Golden Hour Secrets for Perfect Beach Portraits (Behind the Scenes!)

Summary

In this episode of Money Shot Monday, Cash shares his journey from Hawaii to Texas and his passion for photography. He talks about working with model Carly on a beach shoot, the importance of wardrobe selection, and the technical aspects of shooting during golden hour. Cash discusses his equipment, including the Canon R6, and touches on his potential switch back to Nikon. He also emphasizes the importance of color grading in photography and offers his audience a chance to edit some of his RAW shots. Throughout the video, Cash highlights his efforts to stay consistent in content creation and engage with the photography community.

Takeaways

• 😀 Cash has recently transitioned from Aahu, Hawaii to Witchah Falls, Texas, and is eager to connect with photographers and models in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and beyond.
• 😀 He reflects fondly on his time in Hawaii, mentioning plans to return and reconnect with friends, emphasizing the high cost of living there.
• 😀 The shoot featured in the video involved a model named Carly, who wore a one-piece zipper surfer-style outfit, perfect for a beach shoot.
• 😀 Cash highlights the importance of choosing the right wardrobe for a shoot, specifically focusing on the contrast of black clothing against colorful backgrounds.
• 😀 He uses a Canon R6 with a 24-70 lens for his photography, and GoPro for behind-the-scenes footage, which offers a POV perspective.
• 😀 Color grading is emphasized as crucial to enhancing photos and videos, making a significant difference in the final result compared to raw footage.
• 😀 Cash talks about his journey with cameras, explaining his past experiences with Nikon and Canon gear and his thoughts on possibly switching back to Nikon.
• 😀 He advises against overshooting, suggesting that once a perfect shot is captured, it's best to move on and avoid taking multiple identical shots.
• 😀 The shoot also involved dealing with background distractions at the beach, which Cash tried to avoid by repositioning or editing the shots later.
• 😀 A challenge during the golden hour shoot was getting the right exposure, balancing the lighting between the model and the bright sky. Cash underexposed slightly to preserve dynamic range.
• 😀 After shooting, color grading became the key to tying the shoot together, with Cash leaning into warm golden tones from the sunset while keeping skin tones natural.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video presented in the script?

The main focus of the video is the host, Cash, sharing his experience transitioning from Aahu, Hawaii to Witchah Falls, Texas, and discussing a photoshoot with a model named Carly. He also talks about his journey in photography and equipment choices.

Why does Cash miss Hawaii, and how does it relate to his content?

Cash misses Hawaii due to its beautiful scenery and the lifestyle there, which he expresses in the video by showcasing footage from Hawaii. He mentions that he plans to return and connect with friends, highlighting how the environment has influenced his work.

What is Cash's approach to shooting photography in terms of wardrobe selection?

Cash emphasizes the importance of choosing the right wardrobe for a photoshoot. He talks about selecting a one-piece surfer-style outfit for Carly, which contrasted well with the colorful background, emphasizing both simplicity and sexiness.

How does Cash use his Canon R6 and GoPro in the shoot?

Cash uses the Canon R6 with a 24-70 lens to capture his main shots and a GoPro mounted on his camera’s hot shoe to record behind-the-scenes footage. The GoPro allows him to film from a first-person perspective while keeping the camera in landscape mode.

What is Cash's opinion on color grading in photography?

Cash considers color grading to be crucial in photography as it enhances the final image. He mentions the importance of adjusting colors in both photos and videos, as seen in his work where he emphasizes the warm golden tones from the sunset, while maintaining natural skin tones.

What is the issue Cash encounters when shooting during golden hour?

During golden hour, Cash faces the challenge of balancing exposure. If the exposure is set for the background, the model becomes too dark, and if set for the model, the sky’s details get blown out. He solves this by slightly underexposing the subject and adjusting the shadows in post-production.

How does Cash avoid overshooting during his photoshoots?

Cash tries to avoid overshooting by taking only the necessary shots. Once he gets the desired shot, he takes a couple of additional ones to ensure focus but moves on without capturing redundant images. This helps him avoid having too many similar photos to sift through.

What problem did Cash face during the shoot, and how did he handle it?

During the shoot, a visitor tried to sneak into the scene. Cash humorously addresses it by capturing the visitor on camera, letting them go once they realized there was no food involved. He also deals with the challenge of background distractions by moving around the scene to minimize interference.

Why is Cash considering switching back to Nikon for his photography gear?

Cash is considering switching back to Nikon due to his positive past experiences with Nikon cameras. Despite enjoying his Canon R6, he feels curious about the Nikon Z63, which he’s heard great things about regarding its video and photo quality. He’s seeking feedback from others who have used Nikon mirrorless cameras.

What does Cash offer to his viewers at the end of the video?

At the end of the video, Cash offers to share RAW files from the photoshoot for viewers to download and edit. He encourages his audience to play around with color grading and share their edited versions. He also reminds viewers to engage with the video by liking, subscribing, and sharing it.