• G I Z E L L A
    • APPLE TV+ // Fountain of Youth
    • West End // Hannah Dodd & Rob Madge // Cabaret Key Art
    • Broadway // Billy Porter & Marisha Wallace // Cabaret Key Art
    • Broadway // Orville Peck & Eva Nobelzada // Cabaret Key Art
    • Broadway // &Juliet // Key Art
    • The Last Of Us // Entertainment Weekly COVER
    • David Dastmalchian // METANOIA
    • Aquaria, The Knocks & Dragonette // Revelation
    • Broadway // Adam Lambert x Auli'i Cravalho // Cabaret Key Art
    • ODDA Magazine // Charlotte Lawrence
    • APPLE TV+ // PALM ROYALE
    • APPLE TV+ // THE EMMYS 2024
    • SOFI TUKKER & The Knocks // One on One (Official Music Video)
    • Mikaela Hoover // GIZELLA
    • Donald Glover, HoYeon + More // GIZELLA's Lightbox // GQ
    • Alyssa Sutherland // NUMERO
    • Michelle Randolph // NUMERO
    • Peaches // Reserved Magazine COVER
    • Jack Harlow X Hayley Kiyoko // Teen Vogue COVER
    • The Boys // Entertainment Weekly COVER
    • Robert Pattinson // GQ COVER
    • Lil Nas X // GQ COVER
    • Dreamers // Music
    • Harley Quinn Smith // Schon Magazine
    • Bea Miller // LADYGUNN Magazine
    • Jesse Leigh // Schon Magazine
    • Salem Ilese // Notion Magazine
    • Ronen Rubinstein // FLAUNT Magazine
    • Kevin Quinn // Man of Metropolis COVER
    • Cristina Rodlo // LADYGUNN Magazine
    • Bea Miller // Notion Magazine
    • Czarface BIZARRO Promo // ft. Tom Segura and Christina P.
    • Superhumanoids // Music
  • MOTION
    • Revelation LP - Aquaria, Dragonette, The Knocks
    • Bea Miller's Cabinet
    • SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEOS
    • Bea Miller - elated EP
    • Avery Lynch
    • UTAH
    • OLYA // GIZELLA
    • NUMERO // SHEA
    • AfroStyle Magazine // NAKO
    • Être X Brittany Loar Art // Personal
    • BJ Panda Bear // Personal
    • Contributor Magazine // [Plas-Tik]
    • Quarantine Creativity // Personal
    • Le Corps Féminin // Personal
    • Polaroid Originals // Soin de Soi
    • BULLETT Magazine // Esthétique Époque
    • Fault Magazine // Mélancolie Structurelle
    • BULLETT Magazine // Système Nerveux
    • Beauty X Bre Welch // Personal
    • KALTBLUT Magazine // La Reine des Dieux
    • LAST DAZE // Made of Gold
    • Fashion Grunge // Anna
    • Character Study // Personal
    • Polaroid Originals // Untitled_01;Lia
    • Polaroid Originals // Louisa
    • Occhii Fall/Winter 25 — The Passage of Mirrors, Chapter II
    • Occhii Fall/Winter 25 — The Passage of Mirrors, Chapter I
    • P BY GUNNA // Gunna
    • boohooMAN // Toosii
    • boohooMAN // Jamaica
    • boohooMAN // NLE Choppa
    • boohooMAN // Lil Skies
    • Bruno Magli AW
    • Bruno Magli SS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • BLOG
  • SHOP
Menu

