Environmental Editorial & Corporate Portraits

Taking corporate and editorial portraits on location using environmental backgrounds outside, is a fun challenge integrating the subject, environment and light can be problematic if the ambient light is not quite right, e.g. harsh sunlight, deep shadows etc. The images below were taken on location in London, Surrey, Sussex and Kent. The photographs combine both natural light and strobe light or just some reflector fill. Using just ambient light requires some thought to subject and background placement, having the background integrate well while making sure the subject is lit well, requires a good recce of the available locations choosing the most appropriate lens and time of day if possible. Tackling ambient light with additional strobe lights can make things easier although often this can look unnatural or obviously lit by flash. I prefer to keep the portrait looking as natural as possible so that the strobe light complements the ambient sun light or other ambient light. For corporate portraits I believe this is the best approach.