Fallen Leaf Portraits | Take and Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey

Whether you know the season as Fall or Autumn it’s a great time of year for all sorts of photography. If you’re lucky the beautiful colors will be accompanied by perfect weather but in reality, that’s not always the case. So in this photography tutorial, Gavin Hoey brings the outside into his small home studio.
Using leaves hand-picked from his garden and allowed to dry, Gavin is able to keep very tight control very the color scheme for the session. That extends to the choice of a warm-toned, warm-looking outfit for his model and similarly colored props.
With everything set Gavin shares three lighting techniques that make use of the same setup but create very different looks. Starting with lighting that simulates an overcast day, Gavin moves on to soft and directional evening light before switching lenses to make use of high-speed flash and backlight.
Timestamps and Chapters
0:00 Intro
1:15 The leaf background set-up
2:08 Creating flat “overcast” daylight with flash
3:25 The overcast light portrait session
4:05 Creating soft, directional light
6:05 The late afternoon light portrait session
6:35 Creating backlit, shallow depth-of-field portraits
8:07 The backlit, high-speed flash portrait session
8:56 Conclusions and Subscribe
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✘ PRODUCTS USED:
OM SYSTEM OM-1
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Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro
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Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.2
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Flashpoint XPLOR 300 Pro
www.adorama.com/fplfx300ptb.html
SmallRig RA-R6090 23.6x35.4" Rectangular Softbox
www.adorama.com/sr3930.html
Flashpoint R2 Pro Transmitter
www.adorama.com/fprrr2proo.html
Glow S2 Round Flash S-type Bowens Mount Bracket
www.adorama.com/glbdsm02pro.html
Kupo 20" Master Raiser C-Stand
www.adorama.com/kuks703712.html
Flashpoint Junior to Baby Adapter
www.adorama.com/fplsj2bpa.html
Glow 5 In 1 Collapsible Reflector
www.adorama.com/fppr3551.html
Tether Tools Pro 16' USB 2.0 Active Extension Cable
www.adorama.com/ttcu1917.html
Sekonic L-308 Flash Meter
www.adorama.com/sksk401305.html
Lexar Professional 1667x 64GB SDXC UHS-II/U3 Memory Card
www.adorama.com/ilxsd64g1667....
Savage Widetone Seamless Background Paper Mocha, #76
www.adorama.com/sabgp8676.html
#portraitphotography #studiophotography #adorama
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Follow Gavin on
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Model: Chloe Kerley
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THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!

[@photoxmap]

I’m a simple bloke. I see a Gavin Hoey upload, I click.😊

[@EdwardKilner]

Chloe never looked prettier. Excellent dress and great expressions. Lighting was really cleverly done! Thanks to all.

[@josephchan4198]

I always try to watch Gavin and other instructors here since they give great information and give back to the community. Kudos to Gavin and his team.

[@ShadowlightPhotography]

Can't believe I missed this one, really enjoyed the ones with the apeture wide open in the studio, a nice reminder that you can use HSS in the studio as well as outside ;) - Thats why I love your content, even stuff you know its good to be reminded you can.

[@sloop24]

Gavin and Chloe always make a great team and beautiful pictures! His test shots are a lot different than my test shots lol

[@malissabarksdale7155]

I haven’t been fortunate enough to catch any of your lives live but I have watched the replay of MANY!! I love watching your videos. You’re fun to watch, your portraits are amazing and I always feel welcomed into your home even though I’m in North Carolina…and it’s cool that your family is a part of it too

[@michyjua]

Excelent! As always.

[@35rafo]

I see all your videos. thank you for inspiring photographers

[@lisapalzer2511]

This was great, thanks Gavin!

[@stephenpezzulich1108]

You never fail to amaze me sir! I always look forward to your videos!

[@ccbphoto]

I always enjoy your videos and great work!

[@zenphotojourney]

Fun stuff Gavin! Thanks for putting this together for us.

[@jeffnewman8261]

Great idea Gavin! Thanks for the tips.

