Header photo: Out of the Dark by photographer PinPoint with model katelilley taken at Fareham Studio and post-processing by Retoucher Cam

PinPoint is a hobbyist photographer based in Southampton, United Kingdom, with more than 5 years of experience.  

After sharing his shoot (at Fareham Studio with model katelilley) with the PurplePort community, PinPoint generously gave us his time for a quick interview, where he shared how these beautiful images were created, the inspirations behind the shoot, how it was planned, the camera gear he used, and much more.

My favourite shirt. by photographer PinPoint with model katelilley taken at Fareham Studio and post-processing by Retoucher Cam

You by photographer PinPoint with model katelilley taken at Fareham Studio

SHARE A SHOOT with photographer PinPoint

How did you come up with the concept? Did anything inspire you?

I only joined PurplePort in December 2023, with a hobbyist background in general and wildlife photography but absolutely no experience of portraiture, other than the usual family snaps.

I was looking for a new challenge with my photography and wanted to push the boundaries of my knowledge and experience in a new direction. I had never worked with a model before and had never set foot in a studio, let alone understand lighting techniques. So I was happy that the challenge was big enough and immediately recognised the need for some expert tuition!

Goosebumps by photographer PinPoint with model katelilley taken at Fareham Studio

In my initial search for local models and studios, I discovered Sinopa Rin and Fareham Studio. Rin’s experience as a model, photographer and then co-owner of the Studio seemed like a perfect solution and I hastily messaged Rin to see if she could help me with an introduction to studio shooting and lighting.

Rin was incredibly helpful, and we quickly set a date for the session. Rin agreed to recruit a model for the session, and by good fortune, that turned out to be Kate Lilley, another model whose profile I had seen and identified as someone I would like to work with.

Everything fell into place and I was the first client to work in the studio under Rin’s sole ownership.

That Look. by photographer PinPoint with model katelilley taken at Fareham Studio and post-processing by Retoucher Cam

Something by photographer PinPoint with model katelilley taken at Fareham Studio

What did you do to plan the shoot?

As this was to be my first experience of shooting in a studio, Rin and I discussed the various aspects that she would cover in the tuition session and invited me to consider the style of images I was looking to shoot.

I put together my first ‘shoot plan’ comprising a collection of images from Kate’s portfolio, along with some other images from Pinterest and shared that with Rin. That was just about the extent of my planning for the shoot, apart from buying and speed-reading several books on studio lighting in a desperate attempt to have some idea of what it was all about!

Behold by photographer PinPoint with model katelilley taken at Fareham Studio

Light in the Dark by photographer PinPoint with model katelilley taken at Fareham Studio and post-processing by Retoucher Cam

The Look by photographer PinPoint with model katelilley taken at Fareham Studio 

How did you arrange the shoot?

All the arrangements for the shoot were made with Rin through PurplePort; it was a seamless process made all the more easy by Rin’s efficiency, clarity and timeliness with messaging.

I see you by photographer PinPoint with model katelilley taken at Fareham Studio

Out of the Dark by photographer PinPoint with model katelilley taken at Fareham Studio and post-processing by Retoucher Cam

What was it like shooting at that location?

I must confess to having some degree of trepidation as I sat outside the studio waiting for ‘zero hour’, not knowing what to expect and hoping that I wouldn’t inadvertently make a fool of myself in some dreadful way. I needn’t have worried; Rin was friendly and welcoming and gave me a tour of the studio before Kate arrived.

I was amazed at the amount of lighting kit and equipment, but Rin was quick to reassure me that we would be ‘keeping it simple’, which was music to my ears! It was lovely to meet Kate, and she, too, was friendly and very easy to get along with.

Rin’s tuition was excellent as she first explained and then demonstrated a set-up and then gave time for me to shoot and experiment as Kate freely posed. We worked through four different lighting set-ups and the time flew by, interspersed with frequent cups of tea!

Needless to say, I was hugely impressed not only with the practical facilities of the studio but also with Rin’s excellent tuition.

Kate Mono 2 by photographer PinPoint with model katelilley taken at Fareham Studio

Kate Mono by photographer PinPoint with model katelilley taken at Fareham Studio

Tell us about the gear you used.

I had very recently acquired a used Nikon D850 body, along with the Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 lens, which I used throughout the shoot (I also took just about all the other lenses I own ‘just in case’, but they all stayed in the bag).

I have been hugely impressed with the quality of both the camera and the lens and love its’ versatility, however, it is a heavyweight combination!

Atonement Two by photographer PinPoint with model katelilley taken at Fareham Studio and post-processing by Retoucher Cam

Mono 5 by photographer PinPoint with model katelilley taken at Fareham Studio and post-processing by Retoucher Cam

What's your favourite image from the shoot?

I have to say that, for my first ever studio shoot, I was amazed with all the images, except those where I hadn’t paid sufficient attention to the composition; the best way to learn, I guess. But I recognise it would have been a very different outcome without Rin’s expertise with the lighting and, of course, Kate’s wonderful modelling ability.

I am torn between two images in particular. I love Attonement Three (see below), not least with Retoucher Cam’s excellent fine-tuning of the image and the fact that it was listed for a FPI, but sadly didn’t make the final cut.

Atonement Three by photographer PinPoint with model katelilley taken at Fareham Studio and post-processing by Retoucher Cam

But I also really like Show Me (see below), which I edited myself; another new skill I am (very) slowly getting to grips with. I really like the simplicity of the image and for me, the way it highlights Kate’s natural beauty.

Show Me by photographer PinPoint with model katelilley taken at Fareham Studio

Thank you, PinPoint, for sharing your creativity, experience and images with us. We loved learning all about your photoshoot with model katelilley at Fareham Studio!

We hope you all loved it, too. Don't forget to check out the links below to see more of PinPoint's work!

Here's where you can find more of PinPoint's work

PurplePort: PinPoint 

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