Create Stunning Photos in One Room: Two Unique Shoots with Jeff Chang

This is a terrible idea. You take one couple, one apartment, and you try and create two different photo shoots. Same space, same people. Even the world outside the window stays the same. Personally, I wouldn’t touch this with a tripod. But imagine deciding this sounded fun and handing the challenge to Jeff Chang, which is fair because Jeff is exactly the kind of photographer who can walk into a cramped kitchen and turn it into a love story. So, while I stay safely out of it, Jeff’s going in. Let’s see if he can actually pull this off.

Introducing the Creative Challenge

We are the chefs in the creative kitchen and our couples are the raw ingredients. Our job isn’t to overimpose the look. It’s to highlight those flavors and make them come alive. And today we’ll prove it. One photographer, one couple, one space, completely different recipes. We have a beautiful couple, Lisa and Basil, and we’re going to get started right now.

Today we’re doing the two different shoots, one here. We’re going to also use the dining room space and then we’ll also use the living room space for a little bit later on. Most of the time we’ll probably be more focused on the two of you. A little bit less modelly and a little bit more just like you guys are just having fun with each other. Start by making each other a cup of coffee and we’ll just see how that goes.

Now, personally, I just have my couples pounding tequila to break the ice. But Jeff, cup of tea, anyone? How polite? So, I would say the main thing is trying to find ways of framing them, but using this as a way to create an interesting composition. Oh, that’s awesome. The lighting is good. Their body language is perfect. Kind of give them the space to have a moment with each other. Yeah. Just get really like cute and cuddly with them.

Capturing Intimacy

This is the biggest challenge I’ve ever had. Take photos and explain everything at the same time. Can you guys both cheat towards the window? Can I just like get cozy again? Yeah, that’s it. Here, I can show you a couple of shots here. Just shooting through the little plant right over here. Sweet intimate moment.

Oh, yes. The ancient photographer technique lurking in the bushes. Jeff, thought you were a nice boy. The kitchen is a super enclosed space. We’re going to lean into it by using the foreground and the different things around to make it feel intimate.

Vasel, sit up here. This leg up over here. Are we playing Twister? And then you can sit in in the middle. Squeeze in tight. That’s perfect. I set them up in a way that maybe they don’t normally, but I want them to feel as comfortable as possible so that they can get into those little moments with each other in a way that still looks good for the photos.

Shifting the Vibe

Jeff actually pulls it off, though. I mean, the cuddling. Calm down, you filthy animals. Changing the vibe ever so slightly. You’re hanging out in the kitchen, drinking your coffee, and you’re kind of like, yeah, something like that. Sensing the vibe, mixing it up, encouraging your couples to be a little bit ridiculous. That’s where the good photography lives.

Maybe you can put your hand like on the window. Maybe. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Love that. Direction is everything here. These frames need movement. See, the trick isn’t posing people. It’s directing them until the moment feels real.

Sit down like together here. Just looking at each other, you two. Nice and close. Like almost nose to nose. Yeah, that’s perfect. Maybe you don’t sit on the ground and drink coffee in the morning together, but it evokes a feeling, a memory. In photography, we try to create these little spaces where you can have those moments and it brings you back to that moment. The key thing is a couple will remember how you made them feel as much as you’re capturing them on camera. Always remember that.

Moving to the Dining Area

Channel your inner Jeff Chang. All right, guys. Let’s move over here. I’ve got some ideas by the dining table. We’ve got this big table and these huge windows. It’s kind of asking for a little bit of an editorial vibe.

We’re going to make sure that it’s intimate and it’s still sweet and about the couple, but it’s going to have a little bit more attitude, let’s call it. Lisa will look towards me, but Basil, you can look anywhere you want. So, what I love about this is the textures. That’s all we need to add a little bit of vibe.

See, most people will just see a kitchen, but we see light bouncing off metal, reflections in cabinets, and shadows. Cutting the kitchen in half. These little things that everybody else ignores is literally our job. Adding a little motion is really nice. So, we’re going to do that by slowing the image down.

Lisa, you’re going to look at the camera or looking off. And Vasel, we’re going to get you to walk in the background. So, it’s like still about you two, but it’s going to add a little bit of playfulness to it. Okay. Can we do one where Lisa, you’re like flipping through the magazine and Bowser, you’re going to be walking in the background. I’ve asked Lisa to be still. So, she’s going to be the one that is sharp and in focus. Anything else that’s moving in the frame will be a little blurry, and that’s going to give that impression of movement and flow.