Gina Gizella Manning

  • G I Z E L L A
  • CELEBRITY
    • APPLE TV+ // Fountain of Youth
    • West End // Hannah Dodd & Rob Madge // Cabaret Key Art
    • Broadway // Billy Porter & Marisha Wallace // Cabaret Key Art
    • Broadway // Orville Peck & Eva Nobelzada // Cabaret Key Art
    • Broadway // &Juliet // Key Art
    • The Last Of Us // Entertainment Weekly COVER
    • David Dastmalchian // METANOIA
    • Aquaria, The Knocks & Dragonette // Revelation
    • Broadway // Adam Lambert x Auli'i Cravalho // Cabaret Key Art
    • ODDA Magazine // Charlotte Lawrence
    • APPLE TV+ // PALM ROYALE
    • APPLE TV+ // THE EMMYS 2024
    • SOFI TUKKER & The Knocks // One on One (Official Music Video)
    • Mikaela Hoover // GIZELLA
    • Donald Glover, HoYeon + More // GIZELLA's Lightbox // GQ
    • Alyssa Sutherland // NUMERO
    • Michelle Randolph // NUMERO
    • Peaches // Reserved Magazine COVER
    • Jack Harlow X Hayley Kiyoko // Teen Vogue COVER
    • The Boys // Entertainment Weekly COVER
    • Robert Pattinson // GQ COVER
    • Lil Nas X // GQ COVER
    • Dreamers // Music
    • Harley Quinn Smith // Schon Magazine
    • Bea Miller // LADYGUNN Magazine
    • Jesse Leigh // Schon Magazine
    • Salem Ilese // Notion Magazine
    • Ronen Rubinstein // FLAUNT Magazine
    • Kevin Quinn // Man of Metropolis COVER
    • Cristina Rodlo // LADYGUNN Magazine
    • Bea Miller // Notion Magazine
    • Czarface BIZARRO Promo // ft. Tom Segura and Christina P.
    • Superhumanoids // Music
  • MOTION
  • CREATIVE DIRECTION
    • Revelation LP - Aquaria, Dragonette, The Knocks
    • Bea Miller's Cabinet
    • SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEOS
    • Bea Miller - elated EP
    • Avery Lynch
  • FASHION EDITORIAL
    • UTAH
    • OLYA // GIZELLA
    • NUMERO // SHEA
    • AfroStyle Magazine // NAKO
    • Être X Brittany Loar Art // Personal
    • BJ Panda Bear // Personal
    • Contributor Magazine // [Plas-Tik]
    • Quarantine Creativity // Personal
    • Le Corps Féminin // Personal
    • Polaroid Originals // Soin de Soi
    • BULLETT Magazine // Esthétique Époque
    • Fault Magazine // Mélancolie Structurelle
    • BULLETT Magazine // Système Nerveux
    • Beauty X Bre Welch // Personal
    • KALTBLUT Magazine // La Reine des Dieux
    • LAST DAZE // Made of Gold
    • Fashion Grunge // Anna
    • Character Study // Personal
    • Polaroid Originals // Untitled_01;Lia
    • Polaroid Originals // Louisa
  • FASHION CAMPAIGNS
    • Occhii Fall/Winter 25 — The Passage of Mirrors, Chapter II
    • Occhii Fall/Winter 25 — The Passage of Mirrors, Chapter I
    • P BY GUNNA // Gunna
    • boohooMAN // Toosii
    • boohooMAN // Jamaica
    • boohooMAN // NLE Choppa
    • boohooMAN // Lil Skies
    • Bruno Magli AW
    • Bruno Magli SS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • BLOG
  • SHOP
×
Looking gorgeous in a Firas Yousif original! 

Looking gorgeous in a Firas Yousif original! 

Shaping Your Photos With Lighting.

Gina Manning May 7, 2016

In this post I’m going to talk about how I used lighting in my last shoot! MOST OF ALL, I want to show just how much fun experimenting with light and its seemingly endless possibilities can be. You should start looking at lighting differently, if you in anyway find the thought of lighting your own photos scary or overwhelming – do read on.

Check out the BTS video of the shoot I'll be talking about and breaking down in this article!

An inside look at "La Madame Du Moment" the latest high concept editorial by NYC fashion photographer Gina Manning. Video shot by: Amanda Macchia Edited by: Gina Manning Music: Superhumanoids - "Anxious in Venice"

The first thing you should know about me is how much of a fan girl I am of beautiful lighting. There’s something about emotional lighting, colorful lighting; lighting that really defines how you create and how you relate to the viewer. I love lighting that can take control and shape the shoot. Lighting that defines the moment and is casted as the last character in the play the photographer is directing. In a technical sense, I don’t care if the lighting makes sense in the real world because this is my world I am creating and I rarely find myself following what’s “real” anyways. As long as you are creating lighting that is unique to the way you view things, then I’d probably approve.

"With a story and mood that transitioned as the spread progressed, I wanted to make sure the lighting would stay consistent in some way to tie it all together."

When I’m creating a story in my head -- I’m always focused on how to light it. I’m constantly inspired by colors and often times, a lack of light. On my last shoot “La Madame Du Moment”, I went into it with a specific scheme in mind. La Madame Du Moment (LMDM) follows the life of Lee Francis, the reigning Madame of the Sunset Strip in the 30’s. She ran one of the most exclusive brothels, which was at any given time housing some of the biggest celebrities. She was celebrated for her sexual worldliness until the day she was arrested and left behind by all of her once admirers. I became infatuated with her story and had to take a stab at it. I knew with this in mind that I wanted the lighting to be sultry, dark, complex, and at times disorientating. With a story and mood that transitioned as the spread progressed, I wanted to make sure the lighting would stay consistent in some way to tie it all together. This was also key because our lovely stylist Jennifer Dunlea brought together an eclectic collection of gorgeous outfits that really moved us through the stages of Lee’s life.

