I’ve been following former Sports Illustrated / HBO photographer Anthony Nestes’ transition from sports and entertainment to fashion and glamour photography. He has a unique way of adding simple elements to a scene to help bring the image to life. I took a day trip to Anthony’s home in Flagler Beach, Florida, and spent the day asking him questions that resulted in this article – “Five tips on photographing a model in a hotel room.” Shooting this type of location has its challenges; but with Anthony’s basic tips, you can achieve some very different and interesting images.
Tip 1. Do Your Research
Scout the hotels in the area you plan on shooting in. Look for a style of architecture and decor of the rooms that will complement your subject. Pay attention to how the sun affects the light in the room – at sunrise, during the day and at sunset. Try to book a room on the south side or the side where the best natural light will come into the room for the time of day you plan on shooting.
Tip 2. Bring Some Small Easy to Carry Props
A sheer white shower curtain – works great on a bed or draped over the model. Scarfs, sunglasses or cool-looking jewelry take up very little room in your bag. I had a pair of Olympic swim goggles in my bag for six months until I gave them to Sammi to put on in the hotel shower.
Tip 3. Pack a Small Strobe (like Nikon SB) and a Shoot Through an Umbrella
Ambient light coming in through a window has always been a favorite, but sometimes you need to just fill in with a small amount of artificial light appearing to come in from another direction. After the daylight goes away, the strobe can be handy.
Tip 4. Don’t Forget the Practical Lighting in the Room
Think floor lamp, bedside lamps and ceiling lights. When I walk into a room, one of the first things I do is turn on all of the lights to see if there is something there I want to work with. Those lamps can make a nice background. It will make a warmer light, too, if you shoot with your camera set to daylight white balance.
Tip 5. Use the Furniture and Decor
Some hotels have upscale looks, others can have the look of a trashy roadside motel; it all works when you bring in the right element to complement the wardrobe and model. Whether you are shooting fashion, lingerie, or nude-art photography, it is still up to you to bring the viewer into the image and make it graphic and Interesting. Use chairs, tables, a headboard, curtains and the carpet. They all can have a look to make your image more interesting. Don’t forget the bathroom tiles and mirrors.
**Bonus Tips
Shoot with a fast lens, wide open. A favorite has always been the 70-200mm f/2.8. A fast 50 or 35 can work well, too. Stay away from variable-aperture lenses. These are good for outdoor and travel photos, but not ideal for this style. Don’t be afraid to go to a high ISO when shooting available light – 800 is the new 200; keeping your shutter speed at 1/200 sec and above will help keep out-of-focus frames to a minimum.
Have fun finding the right room and model for a great hotel room shoot!
For more information on Anthony visit his website.
*Feature image © 2015 Anthony Neste
Vanelli is a photographer, educator and author based in Florida. Currently he shoots for Inside Lacrosse Magazine, teaches workshops, and writes for Photofocus. Click here for a list of Vanelli’s articles.
https://www.facebook.com/mrvanelli
https://twitter.com/vanelli
This Post Sponsored by:
Perfectly Clear for Photoshop or Lightroom is all about saving you time so you can focus on doing what you love best. Get a free trial of the award winning plug-in here.
Lighting Survey. Take the chance to win an iPhone 6s or 6s Plus. Respond to a 5 minute survey regarding lighting equipment for photographers — http://bit.ly/lightingsurvey
Polarr photo editor: All the pro tools, in one place. Polarr brings the most advanced toolset right to your mobile. With curves, dehaze, denoise, custom filters, and more, Polarr makes it easy to edit online or offline. Get it free at https://www.polarr.co/
The HDR Learning Center. Check out new ways to use High Dynamic Range photography to make compelling images. Free tutorials and posts to get results. Produced in partnership with HDRsoft
Arizona Highways Photo Workshops. For more than 30 years, Arizona Highway Photo Workshops has been committed to helping photographers find inspiring destinations, quality education and spectacular images. Get more information (and enter our contest) at http://www.ahpw.org/FindIt/
lynda.com Learn photography anytime, anywhere, and at your own pace—from bite-sized tutorials to comprehensive courses. Try lynda.com free for 10 days by visiting lynda.com/Photofocus
Filed under: Boudoir, Photography, Portrait Tagged: Anthony Neste, Fine Art Photography, nude, Photographing in a hotel room, photography tips, Robert Vanelli, Vanelli 
