I opened an office on the bad side of town and investigated the dark stylings of classic film noir. Double-crosses, deep-rooted cynicism, tangled plots and flashbacks are all classic traits of American crime melodrama from the 1940s and ‘50s. However, it’s the unflattering camera angles, deep shadows and dramatic lighting that differentiate film noir from just another detective story.
Bringing this aesthetic to your portraits is easier than you think and can be achieved without the best photography lighting kits. In fact, you can operate without any specialist lighting equipment at all. The first stage is setting up the subject, whether that’s with vintage clothing or not. There’s a range of expressions that can be brought to the table, from the cynical detective to the manipulative or terrified client who has a secret agenda. So, depending on which character from this melodrama you’re photographing, it should determine how they look or appear.
