Sunset Cinematic Headshots
Solved The Catchlight Issue and Came Out with Other Issues
Written on the 17th of July, 2022
In my quest to refine my skills from the last cinematic headshot photoshoot with Danah Hamdan, I hired the stunning model Lucy Lofting for this new endeavor. This time, I successfully tackled the catchlight issue I had in my previous session. However, as I adjusted the lighting, I inadvertently cranked up the hair light to an intense level, causing her beautiful blonde hair to become washed out and clipped in some areas. While this effect certainly lends an intriguing cinematic allure to the images, I still long for that delicate balance where every detail is preserved.
I faced another challenge this time: the shadows. Shooting at sunset can be challenging, even for experienced photographers. The beauty of twilight lasts only a few minutes when the sky shows bright colors before it gets dark. I had trouble balancing the light during this photoshoot because the background quickly went dark. To bring back the depth and detail, I had to adjust the tones in Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop.
If I were taking photos for a client, I would choose a better time for the shoot. Here in Kuwait, the weather plays a significant role in this decision-making process. At midday, the temperature can soar to a sweltering fifty degrees Celsius, turning the landscape into a mirage of heat. Instead, the most opportune moments for photography lie in the late afternoon—one to two hours before sunset—when the oppressive heat begins to wane, creating a more pleasant atmosphere conducive to capturing stunning imagery. In this golden hour, the light becomes softer, painting the scene with a warm glow that enhances every photograph, ensuring every shot is a masterpiece in its own right.
I faced a precarious situation when the equipment teetered dangerously close to Lucy, swayed by the fierce, whipping winds. The threat of it toppling was all too real. While sandbags could serve as a temporary fix to weigh it down, a dedicated assistant would be a far more reliable solution, providing the necessary support to ensure everyone's safety.
The Gear I Used
