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Look for dramatic backdrops

If you are shooting a fashion, lifestyle or mood portrait, while it might seem like a back-to-front approach, there is often no better way of creating a dynamic image than by finding a suitable location before choosing your portrait subject. This means that you can study the characteristics of the location and plan what type of model is most suitable, how they will dress and how you can light the scene.

It pays to be observant at all times and keep an eye out for potential portrait backdrops. Almost anywhere can be suitable, but remember that you will require permission if you want to shoot on private property, while public areas may offer the problem of people walking into your scene or causing distraction. Whether you live in an urban environment or out in the country, there are countless possibilities open to you. When you find a suitable location, study it at different times of the day to see how the direction of the sun affects the lighting. Look at how the tones, textures and colours work together and decide what type of portrait subject will work most effectively.

CHARLOTTE

A forecourt packed with a line of stunning classic cars presented the perfect location for a fashion photo shoot. A quick walk around the scene allowed the best viewpoints to be determined, and a model with a suitably racy look was hired. The contrasting colours of the cars provide interest, and their formation, along with the line of headlights, leads the eye to the model, who has adopted an S-shaped pose with her body to tie in with the rounded shapes of the cars. This shot was taken in bright daylight, but by purposely underexposing the background by around three stops, while lighting the foreground with a portable flash system, it was possible to emphasize the model by making her the brightest area of the frame.

Canon EOS 20D, 70–200mm lens at 70mm, 1/320 sec at f/5, ISO 200.