ALUMNI AWARD PORTRAIT SETUP

BACKDROP
In my studio the measurement for backdrop to subjects front foot - 4 feet (48 inches).
This is a cloth backdrop, if you’re using paper, I’d suggest more room if space allows to let it fall off a bit more and keep from the light bounce off it.

Use a grey, Green or anywhere in-between, just make sure there is separation from body/hair and if you can keep it in the same tone/shade that’s great.

CAMERA
Camera height - middle of subject chest/sternum/kneck angled up
Focal Length - 50mm
Aperture - F5.6
ISO - 100 or lower
SS - 125-200 (ish)

SOFTBOX
135cm Elinchrom Rotalux (anything in this size range should work)
Two layers of diffusion
Strobe Head about one foot above subject head angled down
Center of box/head pointed at subjects opposite shoulder.
Camera left position
Strobe power is relatively low and placement of the light is relatively close to the subject. Here, the centre of the soft box to the subjects nose is just over two feet at roughly 26-28 inches.

BOUNCE
Small white bounce for fill from below.
Bounce to subject stomach - About 10 inches 
Waist/Belly height with slight angle towards subject
If it’s filling too much in the picture, just drop it down lower.

BLACK CARD
Optional Black Card or Vflat camera right to maintain shadow.
Not necessary if you have the room.

CROP
Please crop images wide at belly NOT chest, with a bit of room overhead. These should be shot landscape at 50mm.
Most images will be cropped in, but some winners are wearing their BLOCK A sweaters, and we need the whole A in the frame, so to keep things consistent, we’re shooting them all from belly button/ upwards.

POSITIONING
Please keeps arms down to the side, not crossed, no hands clasped in front, or arms on hips. Nice clean shoulder lines are preferred.