In this exclusive video, I walk you through the behind-the-scenes process of creating the fourth NAHA photoshoot look, featuring Will. This session is another collaboration with the skilled barber Nieves Almaraz and the talented makeup artist Melissa Musseau, both celebrated for their contributions and expertise in the North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA).
For this setup, I utilized the same foundational lighting design as in the previous sessions with Kasan and Jack, but replaced the yellow gels from Jack’s look with Rosco CalColor #4690 Red gels. The change to red introduced a bold and dramatic split-complementary color harmony with the blue main light, producing a powerful visual contrast that highlighted Will’s features and Nieves’ precise hair work.
Lighting and Color Choices:
- Main Light: Elinchrom 17” silver beauty dish with a Rosco 132 Blue gel to maintain the saturated blue tone.
- Edge Lighting: Two 8.3” grid reflectors equipped with Rosco CalColor #4690 Red gels for striking red edge lights over each shoulder.
- Hair Light: An 8.3” grid reflector with the same Rosco CalColor #4690 Red gel placed overhead for defined separation.
- Backdrop Light: A standard reflector with a double CTB gel aimed at the Gravity backdrops to keep the background a consistent, intense blue.
Color Harmony:
For this look, I employed a split-complementary color scheme, pairing blue with red. This type of color harmony creates a vivid and eye-catching composition, offering more visual complexity than basic complementary pairs. The choice of these colors brought energy and focus to Will’s portrait, amplifying the impact of Nieves’ hairstyling. Through this project, I explored how variations of edge light colors—progressing from magenta with Kasan to yellow with Jack, and finally red for Will—can subtly yet effectively shift the viewer’s perception. I also tested a blue and green combination in a fifth look but ultimately chose to focus on the strongest images for the series.
Gear List:
- Main Light Modifier:
Elinchrom 17.3” 55 Degree Softlite Reflector, Silver
Adorama: https://howl.me/ck1d6cEoZM1
B&H: https://bhpho.to/3ul23Xm - Main Light Gel: Rosco 132 Blue Gel
Adorama: https://howl.link/21nlx0jmx4jjz - Edge Light Modifiers:
Elinchrom 8.3” Standard Reflector with 30 Degree Grid
Adorama: https://howl.me/ckXfvvRu20T
B&H: https://bhpho.to/4731i3t - Edge Gels: Rosco CalColor #4690 Red Filter, 3 Stop, 20×24” Sheet
https://howl.link/cmFXgL8TnSY - Backdrop Light: Standard reflector with a double CTB gel
Rosco #3220 Double Blue CTB Color Conversion Gel Filter, 20×24” Sheet
https://howl.link/cmFXogFjcpY - Backdrop:
Gravity Backdrops
Adorama: https://howl.me/cjCnJyinMHf
Gravity Backdrops: https://gravitybackdropsus.sjv.io/DK0Nmj
B&H: https://bhpho.to/3NEXi2p