Jennifer Dunlea really blew this shoot away with her styling work for both wardrobe and props! 

Jennifer Dunlea really blew this shoot away with her styling work for both wardrobe and props! 

"It was the kind of shoot where you went in with 110% optimism and confidence and then went home, straight to your pillow and let out a well-deserved scream of both joy and terror that you got through the day without a hitch."

So, we were given two days to shoot in a glorious restaurant in the heart of Downtown Boston. We had 6 hours each day from the moment we stepped foot in the restaurant to the moment we had to be packed up and out the door again. All this and I had convinced our crew we could get through 3 full hair/make-up, wardrobe, lighting and location changes each day with at least two final shot set-up’s per location. If you’re in the business you know how ambitious that is – even for a full crew of people. But we did it and I couldn’t be happier with what we created. It was the kind of shoot where you went in with 110% optimism and confidence and then went home, straight to your pillow and let out a well-deserved scream of both joy and terror that you got through the day without a hitch.

Gorgeous muse Kayley France & I have a special kind of love. 

Gorgeous muse Kayley France & I have a special kind of love. 

I knew we were going to be working hard and fast, with little time to experiment once we finished prepping each shot on set. With that in mind we had to be prepared -- my right hand man, assistant, fellow photographer, puller-together of all things, Ian Spencer and I spent weeks testing, making modifiers and talking out logistics. I decided to go full strobes over constant lighting right off the bat, I wanted to make sure we were loaded with all the proper gear and lighting modifiers needed to tackle the day. Using battery-powered external flashes would give me more room and ease to move the lighting rigs around for each shot. It would also give me more power from the lights, and more control for the wide shots where I’d have less space to sculpt in each location.

"I can appreciate any gear that is affordable, reliable and easy to assemble on the go. Those things will really shine through when you are shooting on location or in a time crunch! I am often in the midst of both of those situations, so I would know. I’m a big fan of LumoPro's soft box and beauty dish modifiers and used them heavily on this shoot!"

I brought a bunch of gear in my kit to achieve the highly sculpted lighting on this shoot. I was stocked with Nikon SB 910 and LumoPro LP180 external flashes, and Alien Bee strobes. I filtered them all through LumoPro modifiers, if you haven’t heard of them yet – look them up. I can appreciate any gear that is affordable, reliable and easy to assemble on the go. Those things will really shine through when you are shooting on location or in a time crunch! I am often in the midst of both of those situations, so I would know. I’m a big fan of LumoPro's soft box and beauty dish modifiers and used them heavily on this shoot!

Gaffer (and all around good guy Jarvis) and Ian (who prefers to go by Gene Parmesan) adjusting lighting.

Gaffer (and all around good guy Jarvis) and Ian (who prefers to go by Gene Parmesan) adjusting lighting.

I worked closely with my favorite gaffer Jarvis (who you all know by now) to get the lighting setups all planned out before getting on set. Ian and I made sure to visit the location beforehand so I could create an outline of the spaces we were going to shoot. Fellow photographer Mike Pecci and I sat down for a night and developed a detailed shot list with the projected location of the lights. This gives your crew an idea of the room and how the day is ideally going to go. As a general rule, sending your crew as much prep information as you can in the weeks leading up to the shoot allots you the most amount of time to focus on your shots come set day. Having everyone walk in confident with how their day is going to look allows the set to be a lot more fun and artistic with less stress, and those are the shoots I like to be on.

"As a general rule, sending your crew as much prep information as you can in the weeks leading up to the shoot allots you the most amount of time to focus on your shots come set day." 

Dianna Quagenti bringing the 20's and 30's to life! 

Dianna Quagenti bringing the 20's and 30's to life! 

For LMDM in particular, it was definitely better to go in with a game plan. I wanted to know exactly how to light each set up in the shortest amount of time. I used a handful of cookies to shape light into it’s own monster to create that look I could count on throughout the shoot. Cookies are basically molds to send your light through -- like a pasta maker (light being the dough). Instead of having a direct light onto your subject, shining it through a board with cut out shapes allowed me to create a mood that looked more interrupted. Cookies helped make the lighting more dynamic. Likewise, using modifiers allowed me to diffuse the light for a soft and more flattering look. Often times Beauty dishes, Softboxes and Octabanks are ideal for fashion photography. I preferred using those partially because I was working with an amazing hair artist, Donna Hamilton and Make-up artist, Dianna Quagenti and wanted to make sure the model Kayley France (one of my favorites) was lit well!

