Session 4 – Publicity Session for a Singer

Before we get to the next column, I'd like to start by remembering (and showing) this image I made of Elizabeth Taylor that was used for a Denny Manufacturing catalog - back in the day...ahh memories...

I'm trying to remember what I charged Denny for that hmmm ;)

Also note that I used a similar camera angle for the young singer who is the subject of this column.

Session 4 – Publicity Session for a Singer

Variation

By Gary Bernstein

Shots 4-23 and 4-24 (and 4-25)

Light Source: 2 Hot Spot Lights with a silver reflector

Location: Apartment

Camera: 4 and 6 MB Digital Cameras with Zooms (long telephoto)

From my last column about this shoot:

A young “hopeful” singer had just moved from Philly to LA. She wanted to shoot in her new apartment - which was WAY too small. FYI, I never go on location EVER without a full selection of Denny backgrounds and his stands - because you never know what you’re going to get. With 3 staples like white, gray and black, I can shoot forever creating strong images.

The series below was made with two spots (one on the face and one on the hair (with barn doors to gobo possible flare)) and a silver reflector on the floor in front of the subject (who is lying on the floor). I used small digital cameras each with a zoom lens with automatic exposure and auto white balance and auto focus. In reality, the sheer act of capturing a quality image today is so simple, that the only thing left for the dedicated photographer is to learn technique and learn to work with the subject. It is for that reason that technique is so important. It is the barometer that separates you from the millions of others who are out there trying to do the same thing.

For Shot 4-25, the same basic lighting setup was used with a side table brought in as a prop.

About Lighting Balance, Contrast and Key:

Notice that in my images there is always shape to the subject’s head—meaning that brunettes are typically not photographed against dark backgrounds unless a hair light or edge light or background compositional element is used to graphically separate the subject’s hair from the background.

A portrait made against a dark background is called a “low key” portrait. A portrait made against a white background is called a “high key” portrait. That, is indeed, a simple definition. The reality is this: Notice that in the first two portraits Shots 4-23 and 4-24, that in a low key photograph the face is rendered as the lightest element in the frame—so the viewer’s eye goes to the face. Notice that in Shot 4-25—the high key photograph—that the face is the darkest element in the frame—so, once again, the viewer’s eye still goes to the subject’s face. It is the principal of the eye being attracted to contrast—and it is one of those subtleties that create an image that people like—and an image that has impact. This philosophy continues with the reality that you actually can not create a pure high key photograph of a brunette because the hair becomes the darkest part of the photograph…but we won’t go there ;).

Shot 4-23

Shot 4-24

Shot 4-25

Let’s look at the exact same elements in play for this advertisement I shot with legendary model-actress Lauren Hutton for advertisers Swatchwatch and Macy’s...

Note - when you’re photographing blonds (or a hair color as light as Lauren’s) and you are using a hair-light - keep it to a half stop over the main light reading so the volume of hair still renders again a high-key background

…and before we leave all singers, below is a photograph I made at a session in 1980 in Hollywood with legendary Natalie Cole for one of her albums. What a wonderful person she was – and so easy to photograph. She worked the camera with the smoothness of a Natalie Cole recording ;). The shot couldn’t have been easier as well– a simple one light shot in an umbrella. Note the placement of Natalie’s head in the frame – using the rule of thirds* (which is applied in every photograph in this article – and in the majority of my images – regardless of whether I am shooting heads or full-lengths).

*Also known as the golden rectangle.

For more details on using composition to create dynamic images – which truly results in greater sales - see pages 51, 52, and 53 in Gary Bernstein’s Lecture Notes and Private Journal (which happens to be on sale here at the Denny website, just by coincidence ;)).

In fact, I think you should buy all the books as a Christmas present to yourself. It is the gift of how to make more money with your camera in 2025 and beyond ;)!