ric woods photography fashion and lighting course- behind the scenes video

Turn up the volume and take the jump to the "Behind the Scenes" video of our recent Fashion & Beauty Photography & Lighting Course. At ric woods photography we conduct small classes for better one on one time and the latest course (21 page pdf course booklet download) was a blast....All participants get to shoot and take home fantastic portfolio images.

The studio ( location) was buzzing with enthusiastic and creative people and at 6pm it all took off!

We started with some theory like:

• Camera preparation,lens selection...we talked about shutter speed, aperture , ISO and how to balance or eliminate the ambient studio like.We showed how to get clean perfect exposures straight out of the camera.I shot images tethered to two monitors and showed practical differences with light modifiers. I use equipment that people have in their own kits like umbrella's as well as studio gear like gridded beauty dishes and large soft boxes.
• We instructed people how to engage the models.We explain why we NEVER touch models without asking.Composition and camera point of view are covered.We talked about photographic releases explaining that you MUST have a release for every portrait and every wedding shoot. You get the HERO shot you best have a release before you sell that image on the Commercial Scene, OR it could come back at you and you may need pay many $$$$s to clean up the mess.

Special thanks to;

• Maree Nichols my business partner and production manager for pulling it all together.If you need more information about the courses of booking a shoot at the studio, shoot her an email maree@ricwoods.com.

We gave a couple of students their "shot" in a commercial studio.

• Caitlin Nolan-Jones wants to be a creative director. Caitlin was given free reign to design the theme for the shoot.She sourced the clothing and accessories and enlisted the aide of two friends to be the male and female models.She did a great job and exceeded our expectations.She did the work and was rewarded with a great result.She supplied several looks and did well in the 3 hour course.

My tip for up and comers that want their "shot" . Do the work you want to get paid to do....do the work..do the work.

• Piyanuch "Nuu" Hathaipontaluk was our make up artist and did well to collaborate with Caitlin to pull the vision together.She was showing off her skills, doing male and female make up finishing with a Dramatic look on our female model. Also thanks for her patience in my poor attempts to pronounce her Thai Name.
• Odessa our female model was stunning and brought amazing beauty to the photo shoot.
• Liam was the perfect male model, making light when some participants were finding it difficult to shoot and talk at the same time.
• Thanks to Kristie, Debbie,Peter, Zahra, Kaz and Llynda the participants...great work, good listening.

Finally..........

• Eagle Boys Pizza for delivering ON TIME and making GLUTEN FREE Pizzas...

SCHOOL FORMALS-ric woods photography

Photography and Lighting Courses for 2010 by ric woods

Amanda our subject, provided the subjects with a beautiful face and animated personality in the studio. Maree discussed make-up for photography. Explaining the differences in the way digital sees make up, and what to do with application of lips for colour and black and white images.

Participants have just completed 2 of our courses."My new DSLR" and "Now I know my camera"


It was excellent for me to be able to de mystify the histogram and have them all shooting manual. Their homework had them bringing back images displaying shallow DOF (depth of field/focus),movement in images and conquering back lit portraits.

Some our students making fun of their teacher, encouraged by the co owner of ric woods photography, Maree Nichols.

Shaynon- Styling,Hair & Make up Maree-Photography by ric woods

Maree's face shows her focus. Here she applies make up to Shaynon

Maree gave Shaynon two looks during the shoot.

Shaynon has hair to the waist,Maree used this to create her "hair band"

This image below is shot using a gridded beauty dish camera right high

Maree went for a classic look for the second one.These images are pretty much staraight out of the camera

My favoute is the classic look in monochrome.Colouring the shadows. This was a technique that was very popular in our "Perfect Black & Whites" workshop.

Desire to be Inspired

Desired to be inspired.This was a workshop where we took half a dozen photographers out to a little town called Teralba and let them loose .We supplied some strobes ,radio triggers and a few pointers and the rest is history.Teralba could not believe its eyes.Here are a few of the participants images...sorry about the poor quality and no sound.

Behind the scenes at Teralba

I'm sure that the person on the other end of the closed circuit TV on Teralba was wondering where Jesus ,the roller girl, some scuba divers and many others were off to...More courses to come, down load the course booklet here

MOTHERS DAY PHOTO SESSIONS - Choose from 3 great packages -Gift Vouchers Available

ric woods photography has a fantastic MOTHERS DAY PROMOTION* this year.Our clients can choose from 3 great packages. Update a sibling photo for mum, organise family portraits for her or bring her in for a mother daughter shoot with a make-up artist included.We provide proofs for selection in both Colour and B&W. A gift voucher is a perfect way to help mum keep images of her family.

