It sounds simple, a single red light overhead and smoke filtering and pouring around the figure.

In practice, getting the pose right isn’t straightforward. More crucially moving the figure forwards or backwards in the light by as little as a few inches makes a huge amount of difference to the way the light falls on the figure.

When you add to that the fire alarm going off with the smoke machine (it’s not supposed to!) all in all this was a frustrating shoot that I expected to be simple.
Model: Rebecca Mitchell

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There is nothing more lovely than a simple north facing window for creating a flattering light for the female form, of for female faces.

Lighting Diagram
With a north facing window above and to the left of our model Holly / IvoryFlame

You can soften the light down on a sun facing window with net curtains, but any window facing away from the sun will give you this wonderful diffused light.

Of course light levels may be very low, so you should increase your ISO rating so you can still comfortably hand-hold your camera …

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In these images I am invoking the sense of the fourties and fifties glamour pin-ups, but with a modern edge to them.

Lighting Diagram
The fish-dryer on the left is quite high and is my key light, this gives me stronger vertical shadows. The octogonal softbox on the right is my fill light, not much under power compared to the key.

The assortment of drapes on the sofa and around the set, as well as over the model, are all part of adding a textural richness to the setup.

Finally, the images are …

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These images work because of the comparison and contrast – and frankly downright incongruity – of a pretty girl in a grubby place.

Lighting Diagram
A single softbox provides the main lighting, but long exposures allow the natural environments lighting to show through as well.

Look for props that you can use, look at poses that echo the shape of the props

Working with wide open apertures will help the background drop out of focus, giving interesting and texture to the background without distraction.
Model: Rebecca Mitchell
 

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This is warmed chocolate sauce, a wonderfully graphic prop for photography. 
 
Lighting Diagram 
The cove is lit to balance the front main light to right hand side. 
 
For me the monochrome images are stronger because the pure graphic mix of the chocolate against the skin is so much stronger. 
 
However, I had pre-visualised this shoot about a some what manic women laughing her way through the chocolate. 
In this case you really only get one sequence or style to shoot, the chocolate runs, smudges and so on. It would be interesting to repeat this shoot …

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