Authenticity 50 and Jaxon the Pug

It is true, our studios are honored to have trusting and long lasting relationships with major LA model agencies, celebrity artists and fashion clothing vanguard. However, being a versatile creative space that we are also allows to accommodate a great scope of e-commerce product photoshoots, from handcrafted lowrider beach bikes to ready-to-cuddle teddy bears (and I am not making this stuff up, we actually had a shoot for both). This time we were proud to provide our studio for a very interesting product shoot of the top quality, domestically designed and manufactured bedding that the company Authenticity 50 had brought to our stage C, along with a nice crew of models, photographers, videographers and stylists, and the star of the show – Jaxon the Pug.

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Authenticity 50‘s mission has a powerful message that lies in the core of its business model:

“A50 was founded on the belief that we can make the finest home goods in the world, right here in America. We don’t compromise on quality. We don’t compromise on values. We don’t manufacture overseas – Never have. Never will. Our sheets are 100% ‘seed-to-stitch’ made in the USA. What does that mean? It means the entire manufacturing process – from growing the cotton, to spinning the yarn, to weaving the fabric – is done here.”

Jimmy & Steph, the Husband/Wife Co-Founders of Authenticity 50 were also kind to share a few words about their session in stage C:

“We shot at FD Photo Studio in February, and had the best time. Not only was this our first real company photo shoot, but this was our first time at FD. We had a lot riding on this shoot, and we were pretty stressed out beforehand. However, any nerves and apprehension were quickly removed, because FD had everything we needed to make the shoot successful. The staff were helpful and friendly, and had all kinds of extra things on hand to assist us. We had ample time and space to complete all of the looks we needed, and our amazing and talented team had a blast. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience, and look forward to more shoots at FD in the future!”

To purchase these top-tier, domestically made bedding products or find out more about A50, have a look at their WEBSITE or follow their INSTAGRAM for hot deals.

The team for the shoot had Maggie Zulovic for Photography, MNK Studio/Matt and Katie Allison for Styling, Pompous Cat Studios for Videography, and Jacquelyn Umof, Ryan Bertroche, and Jaxon the Pug as their models ( I know y’all want to follow IG of this pup but no luck there).

Stage C is one of our largest studios, both a favorite for photoshoots and video productions alike. Our clients love the dark concrete floors and high-key industrial white windows of Stage C. Equipped with standard 9′ seamless backdrop paper, Stage C also features a large cyclorama wall – a favorite option for our brands shooting e-commerce and lookbooks. Take a look at Stage C and all of it’s features on our WEBSITE.

by Wrong Ron

Maddy Welk + Holly Hicks

Maddy Welk, brilliant photgrapher based in Los Angeles alongside the dazzling redhead model Holly Hicks paid a visit to our stage Art 4 and delivered very genuine, clean shots to our liking.

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It is actually surprising to hear that it was Maddy’s first time doing a shoot at a professional studio. She was very kind to inform us about her experience of shooting in stage Art 4:

“I’m so happy with these photos and I personally believe that they are the magnum opus of my photography career. If someone were to ask me what made the photos turn out so well I’d say it’s about 80% lighting, 10% my editing skills, and 10% me physically taking the pictures. FD Studio pretty much revolutionized the way I do photography. Me and my model Holly had an amazing time and I’ll definitely be coming back soon!”

The crew was very small and comprised only the photographer and the model. Maddy Welk, empowered by her incredible talent, vision and simply being “Pisces af” brings you some amazing photos to enjoy on her INSTAGRAM page and WEBSITE. And be careful not to fall in love with Holly after seeing her INSTAGRAM page as well!

Stage Art 4, used for this shoot, is under a renovation process as of now. We are making sure to retain that high-key white industrial design that FD is notorious for, while enriching it with wooden floor section as well wall veneer and a portable blinds made of dark wood slats. As any of our stages, Art 4 comes equipped with 3 strobe lights and modifiers as well as backdrop paper of black, white and grey color. Take a look at Stage Art 4 HERE for its availability and pricing!

by Wrong Ron

Strong Confidence by Julian Morales

Julian Morales sure has unique taste and vision of how to make his photos stand out and allure. These series of beauty shots are to confirm the notion. Through the gelled light that worked so perfectly on models Levy Tran and Kim Lee the maestro has brought to you the “Strong Confidence.”

