Sometimes less really is more. In this behind-the-scenes session for Adorama TV, photographer Samuel Bouret proves that with the right creative vision—and just a couple of lights—you can craft elegant, fine art editorial portraits that look straight out of a magazine.
The Concept and Styling
The inspiration for this shoot began with the styling. The sculptural gown, owned by model Jules, set the tone for the session: timeless, structured, and refined. Makeup artist Gloria completed the look with classic tones that complemented the gown’s minimal, artistic silhouette.
The Gear and Setup
Samuel shot with a Canon R5 paired with the RF 28–70mm f/2.0, a powerhouse lens known for its clarity and compression—ideal for editorial work that demands both precision and depth.
The challenge he set for himself was to keep the lighting setup simple: no more than two lights. His key was a Flashpoint Explore 600 Pro II paired with a large umbrella and diffusion, creating soft, directional light that sculpted the model’s features and emphasized the gown’s texture.
Making Light Work in a Low Ceiling Studio
Working in a studio with low ceilings presented an obstacle—limited height for achieving a wide, even spread of light while maintaining a clean background. After experimenting with placement and height, Samuel struck the perfect balance to evenly illuminate the Savage Universal Pure White backdrop without losing contrast on the model.
The Power of the V-Flat
To control shadow depth and maintain that fine art softness, Samuel introduced a V-Flat World V-Flat on the shadow side of the model. By bouncing an Xplor 400 Pro II into the white side of the V-Flat, he was able to reflect clean, diffused fill light back onto Jules’ face, perfecting the exposure and keeping detail in the highlights and midtones.
The Result
With everything in sync—styling, posing, and lighting—the images came to life. Samuel directed Jules through graceful, sculptural poses that mirrored the gown’s lines, capturing an elegant balance of drama and simplicity. Shooting at 1/200s, f/5, ISO 200, he achieved crisp, dimensional portraits that showcase how thoughtful lighting can elevate even the simplest setups.
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