How to take superhero portraits of athletes. The story behind a professional photography assignment

[@V3ryM3tal]

I think the color file you ended up with is probably what most publications would choose for obvious reasons. That said, I really love the high contrast black and white file and I think it has an artistic feel and would work really in a series of similar images. Thanks again for sharing your experience with assignments.

[@RoyRiley]

Cheers Matt! I appreciate your comment. All the best. R

[@eddiebond2941]

Fantastic to see the process going from a cluttered swimming pool to the final professional image, really enjoying your channel , Have to say my favorite version is the 3rd one the lower saturated image.

[@RoyRiley]

Cheers Eddie! Pleased you are enjoying the channel. All the best. RR

[@jimshadforth1686]

Agreed. Roy walked into a mess and came out with some gems. The lesson for me is to not get discouraged too quickly, but press on. If I had to choose, I'd pick the low saturation image. Very helpful video in many respects.

[@caps7424]

Great video, thanks! Love the one in BW!!

[@RoyRiley]

Thanks You! Black and white has always been my first love. Aiming to shoot much more in 2023

[@robertlawrence7958]

Love this type of video. Far more interesting than gear videos. I'm not keen on that desaturated image. Really liked the B/W shot but I feel that the eye contact is a must for this kind of image so your final choice would be my choice as well.

[@RoyRiley]

Cheers Robert! It is my intention to make a few more of these so glad you enjoyed it.. wishing you a great weekend. R

[@richardtierney7724]

I am old school and love the B&W image BUT! I think what stands out to me is the importance of gaining skills in Post Production ( Photoshop etc ) to creat the type of image that publishers and clients demand. I started off my photographic career in the darkroom. Learning that craft from professional commercial photographers, where lighting was key along with the skills to choose the right grade of paper and dogging and burning of course. Now with digital imaging the sky is the limit with the choice of colour, B&W, creative lighting effects etc giving photographers a virtual painters pallette to woprk with. Yes trying to achive as much as possible in camera is a target but as you have shown, the reality is not always possible and to get the image the client wants, you really have to have a fairly wide range of skills at your disposal. Thanks very much for the "walk" through of how you acheived the final result... Another excellent video Roy.

[@RoyRiley]

Thanks for this Richard. It always feels like there is something more to learn these days. This week alone I have been blending panoramas, retouching portraits and working with some New clever culling software. I guess it has always been the same in photography with new techniques and processes coming along but I do struggle with all the new software to get to grips with. I’m not really a fan of sitting at the computer so get quite frustrated with it. I’m lucky to live near the sea so when it all gets too much I go and jump in the ocean for a little while. Washes the computer screen blues away.

[@davidprice2525]

Great video. For me the B&W image has it.

[@RoyRiley]

Cheers David! and yes I will try to do something on flashguns in the near future! R

[@raydavies3342]

All great shots, but I'd like to see the low saturation one converted to pure mono.

[@davidcoleman2868]

Superb video. Thanks for taking us through your process and creativity. I'm hoping to break through as a professional one day and these type of life lesson videos are invaluable.

[@RoyRiley]

Thanks David. Glad you enjoyed it. All the best. R

[@joshuaprietophoto]

Love these videos Roy love your work

[@RoyRiley]

Cheers Joshua! I really appreciate your feedback. It really does help when I hear that people like what I do. Currently mine is the smallest photography channel on KZbin. My one and only plan is to make it bigger! all the best to you, RR

[@joshuaprietophoto]

@@RoyRiley Super genuine and worthwhile thoughts on gear and experiences. Refreshing-look forward to seeing more!

[@eddiegremlin]

Capture at 8:21 is a hell of a shot and edit.

[@RoyRiley]

Cheers Edward! much appreciated. R

[@acjones225]

All ten out of ten images , but I’d go with the low saturation as my favourite edit 👍🏼

[@RoyRiley]

Thanks AJ! Much appreciated. R

[@philtaylor194]

Version 3, the low saturated one, but with the treatment of your final edit. But from my experience, some sub editor would use the plain portrait. My former picture editor's advice was don't let them have them so they can't use them,!