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I had a pleasure to interview Julian and share his thoughts on our studio and his professional career as a photographer and MakeUp artist.

Me: How was your experience on shooting in our studio?

Julian: I’ve visited FD photo studio numerous times for various projects. I’ve had pleasant experiences at all three locations, staff is really friendly and helpful. The studios are always clean and prepped for the next clients, and lighting equipment is available for use. My only gripe is given the time of day it can get a little warm in some of the studios, so book your times accordingly.

Me: Could you please tell us in a few words about your artistic vision/mission as a photographer, MUA?

Julian: Growing up I always had a quirk for the arts and being creative. At a young age I picked up my fathers point and shoot camera which opened my eyes to the art of photography. I quickly became fascinated with automotive photography, thats where my love and passion for retouching began. From then on I worked on developing my photography skills in; Adobe photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, Adobe after affects, as well as artificial light. Assisting and working alongside talented photographers; whilst collaborating on creative ideas, my photography knowledge and skill sets developed greatly. Being the creative person I am in conjunction with the hunger to create visually photos, I’ve transcended my love of photography into the art of makeup. My goal now is to immerse my creatives into the fashion & beauty world whether it be makeup or photography.

Make sure to check Julian Morales’s WEBSITE, his INSTAGRAM for photography and his INSTAGRAM from MakeUp Art. For this project, the MakeUp Artist-Collaborator was KRYSTAL RENEE. The hair stylist was TEE, check her portfolio on INSTAGRAM. The photo assistance was provided by RON MEY. And the models for the shoot were gorgeous KIM LEE and LEVY TRAN.

Pro Stage I features large frameless north and west facing windows, with lots of natural light at any time of day. Adorned with a large seamless white cyc wall, as well as standard photo backdrops and studio lighting for stills, this studio is all you need to expand and fulfill your creativity. Since it is one of the largest stages we have, PRO I can accommodate crews of various sizes and needs for both photo and video shoots. Find out more about Pro Stage I on our WEBSITE.

by Wrong Ron

Using A Soft Box

Soft Box is undoubtedly one of the essential lighting modifiers in most every professional photographer’s toolkit. But why is it so vital? The answer lies in its adaptability for any style of shooting. Soft Box emits soft, even light appealing for fashion, product, portraiture, video, you name it. Let’s explore and learn more about what makes the Soft Box the most popular light modifier in the world. WHAT IS A SOFT BOX AND HOW DOES IT WORK? A soft box is a term that describes an enclosure or “a box” that confines a light source from all sides and diffuses the emitted light from the front side.

Mechanics:

Soft boxes are built of lightweight materials, come in all sizes, and are very portable. The lightweight box is made of translucent cloth, wrapped around a wire frame and attached to a light source, whether it is a studio strobe or speed light.

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The interior cloth is white or silver, while the exterior black cloth prevents light from spilling out. The light bounces around and scatters in all directions inside the box, and is then directed outward through a layer of diffusion material. The result is evenly distributed directional lighting that’s easy to control.

History:

Early soft boxes were large plywood boxes with an open front and tracks along the top and bottom where various diffusion flats could be slid into place. These cumbersome fixtures were used by motion picture lighting directors to achieve soft lighting effects since 1915. Yet the first photographers to design the modern soft box based on tent technology in 1979 were Gary Regester and Tom Frost. Early photographers loved to use a soft box to imitate the beauty of north light, since the square soft box had close to exact soft light qualities that old photo studios would get from having a large north-facing window.

The photo on the left shows a studio with a huge North facing window. At the end of the 19th century and until 1930s almost every photo studio had such a window for shooting portraits. The photo of the boy on the right was taken exactly by such window. Notice how soft and smooth the light is.

Sizes:

There are many sizes of soft boxes available on the market. Our Studio is equipped with just the right variety of soft box modifiers to fulfill a large spectrum of lighting setups. Adding up the various distances at which they can be effective, we end up with a lot of possible combinations and choices. In the series of photos below, we see how different sizes of soft boxes affect the same subject. Note that the soft box is very close to the subject in all the shots. This helps us to see the differences in performance between the various sizes. All of the displayed soft boxes and grids are available at FD Photo Studio!

