Camera, Photographer, Expensive Lighting or Subject? - What Makes an Amazing Portrait...

In 2009 A famous celebrity photographer told me, "You are a Portrait Photographer..." and that's when I knew what I wanted to do from that moment on.

Yes, my passion is not just photography...it's photographing people. I never really got into photography until my dad bought me one of the first digital point and shoot cameras made by Canon. It was almost small enough to fit in your pocket and had a 1" view screen. I was hooked. I could take nude pictures of my girlfriend and not have to worry about the developers knowing my business. It was a game changer.

But it was not until 2008 or 2009 I got into using Off Camera Flash and that changed my entire world. I was a mortgage broker for many years and when the market came crashing down I dove deep into photography

Note: I also put in what I call "Geeky Photography Notes" for each image above

Geeky Photography Notes:
-Nikon D700
-Nikon 50mm 1.4D for shallow depth of field
-Neutral Density filter to knock down from f16 to f1.4
-600W strobe with a 32"Octabox camera above
-model found walking down the street - now she is famous: Rachel Reed

After the mortgage crisis/meltdown in 2007 I didn't know what to do. So I followed the money trail to Central America. I was looking for lending opportunities in Central America which didn't turn out. During that time I started photographing with portable speed lights. Typically a one light set up; something I could travel with.

I had no idea what I was doing. It would take me a long time to figure out camera settings and to learn what worked. I didn't have the patience for lessons or reading complicated photography books. I just taught myself.

Geeky Photo Info
-Nikon D800
-Beauty Dish

Simple. I love photos with setup shots. For me it makes the shot more interesting...seeing the magic of lighting unfold. I don't need to give you all the gritty details of how I nailed the shot. You can see it.

Another Setup Shot that turned into a portrait of a Lawyer in LA

In 2008 I started photographing people with lights as much as I could. I would shoot friends and when I ran out of friends to shoot I began posting ads on Craigslist stating I was a professional photographer and was looking for models. That's how I cut my teeth on photography. I just shot everyday for about 6 months.

In six months I had enough images to pop up a crappy website and began talking to magazines. I moved to Medellin, Colombia. The Colombians loved my passion and I landed my first work as a photographer

Colombians were open to the idea of a foreigner shooting them. I shot naked indians, farmers, families in poor neighborhoods, catalog photos, and beautiful girls I met while walking down the street. I had my light rig on my back and called it the Backpacker's Studio. Here's a video from that time:

Dec 2009

The Backpacker's Studio video would change my life it was my ticket to world travel and more photography than I could imagine. I started a popular Youtube channel and began teaching workshops. Little did anyone know I had no idea what I was doing; but I made photography fun...I was living my dream

:: Mikey from Lightenupandshoot was born ::

Zoom forward almost ten years and I am still walking around with a portable studio

Shot for BoomBox Magazine in Venice Beach, California. They funny thing is that I still land jobs by going out with the Backpacker's Studio. It peaks curiosity and gives you a license to shoot almost anyone.

My small minimalist rig was born out of necessity because I like to be on the move. I don't have a giant crew truck or a pile of assistants. I prefer to work fast and on the fly. My point is that you don't need a bunch of fancy gear to get amazing images. You need an eye and a vision. I see the shot before I pull the trigger...the lights are just effects to create something different. Light is my trademark for each image.

Geekyfo
-Director Jeff Lorch
-Beauty Dish
-Sunset for back light
-Long lens to squash the background into the foreground

I met Jeff on a movie set and he emailed because he wanted shots he could use for social media.

Here's a model that I met while teaching a workshop. You see my student holding the light? I slowed down the shutter and moved the camera fast so you didn't see him. But the light burst coming out a thousand times faster than my movement froze the action on the subject. Fun stuff!

Not fancy, cheap $50 speed light...just need to know camera basics and have some creativity.

Another Backpacker's Studio favorite of mine. This is a shot of Oscar Ramirez. It's a 28" Westcott Softbox with a speed light. I love real action and non-posed images. I asked Oscar to put on his military uniform and then grabbed a shot while he was getting ready. It's real.

Natural is wonderful. It's my favorite. You just have to see it. i asked this famous Colombian singer to run her hands through her hair. Nailed it.

Vivi Osorio

I don't think it's which camera you use, the light you have...it's all about the interesting subject. They inspire me. I simply direct them and visualize in my mind how I imagine them. You just move them into that vision and finally splash a little light here and there.

Geeky Photo Info

-Beauty Dish from behind the subject
-A sliver or sunlight beamed in through the window and hit her face
-"Smile and play the guitar, Megan"

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments below.