[@marcusprime357]

Brilliant work Gavin Hoey. Creative problem solving too. Keep it coming.

[@fountainvalley100]

Gorgeous work. I do like the warm tones.

[@mariellevaniterson3098]

Inspirational! 😍

[@kennethnielsen3864]

Awesome shoot, thanks for sharing.

[@acrummey85]

Always learn something from your videos, great work.

[@250GTOAJ]

Great idea and photos. Thanks Gavin, Chloe, Sam and Freya 😎👍🇨🇦

[@dunnymonster]

Fabulous as always Gavin, you never run out of brilliant ideas and concepts 🙂

[@Bananaboogiebone]

Brilliant Gavin and Lovely Chloe .. Thanks

[@keithmaynard9935]

Beautiful work as always. Chloe looks absolutely stunning in these golden tones. Thanks to the whole team fir this video. Now I just have to wait 6 months until autumn 😊

[@paulbell9957]

What an inspired set up Gavin. Really enjoyed this, such a simple set up with beautfiul results. Love it 😊😊

[@TheBehiels]

She looks great. Beautiful pictures

[@MikeJamesMedia]

That's convincing, and very pretty, Gavin and Chloe! Thanks as always for your positivity and enthusiasm! :)

[@davidrbird]

Another great video

[@ayhanokumus8655]

You’re great & great idea 👍👍

[@ivortomkinson6368]

Stunning images Gavin.

[@alanroderick702]

Super, as always ! Loved the Styling and colours. The tilted board is a great idea. All of your regular models are great on video, and to work with in real life. Well done to Gav, Sam and (today) Chloe !

[@geraldinebryce594]

Love this,so clever. Beautiful photos.

[@tedk2814]

Gavin, your videos are some of my favorite as you never fail to show such cool ideas and shoots. Chloe is just beautiful in all her modeling work but this takes it to a new level as these are my favorite colors and warm autumn palate, you chose the background color, dress, props to work just right. We don't have these beautiful autumn leaves where I live in Florida but I bet you could come up with something that would work super great. Thanks to you, Chloe, the video crew and Adorama. Ted in Sebastian, Fl.

[@rockxie6710]

Great! I’m going to collect leaves and try myself. Thanks Gavin!🤓

[@johnclay7644]

Interesting concept, v informative, great photography content (studio based) well done Gavin.

[@attetynys]

Brilliant job 👍🏻 And I have to say that Chloe is really amazing every time 🤩

[@cherylfisherphoto]

Thank you again for a brilliant tutorial. Your setups are simple but with superb results and definitely inspirational. I always look forward to watching your videos - keep 'em coming 👍

[@kirstyhepworth7343]

Great video gavin 👏

[@markabbott638]

As usual both fun and informative. Had to give it a try myself, did a few today with a nearly identical setup and really like the results.

[@TheeJaneDoe]

Love your makeup Chloe 😍

[@happymystic9800]

Great video of a great photography team. I would love to see how you processed the images in this dreamlike fashion. Thank you for that. Keep up the great work.

[@georgefrench1907]

Good episode, Gavin.😊

[@FrankP83]

the trial & error by Gavin...second try, mach the exposure!Love it! :D

[@tomasvojencak]

Very beautiful video + photos.

[@radoslawpiasek5560]

Thanks for this video. I just want to do this style photo today with my childrens. It will be easier for me now.

[@ghostvideouploader]

Love it!

[@vagaickie]

Gavin's videos are my favorite out of all the portrait photographers I follow on Adorama. I love his enthusiasm & sense of fun. His themes are 'do-able' and I always want to get into the studio & try them out! Well done, once again!!

[@mareabreedlove7284]

I agree! I also like that he shoots Olympus since I recently switched to that system.

[@adrianwilliams763]

Beautiful

[@DixonLu]

Highly appreciate the professionalism in both preparation and constant communication with Chloe during every step.

