Los Angeles-based editorial and advertising photographer Paula Watts turn to Profoto gear to create her spectacular images. Here she guides us through how she used the Profoto B10X and Profoto OCF Softbox 3' Octa for a jaw-dropping fall fashion shoot.
Meet Paula Watts
“Lighting is the most crucial part of photography,” says photographer Paula Watts, who was honored in 2022 with an American Photography Artists award for her work in beauty and fashion. “In her work she uses light to imbue drama and tell a story to her viewers. For this reason, lighting is always her first priority, including for this fall fashion shoot in a Calabasas, CA, field.
Lighting the way
I'm always chasing light in outdoor photo shoots, assessing if I want the subject to be backlit, harshly lit, or in open shade. I ask myself what the story is. Do we want deep shadows to tell the viewer something or do we want it light and airy?
Soft and natural
I had a very short amount of time to capture four looks on the model for this shoot, during which the sun was ever-changing. I didn’t want to compete with the natural light, but rather create a softness using the OCF Softbox 3' Octa for its range and versatility, and the Profoto B10X because of its portability. I could carry them all over the field, bouncing soft light in.
Following the sun
Outdoor settings are challenging because the sun is always moving. Once we were dealing with sunset, we had a lot of harsh light from the sun. We loved this, but we also wanted to open up the shadows in the field and on the model’s face. We relied on the Softbox Octa to bump in much-needed light as the environment went dim. We changed the setups as the sun moved. Sometimes you only have five minutes as the sun is setting. The B10X’s ease of use meant I was able to get in a multitude of shots in a small amount of time.
Setting the mood
Light helps create the artist's point of view in any setup. I love that you can experiment and find new ways to relay different feelings and moods. You can create beautiful light with one head and no modifier or five heads and every different kind of modifier. To see more of my work and learn about my other lighting setups, visit my Share The Light profile.
Photographer: Paula Watts @pwattsphoto
Model: Kendall Harris @kendallharris
HMU: Lindsey Williams @crazypretty
Stylist: Jaclyn Eve @jacalynevestyle
Retoucher: Julia Kuryliuk
