Strobe Lighting to Set the Mood: Beetlejuice-Inspired Shoot with Lindsay Adler

Halloween offers a prime opportunity for photographers to experiment with creative lighting techniques and elaborate costuming. This year, renowned fashion photographer Lindsay Adler took full advantage of the spooky season with her Beetlejuice-inspired shoot, bringing a modern twist to the iconic Lydia Deetz character. In her recent YouTube video, Adler demonstrates how she crafted a visually captivating fashion narrative that seamlessly blends classic film references with contemporary aesthetics.

Concept of the Shoot

Lindsay Adler’s shoot draws inspiration from the quirky wedding scene in Beetlejuice, but with a fresh, modern perspective. Rather than a direct recreation, Adler aimed to reinterpret Lydia Deetz’s look for today’s fashion scene. Collaborating with her fashion stylist, Adler ensured that the costuming paid homage to the film while incorporating updated elements to keep it both recognizable and relevant. Her vision was clear: recreate the essence of the iconic scene while infusing it with a new, stylish twist.

Background & Lighting

To evoke the film’s eerie atmosphere, Adler meticulously lit the background to mimic the movie’s saturated blue and green hues. This setup was essential to aligning the shoot’s mood with the original film’s aesthetic. By carefully selecting the colors and textures for the background, Adler created a visually immersive environment that complemented the costuming and makeup, enhancing the overall cinematic feel of the shoot.

Lindsay’s 5 Strobe Lighting Set Up

Adler’s lighting setup was as intricate as her conceptual planning. Using a Canon R5 with a Canon 50mm f/1.2 lens, she achieved a narrow depth of field, making the subject feel integrated into the scene. Here’s a breakdown of her five-strobe setup:

Light #1: Main Light

The main light was a Profoto Pro D3 paired with a Westcott Optical Spot. This optical snoot, equipped with a 150mm lens, provided a hard, defined beam of light down the side of the model’s face, creating a dramatic effect. The closed shutters of the optical spot ensured precision in light placement.

Light #2: Background Lighting

For the background, Adler used a 50mm lens with a gobo to project a window shape, enhancing realism. A blue gel was added to the optical snoot to simulate moonlight, achieving a more cinematic lighting effect.

Lights #3 & #4: Background and Rim Lighting

On camera left, a large umbrella with diffusion and a green gel acted as both background and rim lights. On camera right, a 1×4 strip soft box with a green gel served as a rim and hair light, adding depth and separation from the background.

Light #5: Final Detail

The final light was a beauty dish with a grid, set on low power. This light was crucial for bringing out the intricate details of the dress and providing the finishing touches to the overall lighting setup.

Tethering into CaptureOne

Adler’s process didn’t end with capturing the shot. Tethering into CaptureOne via a TetherPro USB-C 31 ft (9.4m) Cable and a TetherGuard LeverLock Plate allowed her to monitor and adjust her shots in real-time while keeping her camera port and tethered connection safe and secured during the shoot.

This setup provided immediate feedback, ensuring that each image was aligned with her creative vision.

CaptureOne Color Edits

In CaptureOne, Adler meticulously refined the colors to match her vision. The color editing process included several steps:

White Balance & Tint

Adjustments were made to cool down the image, giving the model’s skin a pale, deathly look while making the blues pop.

Contrast & Clarity

A slight increase in contrast and clarity was applied to enhance the overall image quality.

Color Editor & Balance Tool

Adler used the color editor to shift reds towards magenta, darken them, and balance the colors in the shadows, midtones, and highlights.

Exposure & Contrast Adjustments

Further creative adjustments to exposure and contrast were made to perfect the mood of the final image.

Copying Edits

Once satisfied, Adler applied these edits to all images captured during the tethered shoot, ensuring consistency throughout the series.

Lindsay Adler’s Beetlejuice-inspired fashion shoot is a testament to her creative prowess and technical expertise. By combining a modern reinterpretation of Lydia Deetz with intricate lighting and precise color grading, Adler successfully captured a series of striking images that pay homage to the beloved film while standing firmly in the present. Through meticulous planning, innovative lighting setups, and detailed post-production work, Adler has once again demonstrated her exceptional skill in the realm of fashion photography.

To learn more from Lindsay checkout her workshops and education courses at: learnwithlindsay.com

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