When I started my photography business, I shot outside of my neighborhood or in the dining room of my one-bedroom apartment. I would put all the chairs in my bedroom and turn my dining table to one side and move to the other side of the room. I’ll use natural light coming in from a window, or I’ll set up lights and use my wall as a backdrop. I painted the walls light gray, a nice color for portraits. The main image of this article is a male model that I took in my neighborhood with all natural light. There was a beautiful reflection coming from a white car on the street.
I had to work with what I had, and this is still true to this day. I just did a fashion shoot at a house that my client rents. I don’t know the size of the house, what the yard looks like, or what the neighborhood has to offer. Luckily, I’ve gotten used to working with what the venue has to offer and making it work. I use a kitchen table with a light for product photography. For the model shot, I used a white wall, which is the garage, I shot in the back alley for a little more interesting look, and then I found a tree and textures. Another interesting thing in the front yard of the neighbor’s house. I don’t always feel comfortable shooting in a studio or a great, photo-friendly location.
Work with what you have, and the more challenges you face, the more you’ll learn for your next shoot.