Did you notice the difference in the light coverage area as well as its intensity? The rule of thumb is the larger the light source, in relation to the subject, the softer the light becomes. Soft light reduces contrast, conceals skin blemishes, and softens the edges of the shadows. Feel free to experiment with the position of soft box — move it to the side or center, up or down, closer or further — to see how the shadows, hardness of light change. If your images look flat, you can try placing the light at an angle. If you’re getting uneven or harsh lighting, try moving the box in front of the subject. Choosing lighting styles is largely a matter of personal preference, so any size soft box can be used for product and still life photography.

Examples of common lighting setups with Soft Boxes:

ONE LIGHT SETUP

1. PROFILE LIGHT (SOFTBOX AS A RIM LIGHT )

Profile shots are great for fashion photography, traditional portraiture, photographing children or brides—pretty much any model shoot. Place the light at an angle behind or in front of the model to create a rim light, just lighting the model’s profile slightly (See diagram).

2. SOFT BOX + REFLECTOR (CONTEMPORARY BEAUTY LOOK)

You only need one light and just a small white reflector to get this look. Place the main light up high, directly in line with the model’s nose so as not to produce any shadows to the left or right of the nose. Place a reflector down below to catch the light and fill in the areas under the chin, nose, and eyes, bringing out more detail in the shadows (See diagram).

3. SILHOUETTE (SOFT BOX AS A BACKGROUND)

Use the softbox as your background to get a nice, high-impact silhouette of your model. Place your model in front of the soft box. Try different poses to see which one looks best later on. You need to make sure your exposure is rich enough and deep enough to get complete black in the silhouette and ensure you don’t lose detail in the hair and neckline (see diagram).

TWO LIGHT SETUP

1. PORTRAIT SHOOT WITH HIGHLIGHTED BACKGROUND

Use one soft box to light up the backdrop from down bellow. Place another Soft box right above the model’ slightly to camera’s right. You might want to use a reflector to highlight the other side of model’s face (see diagram).

2. “CLAMSHELL”

This setup is very popular since it creates a smoothing beauty effect that hides skins imperfection and age related marks. It is called the “clamshell” due to a 2 light setup in front of the model’s face that angled towards each other and resembling the actual clamshell. It would be a good idea to use a reflector to highlight the shoulders and the back of the model’s head (see diagram).

3. “TWO AS ONE” SETUP

This setup is quite simple. All you need is to place two soft boxes very closer together facing the model and turn the corners of each soft box vertically so the fixtures would touch each other at its corner and create a 90 degrees angle. Place your camera right below the in-between the boxes to take a shot. You can play with the intensity of the lights to create more depth and have one side as Key light and another one as Fill light (see diagram).

THREE LIGHT SETUP

1. “CLASSIC” SETUP

This 3 light setup is among the most commonly used in both photo and video production. 2 lights are placed on both sides of the camera facing model at 45 degree angle. You can narrow or widen the distance between the strobes to play with the light. The third strobe is above the model highlighting shoulders and the back of the head. (see diagram).

2. “HIGHLIGHTED BACKGROUND” SETUP

This setup is somewhat the opposite of the “classic” 3 light setup. Point both side strobes to highlight white background and the top strobe in front of the model above (see diagram).

3. “FILM NOIR” SETUP

This style is easily recognized – deep dark shadows with hard edges, bright highlights, high contrast, – all that creates dramatic lighting. In this setup one light was highlighting the background from below. The key light, on a camera right was facing the model from a side, and the fill light, from camera’s left was on side above the model highlighting the back of his neck and the edge of his contour (see diagram).

These are just few examples out of infinite variety of light setups with the soft boxes only. As you can notice one can achieve very distinct character of the picture without using enormous amount of equipment. The best thing is, all of these soft boxes are available for your use for free at our studio as these modifiers are already included in the hourly rate. The creativity lies in your trial and error with precious moments of blissful epiphany. So get creative, inspire!

