Okay, so yesterday I was messing around trying to recreate some of Annie Leibovitz’s vibe, specifically inspired by her portraits of Coco Gauff. It was a fun little project, and I figured I’d share how it went down.
First things first, I dug up a bunch of Coco Gauff pics shot by Leibovitz. I really wanted to get a feel for the lighting, the poses, and the overall mood. Leibovitz has this way of making her subjects look both powerful and vulnerable, and that’s what I was aiming for.
Next up, scouting locations. I didn’t have access to fancy tennis courts or anything, so I had to get creative. I ended up using a local park with some interesting backdrops – a brick wall, some greenery, and a sliver of a chain link fence. Nothing spectacular, but it had potential.
Now, for the gear. I’m no professional, so I just used what I had: my trusty DSLR, a 50mm lens (my go-to for portraits), and a reflector. Lighting was natural, so I had to time it right, shooting during the golden hour for that soft, warm light.
Finding a model was tricky! Couldn’t get Coco Gauff herself, haha. I reached out to a friend who plays tennis and has that athletic look and killer smile. I explained the Leibovitz inspiration and showed her the pics I was going for. She was totally game.
Shooting time! I started with the brick wall. Tried to mimic Leibovitz’s style of having the subject lean slightly, with a strong gaze. I played around with different angles and poses, coaching my friend to project confidence but also a hint of introspection. The reflector was key for bouncing light and filling in shadows.
Then, moved to the greenery. I wanted some action shots here, so I had my friend swing her racket a few times. I focused on capturing her movement and energy. Again, the lighting was crucial. Golden hour gave everything a magical touch.
The chain link fence turned out to be surprisingly cool. It added a bit of an edgy, urban vibe. I experimented with close-ups, focusing on her eyes and the texture of the fence.
After the shoot, it was all about editing. I used Lightroom to tweak the colors, contrast, and sharpness. I didn’t want to overdo it, aiming for a natural, timeless look. I also played with converting some of the shots to black and white, which gave them a classic feel.
Did I nail the Annie Leibovitz look? Probably not. But it was a really fun and challenging exercise. It really made me appreciate her skill and artistry. And hey, I got some cool portraits of my friend in the process!
- Learned a lot about using natural light
- Practiced posing and composition
- Discovered new ways to use simple locations
What I learned
Biggest takeaway: Leibovitz’s portraits are about more than just technical skill. They’re about capturing the essence of the person in front of the camera. That’s something I’ll keep in mind for future shoots.
