New Opportunities for Studio Portraiture

All SWMOCC portrait photographers,

With the procurement of the new portrait studio, we now have the flexibility to provide members with many new opportunities to enhance their portraiture skills. In addition to the ongoing group studio portrait sessions, I invite all SWMOCC members to sign up to attend a one-on-one portraiture workshop with me at the new studio.

In order to familiarize members with many of the basic concepts and techniques of studio lighting, I propose to begin each member's studio workshop session with a two-hour orientation which will include the review of a 90-minute training DVD on digital studio portraiture, followed by a quick review of the DVD's main points utilizing the lighting equipment at the studio. By the end of this two-hour "mini-workshop" members should have a clear understanding of how to use their camera's exposure controls and histogram displays, proper use of a handheld flash meter, and how to effectively employ studio strobes and light modifiers to produce professional-quality portraits.

The mini-workshop portion of the session will be followed (after a short break for lunch?) by the actual portrait session itself, wherin the member will have the opportunity to employ many of the techniques learned during the mini-workshop to photograph a guest model. The guest model will be provided by the member, and should be scheduled to arrive at the studio at the end of the two-hour mini-workshop. I will make myself available during the portrait session to assist in manipulating the lights, taking meter readings and to provide posing assistance as required by the photographer. The actual duration of the portrait session will be determined by the photographer, and could be up to four hours if desired.

I may request during the portrait session, with permission from the photographer and their guest model, to take a few shots for posting on the SWMOCC website as well as for my own portfolio. Model releases will be made available for use by all photographers.

Once the initial studio workshop session has been attended by a member, they may sign up for additional individual portrait sessions during which the entire session will be devoted to shooting (up to three guest models or a single group). Those members who may be interested in non-portrait related studio photography (still-life/commercial product) are invited to sign up for an individual studio workshop session as well, with the understanding that they will be asked to attend the same pre-session mini-workshop as the portrait photographers since most of the same lighting principles and techniques are used in both still-life and portrait studio photography. I will do my best to accomodate the needs of the club membership in regards to scheduling of initial studio workshop sessions and subsequent portrait sessions. As is the case with many of you, I do juggle a 40-hour work week along with several other personal commitments, so please bear with me. You can schedule a workshop/session by e-mailing me at richsmith@mchsi.com with (weekend) dates that you will be available. I will schedule on a first-come-first-served basis.

The next SWMOCC group portrait session will likely be an outdoor (environmental) shoot, and will probably be scheduled for sometime in late May or early June. If you have any ideas for good outdoor portrait locations, please e-mail me with your suggestions.


Richmond Smith
SWMOCC Portrait Session Coordinator

PS: You can view photos of the new studio at http://picasaweb.google.com/pixelpusher100/HoleInTheWallStudio02