See the cookies we made in action!

See the cookies we made in action!

"Teach yourself what looks “right” and what looks “wrong” to you, that way you’ll figure out whatever it is you like about light first."

For those of you who say you “don’t know how to use lighting”… the best way to get into it is to dive in headfirst. Have fun and experiment as soon as you can get your hands on anything that exudes light – desk lamps work too! Teach yourself what looks “right” and what looks “wrong” to you, that way you’ll figure out whatever it is you like about light first. Try not to be overwhelmed by it in the beginning because you have nothing to lose! The gear isn’t exactly easy to pick up without any previous knowledge – but we live in the age of the Internet where you can learn pretty much anything you want to if you are driven! You have to mess up a whole bunch. Lighting is one of those things where once you begin to get it – you can never go back to seeing it the way you used to. It’s like joining a secret club you never knew existed. 

Keep an eye out for the full set release in Volt Magazine soon!

Also you can check out all the BTS action brought to you by the lovely Amanda Macchia in the photo gallery below!

DSC_5018.jpg DSC_5009.jpg DSC_4991.jpg DSC_4980.jpg DSC_4958.jpg DSC_4951.jpg DSC_4938.jpg DSC_4934.jpg DSC_4930.jpg DSC_4908.jpg DSC_4901.jpg DSC_4891.jpg DSC_4867.jpg DSC_4860.jpg DSC_4846.jpg DSC_4815.jpg DSC_4781.jpg DSC_4732.jpg DSC_4708.jpg DSC_4671.jpg DSC_4651.jpg DSC_4606.jpg DSC_4567.jpg DSC_4560.jpg DSC_4519.jpg DSC_4495.jpg DSC_4489.jpg DSC_4485.jpg DSC_4481.jpg DSC_4461.jpg DSC_4443.jpg DSC_4434.jpg DSC_4426.jpg DSC_4401.jpg DSC_4391.jpg DSC_4389.jpg DSC_4372.jpg DSC_4369.jpg DSC_4357.jpg DSC_4350.jpg DSC_4335.jpg DSC_4324.jpg DSC_4316.jpg DSC_4311.jpg DSC_4300.jpg DSC_4290.jpg DSC_4263.jpg DSC_4228.jpg DSC_4220.jpg DSC_4218.jpg DSC_4210.jpg DSC_4195.jpg DSC_4181.jpg DSC_4167.jpg DSC_4142.jpg DSC_4131.jpg DSC_4123.jpg DSC_4119.jpg DSC_4117.jpg DSC_4108.jpg DSC_4069.jpg DSC_4064.jpg DSC_4062.jpg DSC_4036.jpg DSC_4026.jpg DSC_4012.jpg DSC_4000.jpg DSC_3982.jpg DSC_3969.jpg DSC_3965.jpg DSC_3960.jpg DSC_3958.jpg

 

Tags LumoPro, Alien Bee, Nikon, Fashion Photography, Hair Stylist, Colorful Photography, Stylist, DIY Photography, Kayley France, Vintage, Boston Fashion, Woman Photographer, How To Shoot, Photography How To, Photo Gear, Photo Inspiration, Photography To Do, Sultry, Make-up Artist, Gina Manning, Gina Manning Photography, Firas Yousif, Model, Maggie Inc., Jennifer Dunlea, Amanda Macchia, Karina Bresnahan, Lee Francis, Sunset Strip, La Madame Du Moment, Donna Hamilton, Dianna Quagenti, Anthony Jarvis
← Imagining Bruno Magli's Cinematic Fall 2019 Fashion Campaign #BEDSESSIONS; Why It Works. →

THE BLOGGY

Sorry, not sorry about the hyperlinks.


