Lines trailing out of the malls, families rushing to get their Christmas cards out, and holiday parties every weekend, where do we find the time to capture the moment?
This festive season we teamed up with Mèlisa Jackson, professional photographer of Miranda Photography, to help shed some light on using quick and easy backdrops so you can get back to the Christmas countdown.
No time to read instructions? No problem! This easy to set up StudioPRO lighting kit with 100W Monolight and 33” Umbrella with 5 in 1 Reflector creates nice light for photographers also battling daylight savings time. When most begin shooting at 4PM, nighttime is no longer a negativity in the studio. Mèlisa has the dark work in her favor using the strobe to bring a flash of daylight back in an instant.
When asked which backdrop would be the perfect gift under the tree, Jackson quickly exclaimed, “The blue/green wood backdrop!” and we think so too! She had an easy time shooting with these as they are very rich and absolutely no glare. One thing you will not have to worry about is the vinyl material being too thin and she mentioned that “for the price, you just can’t beat it!”
Before 
After 
Some Secrets from a Professional Visionary:
- Choosing an angle to shoot from can change up any shot! Jackson suggests placing the light to your left at a 45 degree angle to create depth and dimension. Tip to remember: this makes it so your subject doesn't become flat.
- Have you ever heard lighting is everything? Increase your brightness on your lighting before bumping up your ISO. Your final image will look clean and crisp.
- Get creative and play with your settings! Everyone has a different camera and a different eye. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder so let go and let loose to see what you like the best!
Since natural light is not always an option, these lighting tricks and tool techniques will create a consistent look in your brand and bring the cheer back into your Yuletide.
Mèlisa Jackson, owner of Miranda Photography, has been capturing the moments of beauty for over 10 years. Making women feel beautiful through glamour, boudoir, and Maternity photography is her passion and it is apparent in each image she produces. While her son made a lasting impression on us, we would like to illuminate your world and share with you the first present we opened this December.