Nice. Usually, this kind of idea ends up looking like a Pinterest board gone wrong, but Jeff’s actually directing the moment instead of trying to force it. So yeah, this works and I hate that it works.

Transitioning to a Bold Vibe

Come over to the window and maybe he’s getting really snuggly with you and uh Lisa, you just look over towards me. Yeah, maybe you can put your hand on his face. So, we are done with vibe number one.

Now, we’re going to change things up a little bit. We’re going to change up their outfit. We’re going to change up the part of the studio that we’re using, but same photographer, same lighting, and we’ll see what happens. So, there’s nothing revolutionary here. Just simple ideas executed very well, solid direction, and a very cooperative couple.

Now, here’s the real test. Same couple, same room. Let’s see if Jeff can change the vibe. The kitchen was all about soft lighting, intimate moments, and now moving into more of an evening vibe. We’re going to introduce flash. That’s going to give it a completely different look even though it’s the same space.

We want to see their energy levels come up a little bit from before and that’s going to really make Flash feel natural. Lisa, you can like just jump on the on the couch. You’re just having fun. You are definitely a little drunk. Okay. So, it’s just like you’re like, “Woo, I just feel really good.” Jumping on the couch, playing the drunk friend, just setting the tone.

Embracing the Energy

See, photographers love to pretend that they’re just observers when really half of the job is being the most energetic idiot in the room. That’s awesome, you guys. Oh, I like that. Yeah. Put your head right into his shoulders and just relaxing into them and looking at each other.

Let’s get you guys both standing. Oh, yeah. Yeah, that’s good. I like these ones ’cause they’re just like these fun direct flash which kind of feel like they were taken on a 35 with a built-in flash. Trend alert. Direct flash. Normally I hate it, but this vibe just really works.

I’m not using flash to be trendy. I know that flash looks good right now and it’s something that is desired by our clients. So, I want to use it, but I want to use it in my own way. I’m actually going to borrow my wife for a quick second. Shot straight down and then hold it um vertically. Yeah, like that.

To use flash in this way has to be very intentional. You have to be wanting the vibe and the feel that it gives. Okay, you guys just looking right here. Keeping playful. You’re just playing looking at the magazine. These two are killing it. Made easy by Jeff’s direction.

I think the hat is pumping ideas directly into Jeff’s brain. What is under that hat?

Concluding the Shoot

Lisa, come up closer. Looking towards Basil and then looking off at the light again, both of you. Yeah. And can you hold your glass up a little higher? Looking off. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Cat Chang, ladies and gentlemen. I’m thinking you can get like really loungey. Yeah. And then he’s going to lounge this way towards you.

The background is pretty dark and so I’m going to increase my ISO just to bring up the ambient light a little bit. Try going for a kiss. But watch closely now because something else is happening here. He isn’t just being nice to the couple. He’s actually running a full art director control panel in his brain.

So on one hand, he’s wearing the customer service hat. Five-star service. But at the same time, the artist hat is fully activated because while he’s being delightful and charming, what Jeff’s actually doing is he’s clocking the scene like a hawk. Background’s a bit dark. Not a problem. Bump the ISO. Add the flash. Shape the light. Build the shot.

Thanks you guys. High fives. High fives. Okay, so we just wrapped up our shoot here. We did two different looks in one location with one couple, one photographer.

Ultimately, I think it’s going to be the editing that really ties it together that makes it look consistent and have a similar look and feel. Imagine it’s going to really keep us on track. It’s really easy as creatives to go and swing wide in either direction. But since it already knows the style of editing that I prefer and the look and feel I’m going for, it’s going to keep me on track and make my images look really beautiful and consistent.

If you like the way our photos were edited today, you can actually try our Imagine profile. It’s called the apartment edit and you can find it on the Imagine profile shop. Fun fact, this video was actually color graded by Imagine Video. How cool is that?

One couple, one location, two completely different photo shoots. Light and airy and full flash chaos. Different couples need different photography. Some want documentary, some want vogue, and some just want chaotic party flash at midnight. So, your job, read the room. Don’t forget to subscribe and follow us on the YouTube channel. And obviously, go and buy a hat.