[@GavinHoey]

Thanks David. I probably talk to much during a photo session but that's how I roll and I'm sure most models prefer it to silent photographers 😉

[@Michel_Vanaken]

@@GavinHoey a good portrait session is a conversation with a camera 😉

[@charleyl264]

Thanks Gavin and Chloe.

[@matthewrace3532]

I’ve enjoyed and taken inspiration from your videos and ideas over the years, Gavin, and never bothered to thank you. So, THANK YOU! One of the very few photographer/trainers who’ve made me think, “I want to try that” so consistantly. Keep up the good work and thanks again.

[@GavinHoey]

Thanks for the thanks Matthew but mostly thanks for watching 👍

[@haiderhusain9964]

Hi Gavin u always come up with nice ideas....

[@michaelschmitt5413]

Great video, as usual. I'd love to do a shoot like this. Winter is coming here in Virginia USA, and indoors studio shoots would be nice.

[@cotswoldphotographers]

Brilliant 👍👍😍

[@fidiak]

Veri nice, thanks

[@edwardgreven7819]

Mega cool, I actually have a shoot like this on sunday :-) Those tips come in handy, many thanks!!

[@GavinHoey]

Perfect timing 👍

[@britishrose9417]

I finally subscribed - but with the caveat that it's only because of Gavin! I love these tutorials, and I wish you had been my teacher I would have done a lot better at school!

[@GavinHoey]

Goes to show the power of constant nagging 😉

[@britishrose9417]

@@GavinHoey My excuse is I was binge watching them all and was paying too much attention to start clicking buttons 😉

[@TimWells745]

We don't tend to get those beautiful autumn colours here in Australia even when it is autumn so this is a cool idea to be able to create that style in a studio environment. Might have to see if it's possible to buy autumn coloured leaves somewhere. The tip about the tilted board is great too. As always, great content. Thanks.

[@xonx209]

In USA you can buy fake autumn leaves online just a few clicks.

[@nhart-cm4xc]

Good job :-)

[@pathogan4854]

Great video Gavin ! I brought my boys to the local wood to blow off the cobwebs over the weekend and ended up with a impromptu photoshoot with some leave throwing for effect and fun ! But it soon turned into a muckball fight !😂 by the time we got home the were soaking wet and mucked to the eye balls , needless to say I and the dog had a nice quiet dinner beside the tumble dryer🥲

[@GavinHoey]

Hi Pat. Chloe was exactly the same, I just edited out the muckball fight 😉

[@pathogan4854]

🤣🤣 kids will be kids 😀

[@alanlafferty6593]

Great video. Your snaps changed to a warm tone after came from camera....did you change temperature in post or have a warm WB?

[@marranasteam1241]

😘

[@michielnoe3257]

I love the low C-stand. So I went ahead and bought the Kupo 20" Master Raiser C-stand and the Flashpoint Junior to Baby Adaptor. But is that the same C-stand. I can't see how to place the adaptor without completely dismantling the C-stand. Is there an easy way to pull the main pole?

[@craig_m_mi]

Around 8:25 the AF box is bigger white and then tiny white or green inside. Assume the tiny one is eye AF? If so, it wasn't always seeing and locking, right? If it wasn't locked on Eye, it went to face, but at 1.2 what part of face does it typically use?

[@csaunders584]

Great Video. .... Where did you obtain the gray mat on the floor? Link.

[@edwardacallender]

Maybe dropping some leaves on or near to Chloe would have yielded some interesting photos.

[@fernandoc.santos7851]

Como sempre, trazendo ótimas ideias de ensaios fotograficos. Só queria entender por que em F1.2 você usou S 1/4000 quando a Iluminação local não parecia ser tão intensa. grato! (Brazil) As always, bringing great ideas for photo essays. Just wanted to understand why in F1.2 you used S 1/4000 when the local lighting didn't seem to be that intense. thankful!

[@GavinHoey]

Hi Fernando. Despite appearances the video lights needed to film are VERY bright and in my experience even in "normal" room light f/1.2 will gather enough light to record something at my flash sync speed .

