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Photography · MS elective · 3 credit hours · 16 sessions

Remote Photography and Virtual Shoots

Born from necessity during global lockdowns, “Remote Photography” is now a viable industry standard. This course teaches photographers how to direct and shoot subjects located thousands of miles away. Students will master apps like Closer or ShutterQ, learn to “location scout” via video call, and direct the subject to act as their own lighting assistant (“Voice-Activated Gaffer”).

§ 01 By the end you can
  1. Master Remote Capture Apps (Clos, ShutterQ, FaceTime Live)
  2. Direct subjects effectively through a screen (Posing & Energy)
  3. "Scout" locations virtually using the subject's mobile camera
  4. Instruct subjects on lighting placement using available household sources
  5. Edit low-resolution or screen-captured assets to look professional
§ 02 Sixteen sessions

The whole semester.

  1. 01The Rise of Remote: History & Application
  2. 02Technology Stack: Apps & Connectivity
  3. 03The Virtual Scout: Assessing a Subject's Space
  4. 04Connection: Building Rapport over Zoom
  5. 05Directing the "Selfie" Arm vs. Tripod
  6. 06Technical Constraints: Resolution & Bandwidth
  7. 07The "Voice-Activated Gaffer": Instructing Light
  8. 08 · MidtermMidterm Examination
  9. 09Lighting Remote: Using Window Light
  10. 10Lighting Remote: The "Lamp" & "Sheet" Hack
  11. 11Composition: Framing via Proxy
  12. 12Props & Styling: Using what the subject owns
  13. 13Editing Screen Captures vs. App Files
  14. 14The "FaceTime" Aesthetic as Style
  15. 15Marketing Remote Services Globally
  16. 16Final Project: The International Remote Portrait

Midterm around session 8. Final project briefed at session 8 or 9 and developed in stages until the juries.

§ 03 Final project

Final Project: The International Remote Portrait

How it’s judged

Recommended reading
  1. The Remote Photographer's Guide (Online Resources/Whitepapers)
  2. Picture Perfect Posing (Crucial for verbal direction) by Roberto Valenzuela
  3. Directing the Story by Francis Glebas
  4. Light, Science and Magic (Principles apply regardless of location)
  5. Distance Photography (Emerging Articles)
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