Cheer 2021

smoke665 · Sep 10, 2021

This has been a difficult summer for me, not much in the way of studio. I did finally dust of the equipment for a Cheer set with Lil'Bit. Got a decent set I think despite being a little rusty on the lights, from inactivity. A few of my favorites.

#1

Cheer 2021-922-Edit.jpg by William Raber, on Flickr

#2

Cheer 2021-911-Edit.jpg by William Raber, on Flickr

#3

Cheer 2021-908-Edit.jpg by William Raber, on Flickr

#4 And one for the heck of it.

Cheer 2021-887-Edit.jpg by William Raber, on Flickr

Space Face · Sep 10, 2021

As I keep saying I'm no portrait tog but I'd be delighted with these. She has a wonderful smile and always looks so happy.

NS: Nikon Shooter · Sep 10, 2021

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The sweetest face I've seen today… thanks for the pleasure! :encouragement:

smoke665 · Sep 10, 2021

Space Face said:
As I keep saying I'm no portrait tog but I'd be delighted with these. She has a wonderful smile and always looks so happy.

I'm a blind pig in the woods, every now and then I find an acorn. LOL She does make it easier though. Thanks for the kind words.

NS: Nikon Shooter said:
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The sweetest face I've seen today… thanks for the pleasure!

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!! She's my shadow in the studio.

zulu42 · Sep 10, 2021

Oh, gosh, smoke. Brutally adorable. I think her face in the first shot is beautifully lit. Your captures will be treasured forever. The last shot gives me a feeling she's looking into the future - I want to tell Lil Bit to stay Lil !!!!

smoke665 · Sep 10, 2021

zulu42 said:
Oh, gosh, smoke. Brutally adorable. I think her face in the first shot is beautifully lit. Your captures will be treasured forever. The last shot gives me a feeling she's looking into the future - I want to tell Lil Bit to stay Lil !!!!

I'm humbled by your comments. I like to use a three light set with her, a 6' brolly with diffusion, a 2x4 soft box with diffuser, and a boomed 7" kicker with 10 degree grid. This setup gives me a zone on the key and fill, but keeping up with her on the kicker takes full time assistant tracking her.

ac12 · Sep 10, 2021

smoke665 said:
I'm a blind pig in the woods, every now and then I find an acorn. LOL She does make it easier though. Thanks for the kind words.

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!! She's my shadow in the studio.

I agree with your comment.
A GOOD subject makes a world of difference to a photog like me, who normally does not shoot portraits.

I'm jealous of portrait photogs who effortlessly connect with and direct their subjects.

Dean_Gretsch · Sep 10, 2021

She's lucky to have you to give her memories she will enjoy for years and years! These are great just like all the other sets I have seen you share over the years now.

smoke665 · Sep 10, 2021

ac12 said:
'm jealous of portrait photogs who effortlessly connect with and direct their subjects.

I've shot a wide range of subjects from kids to adults, there's no way of knowing till you get them in studio as to how they'll react. Some freak out over the lights, some get so fascinated with everything going on they fail to connect with the camera, and some freeze up like a deer in the headlights. I've found that constant banter with them, helps to get the focus on me rather than what's going on around them, it's a two way street, you can tell when you're locked in to them. That's why I like to shoot tethered, with the camera on a tripod, it allows me to take in the whole set, and they're making eye contact with me, rather than the camera (which just happens to be in the right spot as well)

ac12 · Sep 10, 2021

smoke665 said:
I've shot a wide range of subjects from kids to adults, there's no way of knowing till you get them in studio as to how they'll react. Some freak out over the lights, some get so fascinated with everything going on they fail to connect with the camera, and some freeze up like a deer in the headlights. I've found that constant banter with them, helps to get the focus on me rather than what's going on around them, it's a two way street, you can tell when you're locked in to them. That's why I like to shoot tethered, with the camera on a tripod, it allows me to take in the whole set, and they're making eye contact with me, rather than the camera (which just happens to be in the right spot as well)

That reminds me of the old photo studios.
Photog would setup the view camera, then step to the side, so he could make eye contact with the subject, and fired off the camera with a bulb release.
So many today hide behind the camera, and ignore the value of the tripod, in that environment.

The other is that the studio camera could be lowered to be level with the child or seated adult, so he wasn't shooting down on the subject, like I see some photogs today doing, shooting everything while standing.

smoke665 · Sep 10, 2021

ac12 said:
That reminds me of the old photo studios.
Photog would setup the view camera, then step to the side, so he could make eye contact with the subject, and fired off the camera with a bulb release

So are you insinuating I'm old? Yes I have a bulb release with a long hose, but I don't use it, because an "old" man doesn't need anything in the floor to trip on, and I got rid of the old camera dolly with the counter weight years ago. LOL

ac12 · Sep 10, 2021

smoke665 said:
So are you insinuating I'm old? Yes I have a bulb release with a long hose, but I don't use it, because an "old" man doesn't need anything in the floor to trip on, and I got rid of the old camera dolly with the counter weight years ago. LOL

I lost my bulb release, but have been thinking about getting another one.
Yeah, tripping over things has been getting more common as I get older.

I got a tripod dolly for my studio tripod. But I have let to use it.
If I ever set up my home studio, after I clean out the garage, I would love a camera stand/dolly. My back does not like bending over very much any more.

jeffashman · Sep 11, 2021

It's a wonderfully done set! She obviouly had fun modeling for the shots.

smoke665 · Sep 12, 2021

@ac12 having a clean as possible floor is a big thing for me, it only takes one minor trip to set off a chain reaction that will turn a good day bad. My back and knees aren't what they used to be so my rolling stool is essential and the wayward feet of subjects and assistant are unreliable in a darkened studio.