Nick Fancher - Studio Anywhere: A Photographers Guide to Shooting in Unconventional Locations

A Photographers Guide to Shooting in Unconventional Locations

NICK FANCHER

STUDIO ANYWHERE: A PHOTOGRAPHERS GUIDE TO SHOOTING IN UNCONVENTIONAL LOCATIONS

Nick Fancher

PEACHPIT PRESS

www.peachpit.com

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Peachpit Press is a division of Pearson Education.

Copyright 2015 by Shutter-Think Photography, LLC

Acquisitions Editor: Ted Waitt
Project Editor: Valerie Witte
Senior Production Editor: Lisa Brazieal
Development and Copy Editor: Linda Laflamme
Proofreader: Patricia J. Pane
Composition: WolfsonDesign
Indexer: James Minkin
Cover Image: Nick Fancher
Cover Design: Aren Straiger
Interior Design: Mimi Heft

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The information in this book is distributed on an As Is basis, without warranty. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of the book, neither the author nor Peachpit shall have any liability to any person or entity with respect to any loss, damage, or injury caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the instructions contained in this book or by the computer software and hardware products described in it.

This book is intended for educational purposes only and is not intended to be, nor should it be construed as, legal advice. The law, particularly copyright law, is notoriously fact specific, and no book, including this one, can substitute for expert guidance from qualified legal counsel. To obtain guidance relevant to your particular circumstances you should speak with a qualified, competent lawyer properly licensed in your jurisdiction. Consult your local bar association for guidance on finding such a lawyer in your area.

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ISBN-13: 978-0-134-08417-6
ISBN-10: 0-134-08417-9

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Printed and bound in the United States of America

This book is dedicated to anyone starting with nothing. Let no one tell you that you cant create your own path or that you need to follow a certain formula to achieve success. Rules are constantly being broken, rewritten, and broken again. Enjoy your journey.

I want to thank the team at Peachpit Press, who made this book a reality. Specifically, Id like to thank Ted Waitt for giving me a chance and sticking with me as the idea of Studio Anywhere evolved. Thank you to Valerie Witte, who seamlessly took over the project from Ted. Thanks to Linda Laflamme, my patient and thorough editor; to the fabulous production team of Lisa Brazieal, Mimi Heft, and WolfsonDesign, who perfectly married the images, diagrams, and text to the page; and to Patricia J. Pane, my proofreader.

A big thank you to Linda Ringler and Rick Kocks, my high school photography teachers, who gave me total creative freedom and taught me more about photography and alternative processes than any of my college professors. You truly are unsung heroes, and I will never forget the passion and knowledge that you instilled in my classmates and me.

Id also like to thank my family and friends who are nothing if not supportive and encouraging. I am very fortunate.

Finally, Id like to thank my wife, Beth, for her faith in me and support over the years. You are a wonderful mother to Jack and Margot and wise beyond your years. You help keep me humbled without crushing my spirit.

Whats your definition of a photo studio? Is it having a white seamless backdrop or a cyc wall? Maybe its anyplace where you have total control of all light. Perhaps its a place where you can create dynamic product shots. In a perfect world, where every day is a breezy 72 degrees with partial cloud coverage, we would all have a 5,000-square-foot studio in New York or Los Angeles. Wed also have the entire catalog of B&H in our equipment lockups. But that isnt reality.

Reality is that you have an outdated DSLR with two decent lenses (which took you several years to save up for), and you managed to sneak out of your office job an hour early to shoot an underpaying client in a public park on a gray, 45-degree rainy day. Or maybe all you have at your disposal is an unfinished basement. Or a garage. Or the empty conference room at your office day job. Thats the point of Studio Anywhere: to show you how to achieve the shot of your dreams while working in some of the most problematic scenarios imaginable.

No Studio? No Problem

Over the years, Ive slowly discovered that a traditional photo studio isnt necessary to get studio-like results. If you are shooting a portrait of someone, for example, you need only a few feet of blank wall (especially if its a cropped shot, such as a head shot). Recently, I was in New York City on a shoot, and I decided to take an extra day to do a few test shoots with models. Because I didnt know the city well, nor did I have a permit to shoot on the street or the budget to rent a studio, I thought it would be easiest to just meet the models at their homes, shooting both in their apartments and around their buildings. I liked the element of unpredictability. When I punched the addresses into my GPS, I didnt know whether I was walking into a penthouse suite with an amazing view of the city (it happened) or an unpolished art living space, occupied by seven artists in Williamsburg (also happened). I knew that I had the tools to overcome any lighting issues, however, so I welcomed the challenge and was excited to see what kind of scenarios Id encounter.

The shoot that started it all. I took this shot at one of my first shoots in New York City and realized that I was better off meeting my subject at his place rather than renting a studio.

This book is a diary of sorts, of my experiences in working without the use of a traditional photography studio. Whether shooting a corporate portrait, a test shoot with a model, a promo shoot with a band, or a wedding, I always seem to be on locationeven back when I had a studio. Staring at those rent bills each month, I came to realize the time I did spend in that expensive space was spent sitting in front of my computer, editing, or meeting with clients, which could just as easily be done at coffee shops. So, I ditched the traditional studio. Now when I need to shoot a portrait on a blank backdrop or I need a place to shoot production shots, I get creative, as youll see in the chapters ahead.