Alright folks, grab a coffee, let me run you through this shoot I did yesterday. Been wanting to try some simple stuff with beautiful curvy models, specifically focusing on celebrating those gorgeous ebony skin tones. Kept it real basic, no fancy studio needed.
The Prep Work Was Minimal
First things first, I reached out to Sarah, a fantastic local model I admire. Total natural beauty, carries herself with awesome confidence. We both agreed we wanted something relaxed, natural light, no crazy setups. Just… real. Found this awesome little cafe downtown with giant windows facing west. Booked a corner table for late afternoon when the sun gets that golden punch. Easy peasy. Packed my trusty DSLR and a single 50mm lens – that’s it. Forgot my reflector even, planned to bounce light with a white menu if needed!
Walking Into the Shoot
Met Sarah at the spot. She showed up looking radiant in this stunning deep purple dress, just hugged her curves perfectly. Instant win. Grabbed a coffee first, chatted, made her laugh. Crucial step, you know? Gotta be comfortable. Then snagged that window corner table as the sun started dipping.
My main goal was simple: let the light do the work, celebrate her. Wanted that late sun to kiss her skin, highlight those rich tones without blowing anything out. Told her to just relax, lean on the window sill, look out, look at me, whatever felt good. Started snapping.
Here’s what actually worked super simple:
- Side Light Magic: The window light coming from the side? Pure gold. Lit up her face beautifully, made her skin glow like honey. Created subtle shadows that showed off her bone structure without being harsh.
- Playing with Poses: Had her turn slightly towards the light, then slightly away. Such a tiny shift, but made a huge difference in how it sculpted her face and body. Leaning forward a bit towards the lens added wonderful dimension.
- Background Blur Saved Me: Cafe was a bit cluttered behind us, but that 50mm lens? Magic. Wide open, f/1.8, blurred all that messy background into creamy nothingness. Made Sarah pop right out.
- Emphasis on Expression: Kept reminding her (and myself!) it wasn’t about “thin,” it was about strong, beautiful, confident. I got her laughing, being playful. Those natural smiles? Best shots of the day.
- Exposure Check: Kept checking my camera display like a hawk. Ebony skin needs care not to lose those beautiful highlights or crush the shadows. Underexposed just slightly sometimes to keep that gorgeous glow in check. Quick tweaks.
What Came Out of It
Honestly? Couldn’t believe how well this super simple setup worked. We shot for maybe 45 minutes, max. Just natural light, one lens, and a genuinely stunning woman feeling herself. Got some absolute gems. The way that warm light made her skin luminous… wow. No crazy lighting rigs, no complicated modifiers. Just found good light, connected with the person in front of the lens, respected her beauty, and pressed the button.
Biggest takeaway? Don’t overcomplicate it. Respect the light, respect the model, focus on showcasing their unique strength and beauty with simple, direct techniques. Works wonders. Sarah loved the previews. Win-win.
