Dark And Moody Studio Portraits | Take and Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey

It’s all about the shadows, get them right and you’ll be a master of the "dark" element of a low-key portrait. Adding some mood is a little more tricky. That requires a combination of carefully considered shadows, styling, or props that add some dark character and possibly a little bit of post-processing magic.
Photographer Gavin Hoey starts at the beginning and shows you how to make the shadows as dark as possible before you start your photo session. Next Gavin uses a simple two-light setup to keep control of the light on his model and background using a Glow softbox and two Flashpoint flashes.
For the mood in his portraits, Gavin has three simple studio ideas that use everyday props in an unusual way. It starts with some heavy, dark fabric that Sophie, his model, wears like a hooded cloak. Next Gavin mixes things up and uses the brim of a top hat to cast a shadow that hides his model's eye. Finally, Gavin switches to some sheer black fabric that completely covers his model but adds that all import mood and mystery to the images.
Timestamps and Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:15 Camera settings for maximum shadows
02:14 Setting up the key light and background flash
03:25 Hooded cloak photo session
04:58 Dark beauty lighting set-up
05:59 Top hat with shadows photo session
07:38 Correct camera setting for sheer fabric
09:50 Sheer and lace fabric photo sessions
10:50 Conclusions and Subscribe
Gavin Hoey is a freelance photographer, content creator, OM SYSTEM ambassador, and trainer who specializes in all things photography.
With over 25 years of experience, Gavin’s photography career has grown from a part-time job writing articles for photography magazines into a full-time career creating video tutorials and live streams. More often than not he can be found photographing, filming, and editing in his small home studio.
Gavin is a highly creative and talented photographer who believes that anyone can take amazing photos. Now in his 11th year with Adorama TV, sharing that belief with over 1.2 million subscribers is an honor he never takes for granted.
Whether it’s portrait or macro photography, studio lighting, or post-processing, Gavin is passionate about creating simple, entertaining, and educational content. In fact, the only thing he enjoys more than talking about photography is actually doing photography.
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THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!

[@tamedthethreebears]

Gavin is the perf combo of personality+ experience to be the best teacher 😊

[@G_PHOTOGRAPHy675]

Adorama got my subscription because of this man♥️

[@l31007]

Gavin Hoey, you are the best that Adorama has.

[@surfhawaiiwaves]

I’ve been watching Gavin for years and he is an amazing photographer. I’ve learned so much from his lighting techniques. I’m a natural light photographer so this has been so helpful over the years when it comes to my studio work. Thank you Gavin!!!

[@GavinHoey]

Thanks for the long term support, I'm glad I've been of help 👍

[@Butterflyeffect1975-d6b]

One of the best if not the best !

[@marcusprime357]

Photography just comes alive with you and you models. Sophie and Gavin are quite the combination.

[@GavinHoey]

Thanks Marcus. I usually find that half and idea and a whole lot of enthusiasm can get you a long way 😉

[@Njwanta]

I always love seeing new, creative, ways to use simple props to make stunning results. These videos are a great inspiration! Can’t wait for it to cool down enough to bring back the fog machine

[@ManuelCampilho]

Another amazing and refreshing lesson. Thank you professor Gavin :)

[@dunnymonster]

Love this dark moody style! Another top tutorial as always Gavin 👍

[@deenugent473]

Always look forward to watching Gavin's tutorial. Great materials as always Gavin! Thank you.

[@vadimv]

Thank you so much for sharing, your videos are always fun and educational. :)

[@ericab8705]

I LOVE taking dark and moody photos. This was a fun, creative video.

[@jerrym8140]

Fun and always fun watching Gavin 👍

[@wesleyhicks209]

As usual...Awesome !

[@skinosensei]

Fantastic, as always, Gavin. I especially love high contrast, moody lighting. Your use of the fabric added a great, creative layer.

[@stevebuesden]

Always good, easy to watch and very informative.

[@karenarden3266]

Gavin and team - I loved this set up❤❤ beautiful!!

[@BiggieZee]

That was brilliant Gav! Loads of amazing ideas!

[@DylanRichardson841]

I love the photos with the hat and the ones with the lace!

[@DietrichLasa]

Awesome, prize-winning images.