Talking of GIFT VOUCHERS there are still limited places in some of our Photography & Lighting Workshops. We have discovered that many mums enjoy making photographs and are excited to learn more about making better images.We have courses for all levels.

Download your Course Booklet **HERE**.

* offer expires July 2010 and conditions apply

Photography and Lighting Courses for 2010 by ric woods

Beginners course – ‘your new digital SLR camera’

Our beginner’s course was a tremendous success. Small classes greatly benefited student to teacher time
The two session course covered lots of information, all the participants left shooting on manual instead of “auto.”
A few participants comments:
Anne said ‘in the second week I had the confidence to get off auto and not be scared of shooting manually’

Robyn liked ric’s ‘professional tips and learning from “the real stuff”, ric showed behind the scenes, and how he solved problems on his recent commercial shoots’

Amanda said she was ‘given the confidence to try new things and experiment’

Continued interest in the Beginners Course shows there is a need for a second intake.

Our “Perfect Black and White” seminar in May 2010 is suited to both beginner and advanced photographers. There are still spaces available in this 2.5 hour workshop requiring basic computer image editing skills– enquiries to maree@ricwoods.
Phone enquiries 02 4962 1066. ric woods photography’s commercial website http://www.ricwoods.com/

Download the 2010 course booklet HERE

KiDZ KROOK3D- Keep an eye on this Newcastle band

KiDZ KROOK3D a great up and coming Newcastle band commissioned us to shoot new PR shots for them. We are ALWAYS pleased to help out performing artists, its a tough slog to get your name around with out good PR images.The days of shooting someone against a bedsheet background are over.Youtube,Blogger,Facebook,My Space etc have made us all pick our game up.
I found it helpful to stay professional on my way up as an artist photographer to remember a saying I heard somewhere " When I'm painting I'm an Artist...when I'm framing I'm in Business"


...KiDZ KROOK3D mean business.

Here are the images they chose from the shoot....you can see some out takes in the "behind the scenes" video below....You'll hear a sample of one of their tracks

It was a great shoot and we all had a buzz. You can listen to these guys at http://www.myspace.com/kidzkrooked . I think these guys will go far , they are witting their own stuff and its fantastic to see these young serious about their music.

Check them out...

MSN - kidzkrooked@hotmail.com

TWiTTER - twitter.com/kidzkrooked

FACEBOOK - facebook.com/kidzkrooked

YOUTUBE - youtube.com/kidzkrooked

****DON'T FORGET OUR PHOTOGRAPHY & LIGHTING COURSES FOR 2010****

HAVE STARTED.SMALL CLASSES BOOK EARLY

Download Details **HERE**

NEWS- recent shoots and photography and lighting course download

Nicole M's Shoot. Maree waved her trusty make up brushes over the lovely Nicole guided by Jo Nelsons ever watchful eye. Maree is evolving into an amazing photographer and make up artist. She has a great attitude very client focused and always willing to learn. PROOFS HERE
Nicole N's friends arranged a studio shoot for her birthday. Celebrations started on the seamless white backdrop and continued out into the nightclubs. Primary photographer was Maree and grabbed great shoots.See the PROOFS HERE

Download our 2010 photography and off camera flash lighting course PDF booklet. Class numbers are small, to avoid disappointment EMAIL YOUR BOOKING NOW

Rachel-Location Shoot by ric woods photography

Want to learn how to make images like this?
Our 2010 photography and lighting courses will be posted shortly.
We are running very small classes ,to avoid missing your place email maree@ricwoods.com and place your name on the list...


Here Rachel is holding a small led light in her hands, this produces this strange blue colour cast on her face. The trick is balancing the ambient (street and sky) light ,the low wattage LED light and the 3 strobes that are lighting her and the background...You can learn all this and more in our "off camera small strobe course".

I really liked this building, the faded signage and rust along with the design which reminded me of my time in France. A perfect setting for Rachel our model.

A very big thanks to Maree the studio manager.( she also is the make up artist) Xanthe lighting assistant/ model and of course William, lighting assistant and soon to be model.


Here you can see the lighting setup.Three off camera strobes, coloured gels on some and fired by radio triggers.

More photo shoots to come.......