How to crush your FaceTime Photoshoots
Lazy reader? Then check out my YouTube Video about FaceTime Photoshoots!
In this article I want to show you how FaceTime photoshoots work, and teach you how you can create photos like these by only using FaceTime.
So you probably have seen the trend going on on Instagram, that many photographers due to the coronavirus outbreak are not able to have photoshoots, but this got them really inventive. What some togs then tried and successfully did, like Tim Dunk or Alessio Albi for example, are FaceTime photoshoots.
What this is, is that the model and the photographer are together on a video call, and the photographer is directing the model on where to put the phone, the angle and on posing, to finally take the photos by taking screenshots or triggering live photos through his computer or phone in case of FaceTime Calls.
But this isn’t really as straightforward as it may sound, there are a lot of things to consider before jumping into it.
First of all, as you can tell, the quality is still decent even though it is a technically only a screen capture, but theres some things to consider before: So in this blog, I would like to give you a few tips to assure the quality of your FaceTime photoshoots is the best possible!
Alright here we go…
Apple is the Best for this
The best scenario is when you are on your laptop and your model is using her iPhone. Call one each other through FaceTime.
2. Activate Live Photo for enhanced quality and live photos
Settings > FaceTime > Live Photo
Taking Live Photos also enables you to create GIF’s and in general just make sharper photos because the phone captures a few frames and then selects the best out of them.
3. Activate Upload to iCloud
Settings > Photo > Upload to iCloud
This will enable the photographer to get the photos he takes straight to his ‘Photos’ Application!
4. Use the back camera
The back camera has a much much better quality than the front camera. Everyone obviously will intuitively use the front camera to be able to see him or herself, but in this case you have to direct the model on positioning of the phone and her or his expression.
5. Use a Tripod
Using a tripod will make your life much easier. If your model has a tripod or a Gorillapod it will make your life much easier because you can simply put the phone pretty much anywhere you want. If you have a selfie stick laying around, you can detach the top of of where you usually squeeze in your phone and screw that thing onto a tripod or a Gorillapod.
If you don’t have a tripod though, simply tape the phone onto things, windows or anything else. That way I was able to achieve this particular shot
Other alternatives are just leaning it onto different objects in your house, chairs or even put the phone inside of a glass. get creative.
6. Use the photo button (FaceTime only) or Screenshot your Screen
When taking the photo, make sure to use the photo button that is in the bottom right of your computer screen when you’re in a call on FaceTime.
Another option is that you simply take screenshots of what you see while being on the call, but this only applies to people who are not on iPhone or Macbook.
Screenshots on Apple computers can be taken with Shift + command + 3 or Shift + Command + 4 depending on whether you want to capture the entire screen or select a certain area.
7. Look for for the light
Phone cameras are very bad in lowlight, so you will absolutely have to rely on the natural light in the space of your model, or any artificial light that might be there (lamps, screens, …).
If you’re into stuff like this: Try out using different materials or anything else you could use to shape the natural light coming in through windows to make the image more interesting just like I used the window curtains here:
the next one is probably the most important…
8. BE PATIENT
Does this need any explanation? — Haha. Just like for regular shoots, but even more for FaceTime Shoots, you will need A LOT of patience to explain how you want your model to position the phone, at what angle it should be tilted, what should be in the frame and out of frame, and just all of the things we normally can control as photographers. All the small little details you normally automatically do, like placing yourself in front of something to get some interesting out-of-blur texture in the foreground, or even simply kneeling down to get a lower angle, everything you would do, the model now has to do. And surprise! You are the one who has to explain everything haha! So get yourself a coffee, take some time, and get patient!