[@bassplayer60]

I too have learned much from Gavin! He’s a Master of Light! Thank you Gav! 🥰🙏🏻🤙🏽

[@marcomark8]

Gavin the great! Great photographer and great instructor.

[@cjk1943]

love the video always you give a great show

[@josephchan4198]

I try to watch most of Gavin videos since he is a great teacher. Kudos to him and his team.

[@promokator]

Great lesson as always and fantastic photos!

[@happymystic9800]

I pressed the like button even before I had watched the video. I knew I would not be disappointed by this video. Whenever these two team up, it is going to be great. Thank you for this fantastic inspirational video. ❤

[@truthsayers8725]

Gavin, youre a great photographer and instructor. love watching you shoot the very lovely Sophie!

[@pathogan4854]

great video and plenty of food for thought with Halloween coming around the corner !! great work by you and Sophie and the background team !!

[@henri.witteveen]

Gavin, those are some fantastic pictures

[@flol3266]

Awesome. One of the best videos from Gavin so far. Also not that long 😜

[@ceasarmercado6759]

Very nice concept.. I've watching lots of your videos and i find it very inspiring..Good to see sophie again..

[@GastonShutters]

Always a joy watch you build this images.

[@missoya]

Just what i needed today!

[@luisgalicia5847]

Excelente maestro Gavin, excelente trabajo .Saludos.

[@jjkdc62]

Another fine video, Gavin.

[@randydean23]

Over the years, I have watched a great many of your tutorials and presentations and have always come away with not only new knowledge but probably equally if not more importantly _ a great deal of inspiration. But I also wanted to mention the talent of your model, Sophie. While all of the models you work with are top-notch I am always impressed with Sophie's range and talent for using the various props and styling that you all come up with_ so well in fact- that whether at an airfield looking as she walked out of the 1940s to something like this shoot she's always quite convincing. I hope that you all are paying her fairly 😅 because with her talent she deserves it. But in any event thanks for yet another excellent video Cheers!

[@andyshoots5484]

Always updated and waiting for new school drops

[@stuarttatlock8217]

Great video 🎉 as always thanks for the inspiration

[@lisapalzer2511]

Wow, what a fun and creative video!! Thanks Gavin :)

[@GavinHoey]

Thanks Lisa, glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@MikeJamesMedia]

Beautiful, striking images, Gavin and Sophie! ❤

[@GavinHoey]

Thanks Mike 👍

[@stephenpezzulich1108]

Your videos never cease to inspire me!

[@GavinHoey]

Thanks Stephen ☺

[@johnclay7644]

Great informative video Gavin good results informative content.

[@GavinHoey]

Thanks John 👍

[@scottyp.photography6852]

Thank you so much, Gavin. Absolutely amazing, and inspirational.

[@GavinHoey]

Thank you for the kind words Scott 😊

[@chriscard6544]

great shots, model is awesome

[@GavinHoey]

Agreed, Sophie is amazing and IMHO she makes the photographers job far to easy 😉

[@RalfWeyer]

I absolutely love your videos 👍🙏. I have and still learn so much from these videos, and in such an entertaining and fun way 😊.

[@GavinHoey]

Thanks for the kind words Ralf 👍

[@chopperjamie]

That final shot is fantastic! Thank you for the wonderful video!

[@GavinHoey]

Thank you, I swapped it in to the video at the very last moment, so I'm glad you liked it 😊

[@yogibses]

Nice as always

[@paulbell9957]

Fantastic work as always Gavin 👍👍

[@GavinHoey]

Thanks Paul 👍

[@christhepharmacist]

Great video (as always!)

[@alanroderick7153]

Lovely video, well done all ! Sophie's make-up was excellent, as aways. I like using shadows, even though some models do not like images "with no eyes". Metering through the fabric, a jolly good tip.

[@GavinHoey]

Hi Alan. Sophie's make-up skills are literally Hollywood level... and then I go and cover it all up. I know what you mean 😉

[@kirstyhepworth7343]

Absolutely fantastic videos everytime 0:58

[@GavinHoey]

Thanks Kirsty. Fun fact... the top hat at 0:59 is the same one that fitted Sophie perfectly 🎩

[@kirstyhepworth7343]

@@GavinHoey that was epic

[@waynejones1054]

Brilliant as ever👍👍

[@GavinHoey]

Thanks Wayne 👍

[@mvjphotographie2617]

Brilliant! I'll have a try. I think I do not enough make use of shadows.

