How I Plan an Outdoor Portrait Shoot in Los Angeles
How I Plan an Outdoor Portrait Shoot in Los Angeles
I approach an outdoor portrait shoot by first thinking about the photograph I want to make. Before we choose a location, I'm considering the person, the environment, the color, the time we have, and how all of those things need to work together.
Los Angeles gives me a lot to work with. There are beaches, hills, neighborhoods, architecture, parks, and plenty of locations that can completely change the feeling of a photograph. I'm less interested in finding a location that is simply beautiful than I am in finding a place that makes sense for the photograph.
When I arrive somewhere, I start looking. What are the colors? What is happening in the background? Where is the sun? What is the person wearing? Is there something in the environment I can use? Is there something I need to eliminate?
I'm also thinking about how much time we actually have. If I have an hour or two, I can explore and try different ideas. If I have fifteen minutes, I need to make those decisions quickly.
The person is always the most important part of the photograph, but everything around them affects how we see them. Sometimes I want the environment to provide context. Other times I want to simplify the frame and let the person carry the photograph.
I make formally composed portraits, so even when a photograph looks simple, there is usually quite a bit of thought behind it. Where someone stands, what is behind them, what they're wearing, how they're looking, and what I choose to include in the frame all contribute to the final photograph.
And sometimes, once I'm actually there, the photograph changes.
That's part of the process. You have an idea of what you're trying to make, and then you respond to what is actually in front of you.
Working with Available light
Techincal stuff, like my camera…
I like shooting wide because I like to see a lot of environment. This was shot on a Canon R5 with a 24-70 mm.
Im guessing the ISO was sround 100-250 and my shutter speed was fast enough to stop any movement, so at least 1/250s. F stop, i never want f 2.2 or f 11, anywhere in between is fine.
I know a lot of people that like to shoot wide open, but i find a shallow depth of field to be really distracting, it takes all kinds, right?
Light, Light, and Light
You are seeing real California sun in Summer. So it was high in the sky, so can see that by the shadow under her nose, almost like how you would place a beauty dish in the studio. A dear colleague always says, “a beauty dish is best placed, arm’s length from the subject..”
i did not have a lot of time, as I was shooting alongside motion and i got some time at lunch when they were not shooting. Direct sun is on the subject and if it was unflattering, i had to ask the subject to move.
Composition
Since time was limited, i was like, lets just move around and see what we see. She was really comfortable and i think we were walking up and down the street.
I think the negative space works well.
I took the picture just below eye level, sometimes I am drawn to this, i can get a little mroe sky and i think it makes the subject, especially women, look a boss.
Decisions like this tie back to my broader Photo Sequencing Tips: Building a Cohesive Visual Narrative approach, where a single frame still has to hold its place inside a larger visual story.
What happens in Post
Color
First, I want to balance for skin.This is something i used to do first in the darkroom. With digital, its best when I remember to use a color card, and really hard in mixed light if i do not.
When I am outside with a lot of grass, I don’t want green reflecting back into the skin. Many times, I will put some scrap duve, (black) on the lawn, so the green is covered. you can also use Muslin, which is warm, or in a pinch, grab a furnie pad, anything to cover the green bounce.
I also am always pumping the saturation a bit and adding some black. I want to keep it real, but also give it a little bit.
Retouching
I keep my retouching light, the best version of one’s self while eliminating transient distractions like dust or stray hairs. I want the finished picture to feel real.
What This Means for You
If I'm planning a shoot with you, please pull references. Look at what you like and we can have a conversation about what you are responding to.
FAQs
How far in advance should I plan a portrait session in LA?
I usually recommend reaching out 1 month before you want to shoot, sooner or later can also work.
Let’s have sometime to talk through your ideas.
What time of day is best for outdoor portraits?
Late afternoon, roughly an hour or two before sunset, gives the most flattering light.
Do I choose the location, or do you?
I choose it with you, based on the mood you want, though I'm always happy to suggest a few spots that fit.
What should I wear?
I recommend simple, solid tones, something that feels like you, something you feel good in, bring options, and no white, black or logos please. Let’s keep it timeless.
Weather in LA?
We can discuss. This depends on the time of year, January can be rainy, June Gloom is real. We will need to consider all of this and plan accordingly.
