Today’s feature is a fashion and wedding photographer from Italy. Not only has he provided some great information but he has also go that one step further to provide a lighting diagram for one of his shots. What are you thoughts, leave a comment below.
Francesco Pillan
Tell us a little about yourself?
I live and work in Italy. I was born in Treviso (near 30 km of Venice) where I currently live. I have studied Software Engineer at University of Padova and I am employed by the bigger Software House in Italy. The photography is the new skill for me. I love all categories of photography, I do fashion, wedding shooting and sport photography I also do e-commerce and commercial web site.
What made you get into photography?
My passion for the photography. I’m self-taught but I’ve listened to the advices of my photographer friends.
How did you get started?
When I was about 8 then I started taking pictures using the Praktica and Nikon camera of my father… 
Really…over the past two years I’ve started taking small steps to achieve professional photo services.
What sort of photography do you mainly do?
Fashion and Wedding photography.
What gear are you using?
I use only reflex and lenses Canon. I have 5D Mk II and 7D body.
Now i have 24-105 f/4 IS, 70-200 f/2.8 IS, 50 f/1.4 USM, 85 f/1.8 lenses.
On the session outdoor i use three 580 EX II with pocket wizard trigger.
On session study i use four Elinchrom flash with softbox, beauty dish and ring flash.
Whats your favourite lens and why?
50mm f/1.4 it’s wonderfull. It’s my favourite lens because I love its sharpness and bokeh.
With this lens I have learned to take pictures perhaps for this reason I love it.
How are you marketing yourself?
In order to promote me I use :
- Facebook (www.facebook.com/francesco.pillan)
- Google+ (https://plus.google.com/116859801152467249815)
- Twitter (http://twitter.com/PJFranzPhoto)
- Other website
Whats your favourite photo you have taken?
What post processing tools do you use?
I use and correct my photos with Adobe Lightroom 3 on my MAC. I don’t like the retouched images with Photoshop,
i correct only the very visible defects with clone stamp.
How did you shoot and edit this photo?
I start with RAW file and after extract Jpeg file with ADOBE Lightroom.
Example of my outdoor photo :
I take this photo on S.Marco Place (Venice) with my Canon 1D Mk III with 70-200 f/2.8 IS USM at f/4.5 1/500 sec.
After i have add more saturation and vignette with Lightroom.
Example of my studio photo :
I take this photo on my photo studio ( f/9 1/125 sec).
Camera : 5D Mk II
Lens : EF 50mm F/1.4
Flash : 1 flash Elinchrom RX 600 with Octabox 90cm
Schema :
Advice for new photographers looking to go pro?
The new photographers must follow their passion because the commitment will be rewarded with time.
Visit Francesco Pillan – twitter, google+ and facebook
I love the way he does only the minimal touch up to the photo which allows the "real beauty" of the subject to come out