Working with less isn’t always a bad thing for your studio portraits. In fact, occasionally keeping it simple might be the best way to make an impact. It’s a simple idea that can be interpreted in several ways and photographer Gavin Hoey has all the tips you need to start making minimalist portraits.
Knowing how to shoot minimalist studio portraits at home or in the studio is all about the gear. Gavin just uses a simple white background, a single softbox with one Flashpoint flash, and his camera. This basic lighting set-up is perfect for the minimal look but, as Gavin explains, you can further perfect your portraits by including more of the background and removing the color from the photos.
Next, Gavin steps his studio portrait photography up a notch by taking minimalist-looking full-length portraits. According to Gavin, the key to success with this look is to include lots of background and keep your subject relatively small in the frame.
In the final part of this photo tutorial, Gavin takes you into post-editing to show you how to stretch the background in Photoshop, further enhancing the minimalist portrait look.
Gavin Hoey is a freelance photographer, writer, and trainer of all things photographic. Gavin has a real passion for sharing his photography and Photoshop knowledge. In 2008, he started recording and uploading video tutorials to YouTube. His work is regularly featured in photography magazines, websites, and videos.
Timestamps and Chapters
0:00 Intro
1:01 Minimalist portrait gear
1:28 Camera settings for minimalist portraits
1:45 Flash settings for the minimalist look
2:28 Using a wide crop for a bigger background
3:01 Go mono for the minimalist look
3:46 Close-up minimalist portrait session
4:25 Full-length portraits in a small studio
5:15 How to change the crop in vertical photos
6:35 Full-length minimalist portrait session
7:19 How to use Remove Tool, Crop Tool, and Free Transform Tool in Photoshop
9:10 Adding texture in Photoshop
10:10 Final Thoughts
10:27 Outro
Download Gavin’s free texture here:
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✘ GEAR USED:
Easiframe Cyclorama Curved Frame
Easiframe Cyclorama Fabric Backdrop, White
OM SYSTEM OM-1
OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro II
Flashpoint XPLOR 300 Pro
Flashpoint 10’ C-Stand and Grip Arm
Glow EZ Lock Collapsible Silver Beauty Dish (42″)
#minimalistportraits #smallhomestudio #adorama
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Model: Jack Marshall
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Comments
26 responses to “How to Capture Minimalist Portraits in Your Studio | Take & Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey”
Thank you so much
top notch!
i DO have a question though. when you first started using THIS studio, you had a lot of junk on the wall. outlets, ethernet ports, cable tv jacks… where did they all go?
Love the addition of the photoshop post prod with this one. Thank you 🙂 Been binge watching your vids whilst awaiting my initial single light… It will be the wired MS GODOX 300V with an 85mm para softbox. Quite budget, but gotta start somewhere!
The best😊
Another great video, thanks Gavin. How would you achieve a catch light in the models eyes in this lighting set up whilst maintaining the models eye-line to camera?
Hi Gavin, are the Glow Easy Lock products distributed in Europe ?
Gavin, it's always a pleasure to follow your videos: simple, funny and useful. Thanks!!!
BEST
there's no bigger fan of Gavin than ME
Gavin always the number 1
What external monitor setup are you using? Is it connected directly to the camera?
Thanks for another very helpful tutorial Gavin. Question! I have a heavy white plastic backdrop. If I were to use this, is there a rule of thumb about the size of the curve needed as it rolls out on to the floor?
Great vid, easy to follow…
This is Beautiful Gavin
As always Gavin great videos
You did not answer my last question, the name of the Fuji program you used, since I am also a Fuji user, I would like to use it
top video as always … buuut … why Cloe is not the model for this video ?!?!?😅😅😅 i'm joking … good job jack
Sharp model, would be nice to have more male models.
A minimalist theme with maximum results, thanks Gavin 👍
Gavin Hoey the only man to defeat the energizer bunny!
Duracell should act fast!
What is the name of the backdrop being used and did it come from Adorama?
Big thumbs up! One light setups are really challenging, and this is an inspiring video. Cheers!
Thanks Gavin!
I am so curious about that backdrop!
Thanks for another super helpful tutorial, Gavin! You made me want to play with this stuff today. 💯😎🙌
If I may want b&w I just shoot in b&w I get b&w jpgs and the raw files are in color. Just my way of doing things still love your videos
Oooh chloe, where are you😢😢