Come behind the scenes with Sage Studio
Sage Studio has had the amazing opportunity to work with some great brands both in and out of our studio in North London. With the opportunity to go to some beautiful locations around the UK and in London we’ve captured some truly amazing images, come behind the scenes with us and see how we captured these stunning images.
From model location shoots to product photography, we’ve been building relationships over the past few years with brands and want to share our work with you.
Botany Bay
May in Botany Bay, England is cold, windy and wet but you would never know looking at the amazing images we captured. Botany Bay has stunning white cliffs and beautiful chalk stacks, with plenty of exposed sand when the tide is out to walk around and explore. We had the opportunity to capture some truly amazing images here.
Gear
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Nikon D800 camera (x2, always bring a spare!)
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Nikon 24-20mm lens
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Wireless strobe lights, diffusers and reflectors
For lighting, with the UK, you never know what you’re going to get. In the morning, we need to use our lights, (Anja tried not to fly away when we attached our umbrella!) Also, within our bags we had a light reflector and scrim panel.
With all our shoots we want the client to be able to view the images as we photograph but on a beach with high winds and sand everywhere we left the laptop inside and only loaded the images during breaks back at the tent.
6ixteen Country Home
Kent has many beautiful locations and homes to photograph in and ‘6ixteen Country House’ is just one of them. Model photography on locations can be one of the best shoots to really show off new collections for brands.
Once again, our client picked the location and crew, we didn’t get a chance to take a look at the location beforehand so we brought as much equipment as we could with us.
Location
6ixteen Country House is a purpose designed location house located just over an hour and a half away from our studio in North London. The house was built by an interior photographer which really comes out in each room. With the look for the shoot more ‘Mother of the bride’ we chose to shoot in the more minimal rooms. Outside has 17 acres of beautiful grounds, unfortunately for us the weather had other ideas when we tried to go out.
Gear
Within our equipment list included two cameras, both Nikon D800 and three lenses, two 24-70mm and one 50mm, and multiple lights and diffusers. For lighting, we knew we wanted to create natural looking shadows and use the natural light as much as possible but within the UK, you never know what you’re going to get (and it rained most of the day). As there was a videographer on set with us we partnered up with them to use continuous lighting only, some coming through the windows to magnify the natural light and others to fill in the shadows.
With all our location model shoots we want our clients to be able to view the images as we photograph which is why we shoot tethered to a laptop.
Mile End House
Model location shoots come with a lot of planning, at Sage Studio we can take all the stress off your shoulders and plan it for you or meet you wherever you want to go.
For this shoot the client planned everything, the location, model, MUA and number of outfits. We’re always happy to adapt to our clients' needs! Our goal was to capture some stunning images for their new womenswear items, from full length, details and horizontals for web banners. Look at just some of the amazing images we captured and have a read about the equipment we used and how the day was planned.
Location
For this shoot we had a lovely purpose built house in Mile End to photograph in. The owner of the property is also a photographer and wanted the space to be used by others. With all shoots that the client selects the location we ask for images and the direction the house is facing (so we know which rooms will have sunlight and when) that way we can see the space and plan the shoot for our lighting and equipment needs. As there is a great outdoor space that was created to look like the bottom of a pool, we crossed our fingers the weather would be good. Also, with the lovely floor to ceiling windows on the main level we wanted all the sunlight possible.
Gear
Nikon D800 camera x 2 (always bring a backup!)
Nikon 24-70 mm Lens
Nikon 50mm lens
Wireless strobe lights, diffusers, reflectors and stands
This time with very little natural light on the bottom floor and the tight space we made sure all our battery powered lights were fully charged and had multiple space saving diffusers to help us.
With all our model location shoots we want our clients to be able to view the images as we photograph which is why we shoot tethered to a laptop.
Blame Gloria
Model photography on locations can be one of the best shoots to really show off new collections for brands. They take a lot of planning which we’re more than happy to help with or to follow along with all your plans.
For this shoot we went along with the client to scout the location and make sure it was a great location to photograph in. Also, by seeing the images of the bar we needed to be there beforehand to plan areas to shoot and what lights to use as there was no way to use natural light underground!
Location
Blame Gloria is a lovely cocktail and wine bar in the centre of Covent Garden that has a great party underground vibe. It was an amazing location to photograph this new party female wear collection. With this location it came with some interesting difficulties as the space is tight, has a low ceiling and loads of different coloured lights.
Gear
As with all our location shoots our equipment list included two cameras, both Nikon D800 and three lenses, two 24-70mm and one 50mm, and multiple lights and diffusers. This time with no natural light and the tight space we made sure all our battery powered lights were fully charged!
With all our location model shoots we want our clients to be able to view the images as we photograph which is why we shoot tethered to a laptop.
Brighton
Model location photography shoots are one of the best ways to show off the lifestyle your brand is trying to get out there. For this shoot our client picked the amazing iconic location to showcase new outdoor wear as well as their new night out line.
Location
With Brighton a little too far from London to leave the morning of the shoot we decided to travel down the day before and stay in a hotel. With Brighton as the location there are many lovely hotels on the boardwalk and the client chose Mercure hotel to start. In the afternoon we went out on the beach and pier.
Gear
In our mound of equipment there were two cameras, both Nikon D800 and three lenses, two 24-70mm and one 50mm. For the day we switched between the 24-70mm and 50mm depending on the location and how much space we had. For lighting, with the UK, you never know what you’re going to get so we brought our Godox flash head with multiply accessories/ diffusers and trigger, so we didn’t have to keep it on camera as well as our portable Godox lights that offer a little more of a punch and we can use different attachments. Also, within our bags we had a light reflector and scrim panel.
With all our shoots we want the client to be able to view the images as we photograph but on a boardwalk with high winds and rain, we left the laptop inside and only loaded the images during breaks back at the hotel.
Camber Sands
Location model photography takes a lot of planning and at Sage Studio we can help you plan the shoot or stand back and follow your lead.
For this shoot we went along with the clients planning. Even with the best planning the weather can always change things. While at the location the wind and overcast sky made us change locations more than we thought.
Location
Camber sands and the town of Rye in East Sussex is a beautiful location for classic looking women’s wear. With 3 miles of beautiful sand dunes and the town of cobbled stone lanes and mediaeval, half-timbered house it offers some great backdrops to photograph in front of.
Gear
Nikon D800 camera (x2, always bring a spare!)
Nikon 24-70mm lens
Nikon 50mm lens
Light reflector and flash gun
For the day we switched between the 24-70mm and 50mm depending on the location and how much space we had in town. For lighting, we made use of the natural light, with the weather being overcast we didn’t need to worry about high contrast between sun and shadow.
With all our shoots we want the client to be able to view the images as we photograph but on a beach with high winds and rain, we left the laptop inside and only loaded the images during breaks back at the BNB.
River Grounds Manor
Model photography on locations can be one of the best shoots to really show off new collections for brands. They take a lot of planning which we’re more than happy to help with or to follow along with all your plans.
Location
River Grounds Manor is an amazing brick country house near Richmond, London. It was a lovely location to photograph this new women’s wear collection. With this location although beautiful and certainly elegant bones it came with some interesting difficulties with out-there décor, tight spaces and off limit areas.
Gear
As with all our location shoots our equipment list included two cameras, both Nikon D800 and three lenses, two 24-70mm and one 50mm, and multiple lights and diffusers. For this location we saw that even though there are some amazing floor to ceiling windows that bring in natural light the middle space is very dark. We needed to balance the light with our portable continuous lights.
With all our location model shoots we want our clients to be able to view the images as we photograph which is why we shoot tethered to a laptop.