Gina's articles have been featured on:

fs-logo.png
image-asset.png
image-asset.jpeg
png.png

Search Posts

Post Archive
  • 2014
  • 2015
  • 2016
  • 2019

INSTAGRAM

Dream State; 
Photo: @gina_gizella 
Production: @_gzlla_ 
Collab with @leatherandlaceartistry 
Model: @blakefordyce
Lighting/assistant camera: @ktdonlon
Sneak from a soooooon to finallllly be released editorial!
Photography @gina_gizella 
HMUA @aypruhl 
Talent @cnakobest 
Production @_gzlla_ 
Besties helping with everythangggggg @whatsername3 @ianicholaspencer
🍦 for @contributormagazine. Fashion by @wardrobebyredbird, fashion assistance by @wonderandwhatnots, makeup/hair by @hsartistry, set design by @sujamas, lighting by @mikepecci, production assistance by @ianspencerphotography, digital imaging technic
Production: @_gzlla_ Styling: @tayglo Hair/Makeup: @paularoderickvoisembert PA: @sydneysheehann Model: @thedarkceleryrises @wilhelminamodels
🦀 Jessica. Model: @jjmorrow @lamodels @ms_mza Hair/makeup: @christinadetroit @artistuntied Set design: @christinecelozzi Gaffing: @mikepecci Location: @exclusivestudios production @_gzlla_
@therealalyssas for @numero_netherlands 🥀
Photographer: @gina_gizella
Stylist: @janetdgomez
Make-up: @tobyfleischman
Hair: @haileyadickeshair
Production company: GIZELLA @_gzlla_
Producers: @joeypucino @alexafrisch
Lighting team: @travisprow @golanc
💨 💨 

@michellerandolph for @numero_netherlands 

Photographer/Director: @gina_gizella
Production Company: GIZELLA @_gzlla_
Producer: @ianicholaspencer
Lighting Director: @mikepecci
DIT: @dj_voltran
Assistant: @whatsername3
MUA: @alexandraafrench
H
Sneak from a soooooon to finallllly be released editorial!
Photography @gina_gizella 
HMUA @aypruhl 
Talent @cnakobest 
Production @_gzlla_ 
Besties helping with everythangggggg @whatsername3 @ianicholaspencer
@harleyquinnsmith x @_gzlla_ x @schonmagazine 

photography. @gina_gizella
fashion. @veronica.graye
talent. @harleyquinnsmith
hair + make up. @iamemilydawn
creative direction. @_gzlla_
film development. @thatonephotolab
lighting direction. @mikepecci

TWITTER

  • G I Z E L L A
    RT @prosciutella_: @ughBrett @gina_gizella Gina is smart
    Mar 17, 2023, 3:55 PM
  • G I Z E L L A
    RT @mercurialmica: i love the new mv @beamiller @gina_gizella “jealous of my friends” is really damn good, i love how expressive and a… https://t.co/Pc173JclAR
    Mar 17, 2023, 3:54 PM
  • G I Z E L L A
    RT @sophljill: JEALOUS OF MY FRIENDS OUT NOW bea miller🪳 https://t.co/XT6WFrFwRG https://t.co/3qpOLbxkqY
    Mar 17, 2023, 3:54 PM
  • G I Z E L L A
    RT @bitvargen: “jealous of my friends” new BANGER by @beamiller https://t.co/VVFfbvMoKW 💅🏻🖤🍀😵‍💫 https://t.co/Q8HU7ydRRV
    Mar 17, 2023, 3:54 PM

Featured Posts

Featured
Imagining Bruno Magli's Cinematic Fall 2019 Fashion Campaign
Aug 17, 2019
Imagining Bruno Magli's Cinematic Fall 2019 Fashion Campaign
Aug 17, 2019

Imagining Bruno Magli's Cinematic Fall 2019 Fashion Campaign with Photographer Gina Manning.

Read More →
Aug 17, 2019
Shaping Your Photos With Lighting.
May 7, 2016
Shaping Your Photos With Lighting.
May 7, 2016

"It was the kind of shoot where you went in with 110% optimism and confidence and then went home, straight to your pillow and let out a well-deserved scream of both joy and terror that you got through the day without a hitch."

Read More →
May 7, 2016
#BEDSESSIONS; Why It Works.
Jan 12, 2016
#BEDSESSIONS; Why It Works.
Jan 12, 2016

"Don’t let anyone tell you it’s best to do it alone, the more creativity you can fill a room with – the better."

Read More →
Jan 12, 2016
Shooting With The Superhumanoids.
Jan 1, 2016
Shooting With The Superhumanoids.
Jan 1, 2016

"If you ask me what the best album of 2015 is, I’d have no hesitation answering with the Superhumanoids’ new album; “Do You Feel OK?”. It’s as if someone took exactly what I liked about music right now and made me a CD. As modest as they are about it when you ask them, it’s an incredible album and if you haven’t given it a listen yet – do yourself a favor, Jabroni. When we found out we’d be in the same place at the same time on their most recent tour, I had to shoot something with them!"

Read More →
Jan 1, 2016