Lunch Break Photo Shoot: Jacquita

The company I work for recently underwent a corporate name change, from NAHB Research Center to Home Innovation Research Labs. Employees were given nice logo t-shirts and on casual Friday, some of us wore them to work.

I passed by the new-logo-shirt-wearing-Jacquita at the front desk and I immediately told her that it was a great opportunity for a lunch photo session with the theme... company pride.

For the setting, I chose our old testing lab. It's very industrial and the colors, a yellow payloader and blue railings, were perfect background complements to the color of the shirt. I didn't bring my lighting equipment so I had no choice but to use available light.

There was ample light coming from the skylights but the next challenge was taking care of the shadows that would be cast underneath Jacquita's face. I had to make do with my windshield cover to stand in as a reflector and a box and ladder to prop it up. It worked!

It was a fun session. Jacquita seemed comfortable in front of the camera and she knew how to work it. Later on I asked her about it and she said she used to be in a modeling club. No wonder!

Shot Info: Nikon D80 with Nikkor 70-300mm @ 122mm,  1/50s, f/4.2, ISO 800

The tool belt was her idea.

Shot Info: Nikon D80 with Nikkor 70-300mm @ 85mm, 1/50s, f/4.2, ISO 800

For the final shot I placed Jacquita in front of a roof section for a full body portrait, this time coming from a low angle. The floor was really dusty so I re-purposed the windshield cover as a mat. I laid on half of it, leaving the other half as a reflector to bounce some light up.

Shot Info: Nikon D80 with Nikkor 18-70mm @ 22mm, 1/50s, f/4, ISO 800

On this shot I should've done a "background check". Theres a 2x4 beam sticking out of her head. It would've been better if I moved Jacquita a little bit to her right. Oh well.

I asked Jacquita if I could do, what I call, a "hollywood retouch" just for fun, so I can practice my retouching and body shaping skills. She obliged and here is the final result... with Jacquita's permission.

Thanks, Jacquita! Looking forward to another lunch break photo session.