, because with it I shot the sexiest fusion video I have ever done to date. But you’ll have to wait to see that. I know I am such a tease!
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FANTASTIC!!!
Stunning work and a beautiful model . . .. however I am sure you made her soul sing!!! I love your take on Film Noir.
wow..your film noir look is incredible
as always Sue, simply beautiful
Wow, absolutely stunning.
beautiful. LOVE. only YOU sue bryce can make green carpet look so good!
Beautifully Sensual images , Love it and love your style , very inspiring . It was a pleasure watching you live on CreativeLive .
Jamie is such a gorgeous girl already, but you really captured that sensuality she carries so beautifully, like a rare perfume. It comes through in every image. BRAVA
Hi Sue,
What a fantastic series of Jaime! Thanks so much for sharing how you worked on this. I read al your posts very carefully and I am so happy that I found a mentor in you!
I have one question: could you tell me which lens and which camera you used for this series?
Thanks & have a nice day!
Marleen, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Great, love the light and the colors.
Very beautiful images Sue!
These are so beautiful Sue.
x
What I love here Sue is that you highlighted the body parts you wanted to showcase with sincere and beautiful poses. Really stunning!
Oh my goodness. GORGEOUSness times 100! WOW.
Really fantastic . I love your work…………..
Sue,
thanks for posting! inspiring.. and as usual , amazing images. What I love the most, is the fact that you “control” photoshop!! not the other way around.. most photogrhapers are “controled & abused” by photoshop.. but you just use it in a way that your pictures look totally natural… fantastic!
As always excellent advice Miss Sue Bryce
Such a beautiful series of stunning portraits…. So sensual and at the sametime so intimate… AMAZING as always!
AAAMAAZING!!!!
I can’t wait to see the video!!!!
So breathtaking! Can’t wait to see the video!
I love the soft shadows here. I always appreciate your tips and tricks, both for shooting and photoshop. No doubt Jaime will be blown away with these photos.
simply stunning!
These are fantastic!
Just so inspiring!!!!! You have created a little magic of your very own.
Hi Sue, Beautiful work, as always. Really glad you enjoyed your trip to Canada. I attended and bought your Creative Live class and would like to thank you for sharing SO much information.
A friend and fan from the far North
Hi Sue what can i say simply awesome watched your CL live workshop which was amazing .
Sue,
Incredibly beautiful images. Just as everybody was rushing to buy form boards (big smile), you opted no reflector.
I would really love to see an example post processing – something of before and after nature and realize that I’m asking a lot!
Thank you for sharing the inspirational work!
Jean
Amazing, so in love with this style, love love love it.
Thank you so much for your blog..for sharing….could you teach us step by step in photoshop what you did?
Every Tuesday and Thursday I can’t wait ..to see what you have posted. You inspire me! THANK YOU.