* I want to thank my friends for participating in this educational project and being the most awesomest models I could get to the studio at 12 am without prior notice. Denis Sharov and Diana Kotova you are the real MVPs! ** NONE of the pictures were color corrected or photoshopped (except film noir, for obvious reasons). What you see is what you get off the camera.

Singer Joshua Micah at FD Photo Studio

Vine star and a prolific musician Joshua Micah was visiting our Pro Stage 1 studio for a photoshoot with photographer Michael Giroux. This visit resulted in great ambient, clean shots of the singer, the kind of photos our Pro Stages are well known for. Joshua was very kind to share his experience of this session with us, as well as elaborate on what function and responsibility an artist/singer carries in our society:

I had a great experience at FD Studios by the way (My friends did too) Vine is the platform I have the most fans on. My mission as a singer/artist is just to be positive and transparent with fans/listeners. In America, especially LA, there is this perception that we need to have it all together as people.. Who wants that pressure on them? Comparing yourself to people is super dangerous and can destroy you haha. I am a strong believer that your value as a person comes with being true to yourself and not “what you do.”

Find out more about Joshua’s artistic endeavors through his INSTAGRAM and VINE accounts. The photographer of this session was Michael Giroux. The stylist was Eric Schiffman.

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Pro Stage I is one of our largest spaces at FD Photo Studio. Featuring large frameless north and west facing windows, our shooters here can take full advantage of the natural light at any time of day. This studio also boasts a large seamless white cyc wall, as well as standard photo backdrops and studio lighting for stills. A favorite for both photo and video projects, we can accommodate crews of various sizes and needs. Take a look at Pro Stage I on our WEBSITE.

MADILYN BAILEY at FD Photo Studio

Our Studio, throughout its years of operation, became accustomed to host the projects with sizable production and the celebrated names in show business. Known not only for unique stage setups but also for the exceptional customer support, we meet higher professional expectations with the highest care and level of service. This time we had a pleasure of hosting the production of the Youtube sensation, singer MADILYN BAILEY, who shot a number of music videos in both our stages Art 2 and B. The videographer for this session, James Benrud, was eager to share a few words about his part and the visit at FD:

“I work for the very talented artist Madilyn Bailey who has amassed a giant following on her socials, including 2.7 million subscribers and over 400million views on Youtube. She will released her debut original EP entitled “Wiser” this May. We really enjoy using the space FD studio provides. ”

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As it was aforementioned by James, Madilyn Bailey has gained an enormous following on social platforms, and her voice is impeccable. Grab her Album on iTunes and enjoy more of her highly viewed videos on her YOUTUBE channel. And for all of ya’ stalkers out there here is her INSTAGRAM. Find out more about James Benrud and his professional and life adventures through his INSTAGRAM.

Both our Stage Art 2 and Stage B are exclusive and have one-of-a-kind look. Art 2 features a full rustic wood floor, as well as a platform that runs the entire length of the studio’s south side with a wood staircase leading up to the platforms left side. The flooring is real wood throughout, and stained to a nice dark tone. Take a closer look at Art 2 HERE. Stage B features all black walls and ceiling, with capabilities to completely shut off the natural window light. To check the availability for this stage as well as find more helpful information about our rental please see the WEBSITE. Both our stages are equipped with black, gray, and white background paper, three strobe lights and numerous modifiers for your choice. Find out more of what is included in the hourly rate HERE.

Eva Catherine + Krizia

Photographer Krizia and her model Eva Catherine were in working on a clean series of images for fashion clothing retail boutique, the Blak Label. Each photo has its distinct character filled with soothing ambience of our eminent stage Art 1.

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Lily Reyes, the founder of Blak Label Boutique and this session’s overseer had a few kind words to say about the whole experience of shooting in our studio:

We had a great festival inspired fashion linesheet/lookbook shoot for my online retail store. We shot in Art 1 and got so many great shots. Our crew was tiny, only me (owner) and my model and photographer, but had a lot of fun and energy shooting. The natural light in the room was great, we shot completely natural!

The Crew included Lily Reyes who is the Blak Label Founder. The Photographer for the shoot was Krizia Loechle, see more of her stirring photos and follow her work on INSTAGRAM. The Model was captivating Eva Catherine, check her website/fashion blog “The Indie Gypsie” and make sure to follow her on INSTAGRAM as well.

