Working With Speedlights: Alluring Portfolio Shoot for Noema Erba, Opera Singer

Posted by Dan Hostettler | Jul 3, 2015 | Photography Lighting | 10

As a classical singer, Noema is subject to the same principles like anybody else in the glitz and glam biz: She needs to have an attractive photo portfolio. For her portfolio expansion I used my small flash units (speedlights) for creating the on-location imagery.

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Dan Hostettler

A traveler at heart, inspired by women, working along Swiss precision. Dan is a mediapreneur, photographer, author of several books and founder + Editor in Chief of SexyWomenPhotography.com.

Being a successful photographer for more than 15 years Dan got internationally published and featured on/in GQ Online, The India Times, FashionONE TV, FotoTV, GoodLight Mag, amongst many others. Dan is currently residing and working in Prague, CZ.

Dan will talk about his projects, provide insights in shootings & concepts, produce webinars, create Freemium videos, explain styles, emphasize the importance of working with models and any other exciting topic he discovers along the way.

Some Community Member Comments...

10 Comments

Björn Möller on July 4, 2015 at 2:35 pm

Thank you for a great post in this concept.
I also like to work with speedlights on location and mix ambient light. My example of photo is from Sweden in a church in the basemant (crypt) in gothic envoirment.

Regards

Reply
- Dan Hostettler on July 13, 2015 at 3:50 pm
  
  You are welcome, Björn. And thanks for sharing your work! Good lighting combination.
  
  Best, Dan
  
  Reply
Jim on July 4, 2015 at 4:47 pm

Hi Dan
Thanks for an informative post with a great set and model. I find a speedlite indispensable in most interior natural light shots. This shot had very strong natural light from the model’s left.

Reply
- Dan Hostettler on July 13, 2015 at 3:52 pm
  
  Hi Jim, great you get info and you like it. Yes, since getting used to shoot with speedlights I have one of them always with me.
  Thanks for sharing your work. Great image and good fill-in.
  
  Reply
Dave Pruett on July 4, 2015 at 5:15 pm

Thank you for continuing to share your learning curve with the new lights! Beautiful images, and may I say that your wife is an lovely as any of the models you normally shoot.

It is really liberating to lose all that weight, isn’t it?

Best regards,

Dave

Reply
- Dan Hostettler on July 13, 2015 at 3:54 pm
  
  Hi Dave, thank you! My wife read your comment and was most fond of :))
  Yes, it’s so much easier to travel (city center public transport) and to move it around on set (floor up, floor down….) – really great!
  
  Best, Dan
  
  Reply
Michael Rothman on July 4, 2015 at 5:31 pm

Thank you for these posts on using Speedlights for studio shoots.
I’m no longer willing or able to carry my Speedotron lighting on location. . Your use of the Yongnuo, Neewer, Godox family of Speedlights confirmed my choice of that brand.

I look forward to reading and learning more of your techniques.

Reply
- Dan Hostettler on July 13, 2015 at 3:58 pm
  
  Thanks for your insights, Michael!
  Please feel free to post an image done with your new equipment here or within a next post talking about my speedlight-journey.
  
  Wishing you good shoots ahead!
  Dan
  
  Reply
Dana on July 6, 2015 at 1:19 pm

Hi Dan & Noema,

As always very interesting set ups to accentuate the mood of the location and model. I like the idea of bouncing the flash off of the collapsible reflector to add to the sunlight through the windows. Nice effect.

Dana

Reply
- Dan Hostettler on July 13, 2015 at 4:04 pm
  
  Hi Dana, thanks for your comment.
  
  The decision for bouncing off the silver reflector was actually done because I could move (and turn) the surface the easy way.
  I used first the opposite wall as a bouncing area but first the light volume (characteristic) was just to fluffy and second the wall is double the distance from the reflector position. This means I would need 4 times the power to get the same filler. So a reflector is always handy on set.
  
  Best, Dan
  
  Reply