I have to learn at some point. That is why I do this. I am a slow learner, I have identified this. I am okay with it. It takes me a lot longer to learn and reach goals than I think it does for most – but I tend to stray from comparing because nothing productive ever comes from it. I like to do this and I really enjoy shooting like this, so I do. My goal for this was to get it mostly right in camera, and do mostly uniform editing. So not a lot of spot editing. There isn’t really any dodge/burn in these. The only spot editing I did in some was to remove the backgrounds when I was able.
I try to keep my set up mobile/compact/easy to assemble as this ensures I can always make the shoot happen. However, when it does happen, my background is usually pretty shit as I just use a reflector. So in the future, I will change that. I am going to find a better solution so that I can get it all right in camera and not have to spend hours cutting people out and changing their background haha. I don’t like doing tedious boring work.
These were all done backstage, easy setup – takes about 10 minutes to build, all contained within a Think Tank Production Manager 40. I shot everything with a Sigma 50 ART lens and lit ’em with my favorite Profoto B1. I bounced with a reflector for fill.
![Backstage Portrait - Awsten Knight of Waterparks by Adam Elmakias](https://www.adamelmakias.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_8962-2-770x1085.jpg)
![Backstage Portrait - Awsten Knight of Waterparks by Adam Elmakias](https://www.adamelmakias.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_8997-Edit-770x996.jpg)
![Backstage Portrait - Awsten Knight of Waterparks by Adam Elmakias](https://www.adamelmakias.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_9007-Edit-2.jpg)
![Awsten Knights of Waterparks by Adam Elmakias](https://www.adamelmakias.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_9122.jpg)
![Backstage Portrait - Gabe Barham of Sleeping With Sirens by Adam Elmakias](https://www.adamelmakias.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_9376-Edit-770x1139.jpg)
![Backstage Portrait - Nick Martin of Sleeping With Sirens by Adam Elmakias](https://www.adamelmakias.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_9421-Edit.jpg)
![Backstage Portrait - Kellin Quinn of Sleeping With Sirens by Adam Elmakias](https://www.adamelmakias.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_9449-Edit-2.jpg)
![Backstage Portrait - Williard](https://www.adamelmakias.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_9484-770x1155.jpg)
![Backstage Portrait - Matt Best of Tonight Alive by Adam Elmakias](https://www.adamelmakias.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_9597-Edit-770x1110.jpg)
![Backstage Portrait - Matt Best of Tonight Alive](https://www.adamelmakias.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_9626-Edit-770x1134.jpg)
![Backstage Portrait - Jenna McDougall of Tonight Alive by Adam Elmakias](https://www.adamelmakias.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/IMG_9553-Edit-Edit-770x1155.jpg)
![Backstage Portrait - Jenna McDougall of Tonight Alive by Adam Elmakias](https://www.adamelmakias.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/IMG_9554-Edit-Edit-770x1155.jpg)