Ahri production stories!

Hello my Sweethearts!
I took small break from post production in order to write this post. As was promised I'm going to share with few production stories. Since almost all my time belongs to Ahri works these days, it is a bit challanging to find proper amount of time for posts and replies. But I'm doing my best! )

Today I'll share on what was the basis of our current Main photoshoot and a little bit on what equipment we used on set.

About basis. At first, we had certain idea revolving around neon geometric figures and reflective materials. Later concept changed to only reflective materials as backround (mirrors, foils, plastic mirrorerd plates etc). More later we put down the idea of shiny and reflective background and decided to use "even" background, but use reflected light as Fill light. ( It is the light source that is secondary to the main light. It is used to “fill” in the shadows).
In the end and last itteration we came back to neon geometric figures, use "even" background (for that we found studio with cyclorama) and try reflected light as somehow Ambient light source on set (not very true, but very close).
Not all parts of the concept took thier practical part on set, but most of them. )

Geometric figures were made from wooden rails, hot glue, harnesses and neon ligth wire. Neon lights are actually really great quality, so if you'll want to buy for yourself, write me and I'll share the link to the shop from Aliexpress. You can see on pictures how we made them. Only later we remembered about " angle iron" (I really don't know how to translate it, in russian it is just "ugolok" or angle).
They served well, but during transportation some break apart. In the end, all we needed is just shape and light source. )

As I wrote, we found photostudio with white cyclorama or infinity cyclorama, which when lit up creates even background. In our case it might be white, but we had different plans. )
As you know, sometimes, when you don't have enough light and light sources in your possesition, but must shoot, you can use ceiling as reflector for your flash light. That way you'll havesoft and even light all over the place. Since it works the same on cyclorama, we used different color backlight in order to acompany our neon figures and create soft magenta or blue light on model. For maximum stylization.

We had beautiful mirrored panel on set, which while bent and from different angles, can create beautiful light reflections on model and background. Hard thing: it is heavy and owners of the studio didn't have anything to attach it. We tried, but it wasn't helpful. So in the end we decided to use it as stylized floor. Still reflects )

As you know, Ahri project was devided in two parts. In the second part we used other "reflected" concept, but about that I'll tell in the future.

Some of you might wondering on what equipment we used on set. It is not much, but helpful combination of old Canon Mark ii, impulse flashlights, two Bitlighter flashlights and bunch of gel filters.
Recently, I bought new impulse Yongnuo flashlight and syncro-mesh. Last one is really useful, because you can change power of your light sources without interracting with them. Except changing their position and angle. Oh, and only Yongnuo flashlights, because Canon's doesn't work that way. At least they catch signal, haha )
Bitlighter flashlights were used to create ambient reflected light or as Fill light. In Ahri second part we used it mainly to lit details and emotions. 

Hope it was interesting to read at least a bit. I'm not that language creative, when it is about technical part of our work. That's why there will be a looot of "reflect and mirror", hahaha )

Hope you are doing great my Friend. Actually I wanted to ask your advices and thoughts. Recently I faced with veeery similiar to "fraud" situation on Gumroad. Person bought the photoshoot, but chargebacked the money. Hope it was misunderstanding, but not all of us are good people, and whole situation smells like "theft". Someone used stolen credit card and use it steal from me. It is funny how many problems April already gave. Anyway bad days happen and you should be ready for that )
I wanted to ask you: Do you know any other sales platform, where I could sell digitals with more protection? Gumroad handles all fraud and refund issues very poorely. Even their FAQ consist of very unhelpful information. It is fairly good and simple platform, but if you sale "18+" content you'll face with certain problems.
So, I was wondering, maybe there are other options.

Thank you for reading this long post. Thank you very much for your support and love. Please be healthy and stay happy no matter what. Next time, in order to make your day brighter, I'll share with "Spicy" shot from Ahri photoshoot )