Stage Art 1, a long-time FD Photo Studio favorite, was used for this shoot. With the high-key white industrial design that FD is notorious for, Stage Art 1 is a clean setting that can be manipulated to fit all kinds of projects. This space has its windows facing South and West and gets beautiful direct light during the PM hours, and great open-shaded light in the morning.

Take a look at Stage Art 1 HERE to see what equipment is included in the hourly rate, as well as its availability and pricing. Let’s consider the possibilities and get creative!

Golazin Music Video

Our studio over the years has gained interest, popularity and status of being the perfect location not only for professional high end photoshoots but also for numerous sleek music videos for singers, dancers and artists alike. So was the choice of a talented director and videographer Amir Motaman who paid a visit to stage ART 1 to shoot a video for the talent Golazin and her song called “The Chosen One”. Here is a brief bio about Golazin:

“Gola was born in Isfahan, Persia into a country in political turmoil, at war and with radical rules against female freedom. She showed an early interest in music as a result of seeing her uncle’s performances on TV from birth and she was influenced early by Western music including pop (Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Savage Garden, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and The Backstreet Boys) and traditional/folk music from Spain and Greece. Gola begun singing and playing piano, santoor (dolcimer), dammam (Persian percussion) and flute and at nineteen joined Persia’s first girlband ‘Orkideh’ (Orchid). This resulted in touring in and around Persia performing on a regular basis and gaining a substantial fanbase. Moving to London in 2006 she began studying for her Master and then PhD in Music Psychology and performing in the UK and France. More recently she has worked on her idea of combining her knowledge of Eastern music with the sounds of the West to create a new sound from the best of both worlds and raise awareness of Iran. Gola can be found performing her own material and covers in and around London on a regular basis.”

The Director for the shoot was Amir Motaman who has already accumulated an outstanding portfolio available on his WEBSITE. Make sure to check his INSTAGRAM as well. For more amazing songs from Golazin’s repertoire take a look and subscribe to her YOUTUBE channel, as well as INSTAGRAM and TWITTER.

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Stage Art 1 has already established itself as a tremendously photogenic and efficient location for the shoots of vast scope of application and character. Furnished with unique props such asgold-sprayed palm branches, a white grand piano and newly installed dark wood wall veneer this stage is constantly on a high demand. Its perfect natural light conditions sustain such quality throughout the entire day, thanks to large top-to-bottom windows facing west and south. Aside from its one-of-a-kind perks, this space provides 3 light strobes, paper backdrops of white, grey and black color available at all of our studios. Take a closer look at ART 1 on our WEBSITE.

WILLOW MODEL MANAGEMENT & Gabriella Cullyne

As much as I love bizarre and provocative photographs with wild artistry and can examine it indefinitely, writing a blog post about a project with simple,minimalistic yet harmonious and sincere shots brings the same gratification. So is the case with the brilliant Gabriella Cullyne‘s test shoot with the models from Willow Model Management in stage Art 1.

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Here is some information from Gabriella about herself and the shoot:

“As for me as a photographer, my goal is to provide simple, clean, and quality photos in order to tell a store or evoke emotion in viewers. I have spent time abroad in Uganda and photographing the children over there was what truly formed my view on photography. I want to be able to make people stop and wonder what the story behind my photos are. When it comes to fashion and model photography, obviously it is a bit different but I want to still tell a story with my photos.

I absolutely loved shooting in Art 1, I’m a big supporter of simple and pure photos so the all white room with heaps of natural light was amazing for me.”

Make sure to check her WEBSITE and INSTAGRAM for daily updates.

The models for this session were Heidi , Kiana and Melanie from WILLOW MODEL MANAGEMENT. The hair and make up was done by Riley Chou.

Stage Art 1 had been recently renovated and now features not only concrete white walls but also a dark wood veneer. The space also includes a grand piano and gold-sprayed palm branches for your artistic use. Its large windows facing south and west, with a great industrial feel and a view of Downtown Los Angeles bring a lot of natural light throughout the day. Equipped with the same hardware that empowers all of our studios, Stage Art 1 offers a myriad of creative potential. Take a closer look and view the calendar for availability on our WEBSITE.