So you wanna know how I fixed those crappy covergirl shots for my portfolio? Buckle up, cause this was a mess before I figured it out.
The Ugly Truth About My Old Shots
Honestly? My old commercial shots looked like cheap catalog stuff. Flat lighting, zero life in the model’s eyes, poses stiff as a board. Clients weren’t biting. Felt like throwing money down the drain renting that studio.
Dumpster Fire Gear and My Big Mistake
Grabbed my trusty DSLR, same cheap softboxes I’ve had forever, and a white backdrop. Easy setup, right? Wrong. First mistake: relying only on softboxes. Photos came out flat, boring. Like staring at oatmeal. Model looked disconnected, probably ’cause I kept barking “Look happy! Be fierce!” Ugh.
The Turnaround (Thanks, Pinterest Fails!)
Scrolled through Pinterest fails for laughs and bam – saw someone using a simple black reflector behind the model. Lightbulb moment! Dug around my gear pile:
- The sad softboxes (kept ’em, but knocked down power)
- One dusty silver reflector (never touched it)
- A rickety light stand
- That random black foam board from last Christmas
New setup: Tossed the foam board vertically behind the model about 4 feet back. Dialed down the softboxes way low – maybe 1/4 power? Put the silver reflector low on the ground, tilted up towards her face. Sounds janky? It was.
Magic Happens (Mostly By Accident)
Had the model just stand there. Looked through the viewfinder and holy crap – her face had shadow under the jawbone suddenly. Real depth! The silver bounce added this tiny sparkle in her eyes I didn’t plan. Black board absorbed the softbox spill, making her pop off the background instead of blending into white mush. Felt like I discovered fire.
Told her to just shift her weight – one hip forward. Didn’t force the “fierce” crap. Second mistake fixed: stopped micromanaging poses. She naturally tilted her head, gave a relaxed smirk. Clicked the shutter. Looked at the screen. Finally got that expensive, dimensional look without renting anything fancy.
Why This Beats Fancy Gear
Turns out commercial shots need shape, not just brightness. That black foam board? Acts like a shadow vacuum. Weak softboxes + silver kicker? Creates subtle shadows and catches the eye light. Way cheaper than new lights. Stopped posing the model like a mannequin – let her breathe. Portfolio looks expensive now. Clients stopped ghosting. Simple.