[@fernandoc.santos7851]

@@GavinHoey Obrigado por mais essa aula!🙏

[@jacoboconnor6988]

Does anyone know what monitor he is using for the image preview with his tether cable?

[@torowazup1]

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👌🏼🍎😎

[@youtubeaddict1]

How did u get that blur/motion on the final pics

[@nsg6225]

Did you set white balance to cloudy to get the warm tones? or other post processing?? You got a beautiful golden tone.

[@GavinHoey]

Check out the camera settings at 8:32 and you'll notice a CWB of 7000k 😉

[@MrBobInger]

I would like a lesson on how to make the images so dreamy in post production.

[@GavinHoey]

Well, it starts with the concept, clothing choice, colour palette, model, make up, location, props, lighting and exposure... after that the post processing is relatively easy. I blur a duplicated layer and lower it's opacity 😉

[@MrBobInger]

@@GavinHoey Devilishly clever! :) A variant of the Orton effect, who could have guessed. Thanks for replying, your videos are always a joy to watch.

[@wendystumbaugh695]

Gavin, would a macro lens - say a 100mm - work well at your 8:35 setup?

[@GavinHoey]

Hi Wendy. Of course, no problem. A macro lens is just a normal lens that can also focus close.

[@baronvonrichthofen2021]

I’m curious, can you store autumn leaves long term, like, put them in a trash bag and use them a year later? Or will the colours fade, turning the leaves dry and brown?

[@GavinHoey]

My leaves were only a week or two old (we film the videos a little in advance) but in the past I've stored leaves in bags for years and the colours seem to remain. I'm not a botanical expert so your experiences maybe different to mine 😉

[@FrankPietersen]

Great shots. I have a little question, which tablet and software do you use for tethering?

[@GavinHoey]

Hi Frank. I use my Lenovo Miix 2 in 1 convertible tablet / laptop for tethering.

[@FrankPietersen]

@@GavinHoey thanks, that is windows isn't it? Which software?

[@GavinHoey]

@@FrankPietersen Hi Frank. Windows 10 running Olympus Capture to tether and Olympus Workspace to display full screen images.

[@FrankPietersen]

@@GavinHoey thanks!

[@dretwav]

Why were you using ISO 100? I thought native ISO for OM-1 was 200

[@uaesnipersahoomi8130]

What type of screen that you use and connect the tether cable to it ?

[@GavinHoey]

That's my Lenovo Miix 2 in 1 tablet / Laptop convertible.

[@uaesnipersahoomi8130]

@@GavinHoey thanks

[@dkeithcollins]

Hi Gavin… Since flash exposure isn’t affected by shutter speed, and you’re indoors with no bright powerful sun to cope with, I’m not understanding why you needed high speed sync to maintain the wide aperture in this situation. Thanks!

[@GavinHoey]

Hi David. You're right of course. I'm inside, no sun but I do have VERY bright video lights and and super wide f/1.2 aperture. Of course I could have just turned out the room lights but it makes for a very dark video and I have to remember not everyone watching the video has the luxury of space thy can control the light.

[@dkeithcollins]

@@GavinHoey Ahhh... I didn't think about the video lights.

[@glennalamphere8203]

How many leaves do you think you used?

[@GavinHoey]

Short answer... no enough! I had enough to fill the tray at 0:05 but if I could have triple that or more I'd have been much happier 😉

[@Enrique-the-photographer]

I don’t know much about photo editing, is it difficult to remove tattoos in programs such as photo shop, I find them distracting (the photos are great).

[@GavinHoey]

Hi Enrique. I guess it depends on the tattoo size, placement and how much skin you have to work with. If they bother you or your client (they really don't bother me) then it's much quicker in the long run to cover them with make-up or hire a model who doesn't have visible tattoos.

[@mikecaissie1584]

Hi @gavinhollow would like to know if you would be coming out to Toronto Canada for any trade shows to do with photography do enjoy your videos the worst video I have seen on line is Peter hohourley just soo considered makes me think why people like his photography....... ????