[@paulmullin3202]

We’ll done Gavin , really interesting.

[@GavinHoey]

Thanks Paul 👍

[@petersmithm9]

At the end you reminded me of one of Michael Bentines' Pottymen when you put the top hat on. Yes I am that old. Young'uns just Google it. Fantastic ideas and presentation.

[@difficbeoversambalao]

thanks alot gavin! watched your tutorial since a week ago and i have lots of improvement in lighting for portrait using s5 + godox xpro & v860iii + umbrella. you are a world class teacher!

[@GavinHoey]

Thanks for the kind words, I'm glad my videos have been of help. Keep watching for more of the same 👍

[@difficbeoversambalao]

​@@GavinHoey can not wait, sir!

[@Heiko.Kalweit]

Very good!

[@kennethnielsen3864]

Hallo Gavin. Thanks for sharing.

[@SatanSupimpa]

I was lowkey hoping Gavin would gift us with some Jamiroquai moves at the end

[@MehmetKozal]

😃

[@jeffnewman8261]

Sophie is amazing! Gavin, you're not so bad either 😄

[@GavinHoey]

I know my worth and I know that working with a talented model and MUA like Sophie makes me look better then I probably deserve 😉

[@jans7387]

Nice video, I was surprised that aperture 5.6 is enough to create dark background.

[@maxxxfifty-two7418]

Good one

[@francisfa8178]

Nice photography

[@ademola5803]

Reminds me of the Scottish widow advert back in the 90's

[@GavinHoey]

Back when people watched TV adverts, yeah I can see what you mean 👍

[@chrisjames1924]

@@GavinHoey David Bailey shot the original ad and created the look that's still in use today.

[@SidneyPratt]

Thanks.

[@peterikier1985]

GREAT! Now I need to hear Uriah Heep...

[@tamizhinivinoth1017]

love it i laren light...is used...😊

[@shibubhaskar8895]

Gavin❤❤❤❤

[@bethhostetler5214]

Love all your videos. In this particular one did you try putting the fabrics while Sophie was wearing the hat and adjust the light to taste?

[@MyAdoniran]

Great video, as always! Man, what beautiful colors! how do i do it?

[@randyfox5317]

A) Well done as always, Gavin! B) Sophie outdid herself with that outstanding eye treatment! (I understand she does her own work, right?) C) I can't decide which is better; the B&W versions or the color. Since you nailed them both...that's a good thing. Kudos, folks!

[@GavinHoey]

A) Most kind, thank you. B) Sophie does here own make-up and is a professional MUA of the highest order C) Definitely B&W... or may be the colour images... nope, it's probably B&W... and so on!

[@johnr6218]

Fantastic work both of you. Ita given me some more information. Juat got a sekonic meter so the more you can explain what you're doing with it the better!

[@GavinHoey]

Hi John. We have several videos here on Adorama TV about using Sekonic meters but if you want to see how I use mine in more detail try this one kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3iXgWCFmdqnqJo It's from a few years back but the information hasn't aged... unlike me 😉

[@johnr6218]

@@GavinHoey had a skim and that looks exactly what I needed! Thanks :⁠-⁠)

[@MikeSapiecha]

good day from Malta

[@chrisjames1924]

Sophie could be the next 'Scottish Widows' model. David bailey shot the first ad back in the 80's. What do you reckon Gavin, you up for it?

[@jaym5938]

Who knew Gav could get so dark and moody? lol. And he's running on zero battery - such a rebel.

[@GavinHoey]

I have a special nearly flat battery I only use when filming... anything for the comments! That was a joke BTW 😉

[@Richie5480]

I’ve been watching Gaven for a long time. You really don’t need the Pro in the lighting, that he uses.

[@101classphotography]

good tutor

[@DannyLopezOficial]

Hi Gavin , when you use the ez lock beauty dish do you use it with the deflector disk, the internal diffuser, the external diffuser plus the black grid on? And if not, how did you use it in this video? Thank you.

[@sijilo]

😊

[@copaeg]

🤫😍😍

[@gordw6402]

Always appreciate your B&W's and Moody's, thank you. Noticed the X Drop Pro had folds, would the 8x13 resolve this or just stick with solid black?

