Making The Sale

The last time that I created a headshot for local realtor Janice Mills, the California real estate market was booming. These are very different times! The good news according to Janice… “Things are getting better for first time buyers.”

Well Janice was in need of an updated headshot, so she stopped by yesterday. Thank you Janice for allowing me to use this image to provide instruction for young photographers.

I used 4 Nikon SB 800 speedlights to create this image. The main light [1] is bounced into a small 32 inch umbrella. You still can’t beat the light quality and portability of an umbrella. The fill light [2] is fitted with a LumiQuest Ultrasoft. It’s like having a small soft box on the strobe. It attaches quickly by Velcro and fits nicely in my camera bag. I used a new item, the HONOPHOTO grid on my hair light [4]. It gives you a focused beam of light, which is the surest way to avoid lens flare from a hair or kicker light. Finally, I used a LumiQuest Pocket Bouncer on the background to provide a little subject separation.



The last time that Janice and I got together, the Dynalight light system was my lighting option. But these small speedlights, triggered by Pocket Wizards is growing on me real fast. Let's see... fifty pounds vs. less than twenty.

I’m heading to Chicago next month for the National Association of Women Business Owners [NAWBO] National Conference and I sure would love to leave the Dynalights at home.

Again, thank you Janice. Check her out if you need a local realtor. Just a closing thought... Even during the Great Depression, farmers were fertilizing and planting seeds. A new headshot... social networking... blogging... or just trying something new... can reap wonderful harvests!

Janice J. Mills