Editorial and publicity stills with Rita Simons and the cast of Snow White

Editorial and publicity stills with Rita Simons and the cast of Snow White

Before it all kicks off later this year, I had the opportunity to shoot some quick editorial and publicity stills with Rita Simons and some of the cast of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs.
Rita (Roxy Mitchell in EastEnders) is joined by CBeebies star Phil Gallagher (Mister Maker), Ben Roddy and the Lloyd Hollett at the Marlowe Theatre, produced by Paul Hendy at Evolution. The Marlowe is one of the largest theatres in Kent and the annual pantomime is a popular long-standing fixture in the entertainment calendar averaging about 90,000 tickets.
Technical info: I had a fifteen minute slot in the auditorium with a quick picture of Rita before she changed into her costume. For speed and manoeuverability between the seats it was two small lights, maximum. For Ben (the dame) it was a bare backlight plus a softbox covered light from the direction of the stage. I managed to tweak this and reuse it for the picture of Rita with the skull but with the light zoomed in on her face. Both Phil and Lloyd were “sandwich” lit (lights coming at them from each side) bit with their faces towards one side of the other to make one of the lights a key light.
Lighting for editorial and pr photography tends to be very quick with little scope for setting up elaborate lighting. One light is usually enough if you have some background or ambient to play with too but for very dark spaces – such as the Marlowe Theatre – a second light is useful in creating some separation.