[@GavinHoey]

If you mean at 0:30 I just had the X-Drop support center pole an inch or so to high. That was fixed for the photo session and no folds or creases (other then those actually in the printed concrete pattern) were in the final photos.

[@gordw6402]

​@@GavinHoeyThank you.

[@forrestpruett]

would you do a video in your small home studio with 3/4/5 models?, how to do a group photo shot and the many options?

[@HaraldFerber]

Hi Gavin, great video. Your link to the Westcott 8x8' X-Drop Pro Wrinkle-Resistant Backdrop Kit with Stand leads to a neutral grey background, but yours is not neutral :(

[@rafaelmoreira1113]

hello, I have a panasonic gh4 and it does not tether directly in LR or another application, but it has a clean hdmi output, I saw that you send your images to a monitor, I can also do this in my camera without having to tether with any application?

[@GavinHoey]

My OM-1 isn't supported in Lightroom either. There are ways around that by using Lightroom's "watched folder" settings but I use OM Capture and OM workspace. Panasonic probably have something similar for tethering your GH4 via USB. HDMI tethering is an option although the live feed might be very distracting if seen by an inexperienced model. An example of HDMI tethering for anyone who is reading this and wants to see it in action is 1:48 and for an example of clean HDMI tethering, just watch any of my live streams which mixes clean HDMI feeds from three cameras.

[@mma171]

Sophie gets the automatic like button click every time. 👍

[@jamesg1974a]

I need to know how tell Gavin is. He always references height and now I’m curious if he is really that short or if the models are all just tall.

[@ErethilClaw]

I have a question, I'm building my studio what material ( stands, backgrounds ...) considere will be the most simple and efective? thanks

[@GavinHoey]

I think Daniel is covering some that next week kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYSwnoSprqqHmKs If not, I have a live stream on that very subject coming soon (date TBA)

[@ErethilClaw]

@@GavinHoey cool!i had too much crazy ideas and i prefer see what people with more time in the busness recomend. Thanks Gavin!

[@adrianwilliams763]

Modern day John Hedgecoe.

[@paolo6887]

La griglia la montate con il diffusore oppure senza il diffusore (tela bianca)?

[@GavinHoey]

sì, può

[@paolo6887]

@@GavinHoey con la tela bianca sotto

[@SampanPathak]

Hi Sir, I am following you since I wanted to become a photographer. I have one question for now, and that is how much long and wide is your home studio?

[@GavinHoey]

My studio is 15' wide and 17' long BUT the usable space (what you see in the videos) is more like 15'x 10' and often less. The question you really need to ask is how high is my studio (7'10" to the rafters BTW) as I'd swap floor space for extra ceiling height any day.

[@SampanPathak]

Thanks Sir. Yes you are RIGHT, I should have asked about the hight also.@@GavinHoey

[@cjsSeidel.and.art.]

Megga

[@nataliakalinowska9560]

What is the name of the tripod ? I'm looking for something like that.

[@GavinHoey]

If you mean the tripod holding up up the background, it's the Westcott X-Drop system. Link in the video description 😉

[@nataliakalinowska9560]

@@GavinHoey thank you you, will check that 🔥

[@abphoto32]

What are the dimensions of the studio?

[@GavinHoey]

My studio is 17'x15' but with all the video recording gear in place the usable area (the bit you see on screen) is closer to 10'x15' But I'd swap floor space for ceiling height any day, so my ceiling is 7'10" to the joists and then open to the rafters :)

[@abphoto32]

@@GavinHoey thank for answer!)

[@moses8910]

I'm thinking there could have been more dramatic results without the flash lighting up the backdrop. Seems like too much of it is spilling back onto the model.

[@MaciejZawiasa]

Hi, I like your videos but I really would like to see some video with male model. It's not much examples with mens and that's why I loose confidence when need to work with guys. Please help @Adorama

[@louisfitze2884]

Amazing results Gavin…wondering if you’ve ever tried dark and moody sports photos outdoors or in studio ala @braddeel_sports or capturing a dancer doing a jump…love your work and teamwork…keep pushing those limits

[@GavinHoey]

I love the idea. The closest I've done to a studio sports shoot was this one kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6HSapdpncyFhpY