Environmental Portraiture with Alex Wallace – Bowers Concrete

Discover the art of creating impactful environmental and commercial portraits in this comprehensive class with Alex Wallace. Learn how to adapt to changing conditions, harness the power of light, and use filters to elevate your images. Develop skills in composing shots with intentionality—balancing strong visual impact with practical considerations for branding, text placement, and multi-format adaptability.

Explore how to work effectively with subjects who are not professional models, helping them feel at ease and directing them to capture natural, authentic moments. Dive into on-location gear essentials, including camera and lens selection and what’s in the kit bag of a seasoned professional.

Uncover techniques such as using reflectors, incorporating layering, and adding creative depth by throwing elements out of focus. Beyond capturing the perfect hero shot, you’ll also learn how to create additional images that provide versatility and value for your clients.

This class equips you with the tools, techniques, and mindset to consistently deliver compelling portraits that meet and exceed client expectations as you join Alex on this real-world commercial shoot.

This class covers:

  • Adapting to Changing Conditions
  • Composing for Impact and Branding
  • Working with Subjects
  • Gear Essentials
  • Creative techniques for On-Location Portraiture

Comments

  1. It’s great to see the Alex Wallace work, I’ve been looking forward to it ever since it was discussed in the original Alex Wallace chat with Karl.

    For me the highlights are Alex’s ability to work with employees and staff who are not models – without an assistant – his use of camera angles, his use of occlusion and use of graduated filters. I was also struck by the portability of the speedlights and umbrellas, and his use of them as a back or rim light. I always thought that rim or back lighting needed careful use of gridded lights to prevent excess spill.

    I’d like a little more commentary if possible on the moments when Alex decided to use flash, what did he see in the room in the blind making factory that needed more light? And I kept expecting that Alex would turn to flash to fill in the faces during the concrete shoot, but not so.

    Thanks again for the effort needed to film ,edit and create a story. Are there going to be more pieces from Alex – there was a hint on instagram that there might be more environmental case studies?

    1. Hi Simon, I’m glad you enjoyed this and I’ll relay your comments to Alex. Yes I think there are about a dozen in this series with Alex in total and if they prove popular then we will schedule more filming with Alex. Cheers Karl.

Leave a Comment