Alexandra
Alexandra was going to be a guest speaker in a conference and needed updated portraits. She reached out and we worked on a few different looks so she could have an array of options, both for the conference and for social media use.
My gear list was kept on a minimum, making it that much easier to transition between locations: a Nikon D750 and a Sigma ART 50mm and a collapsible Profoto reflector.
The overcast day provided beautiful, soft light from all angles. The flash was kept in the bag and I only used a reflector on one location to fill in the shadows.
Isabel
I first met Isabel years ago when she was working with Trilhos da Terra, right here in Aveiro. She is one of the people behind Nat Geo’s Exodus Aveiro fest and a powerhouse. An incredible hard working woman, who makes anything happen.
I’ve wanted to photograph her for a long time and we finally made it happen - we met up in Aveiro and photographed in a couple locations for a few different looks.
Shooting in Aveiro with minimal gear meant I could carry it on my bike and be mobile (game changer - more on that in another post). Tools: Nikon D750 + 50mm lens for natural light // Fujifilm X100F paired with a Profoto B10 in a shoot-thru umbrella on a Manfrotto Nano stand for lit portraits.
Hailey
Hailey wanted to celebrate her upcoming birthday with a photoshoot - what a great idea, to be honest - so we met and walked around Costa Nova to find the best locations.
The thing about photographing at sunset, albeit gorgeous light, is that light quickly fades away. To move around swiftly, I left the Profoto B10 at home and only brought the 35 1.4 and 50 1.4 on my D750s. This kit allows me to:
shoot without an assistant
be nimble and shoot available light for a longer period
explore more locations without having to fiddle with flash, lightstands and modifiers.
save the client’s time (and mine) with a shorter photoshoot.
Stephanie
Stephanie and I go way back, to when I was studying mechanical engineering right here in Aveiro.
She needed an update to her CV, so she contacted me to shoot a new series of portraits: “I want to show how I feel now, in this time in my life”.
Sometimes I tend to overthink things and come up with exotic locations and complicated lighting setups. So this time I wanted to do something different, simpler. Two focal lengths (35 and 50mm) and available light only. To make it even more simple, we shot all of these portraits literally within 50 meters of my house.
It’s good to shoot out of your comfort zone. It’s when you learn the most.