[@RoyRiley]

Wise words!

[@johnstaples1606]

It's the back and white image for me although the one you finished with is dynamic etc.. Just sometimes I prefer b&w. As a very armature photographer lighting is a mystery to me.. Did your client like the end product..? Great channel and authentic....!!!

[@RoyRiley]

Cheers John! Appreciated. Yes client was happy with the outcome which, at the end of the day is the most important thing!

[@jeremiahyoung5931]

Thanks this is awesome to hear a professional talk it through and have similar issues as myself an amateur/hobbyist on the setup and lighting. I totally agree with you about the icing on the cake with Lightroom, I find the best pics are ones I make it right in the camera first and then do a just a little filter or vignette to bring attention to subject and then brighten with saturation. Thanks again

[@RoyRiley]

Thanks Jeremiah. Apologies for the delay, your comment somehow swam through my net. Really pleased you like the content and I will always agree that the best pictures are made at the point of capture, everything else is really digital art. Hope you are keeping well. RR

[@trannel73]

Interesting process. Thanks for sharing. It's a bit odd, that I enjoy the under exposed version at 3:24. Would have love to see a perfect splash moment with this lightning situation. Looks a bit more "epic" from a normal, non edited perspective (for my taste) + those flags in the background look a bit more like competition mode. But I'm super nerdy about not putting any gradient filters into the editing process. So don't mind my thoughts :D Overall the result is magnificent. Unfortunately the focus is not on spot with her swim glasses, or am I mistaken? Would love to know if the R5 would have hit the bulls ey in this hard situation. Thanks Roy! Interesting stuff!

[@simonvail458]

Thank you very much for the video. It was a great teaching experience. I'll just ask... you didn't take a pull back shot showing the position of the four flashes? And were they speedlights, rather than strobes, with an a 75 watt output, say? And something else... were you worried about using batteries and lights next to the pool? Thanks again.

[@RoyRiley]

No pull back shot I’m afraid. Before the days of “Behind the scenes” cannot exactly remember which lights but most likely a couple of speedlights and a few elinchrom battery heads.. but this would be possible with pretty much any light with enough punch. Always concerned when using lights near water but I had total control of the space and always use heavy duty support gear to ensure everything is anchored and nothing gets knocked over or moved. Safety first!

[@simonvail458]

@@RoyRiley Hello Roy, thank you.

[@GuyGodin27]

You mentioned about a preset called kodachrome 64. Could expand on this preset. Ie what the main feature(s) and like where can we get it.

[@RoyRiley]

It’s a Lightroom preset that is really quite gentle but adds a pop of colour that gives canon files a look that is reminiscent of the Old Kodachrome transparency film. Not entirely sure where it makes changes but ultimately it will be apply a receipe somewhere in the colour settings to give the “look” honestly cannot remember where it came from. I have been gathering presets for years from various places. Some are free others quite expensive. Most do not get used but I do like the subtle ones on occasion.

[@AndySnap]

Top job! (...makes notes to copy everything on another job someday...ahem..!). It's very rewarding to push and push to make a photo 'happen', and possibly the essence of what makes a 'professional' photographer. Surprise the client. I do like the mono edit, but I'd go for a frame showing her face, as the swimming goggles are a great graphic element (imho).

[@RoyRiley]

Cheers Andrew. I agree the goggles make a great visual trigger. Hope keeping well. R

[@MrMolotov69]

It’s been great discovering your channel! Do you have any tips on how does one find clients or assignments like these? What is the best approach when you don’t have an agent?

[@RoyRiley]

Cheers. It’s a long and tricky journey with no shortcuts or easy answers I’m afraid. I’m still learning after 30 years. I might make some content around this subject in the future but in the meantime what I will say is to get really really confident with your own ability. Actually..I have just launched a mentor service over on my website.. www.roy riley.co.uk if your looking for a bit of guidance this might be one way I could help you figure some stuff out.