Multi-Generational Studio Photoshoot.
We have the words, the eye, and the paintbrush.
These photos are of myself. my mom, and my grandma. We are like the three artistic muses- I have the creative eye, my mother has the words, my grandmother has the paintbrush.
Often times we go to each other for advice in our own arts, and this brings us together even more. Art has a way of connecting people. We collaborate- I take the photos for my grandmother’s painting, and my mom can put the art into words. We are a strong team.
Inspiration for this project
This multi generational studio concept was actually inspired by a photo that was taken on accident! One day I was testing out different lighting setups, using myself as the model. I was taking my photos on burst mode when I saw a photo where my face was so perfectly centered and my hair seemed to be blowing a bit. This made me want to recreate this look, and then I got just the shot. I shared this photo with my family and friends, and my mom suggested we do the same photo, but do it with the three generations.
Original photo the series was inspired by
Technique used
To recreate this look, it was a tedious process but worth it in the end. The setup was not very fancy, just one light, of course a camera, a fan, and a bench. I didn’t even use a backdrop. In order for this to work, everything had to be perfect- the lighting, facial expression, the hair. We took these photos in a semi-dark room, leaving a little bit of sunlight for fill light. These pictures are very high contrast and focused, and I had to make sure the subject would pop. I placed the light modifier so close to the face it was actually almost touching it. Normally photographers don’t do that, but to recreate a black backdrop when you don’t have one, that technique certainly does help. Through trial and error, we have created something that will be cherished in our family for years to come.
