Exclusive Look: How I Photographed the Fresh Faces of Philanthropy Editorial for nFocus Magazine

PortraitsEventsEditorial
Written By Tausha Dickinson

I recently had the pleasure of photographing ten remarkable individuals for the June issue of nFocus, celebrating the Fresh Faces of Philanthropy in Nashville. Sinema was the perfect venue providing a classy environment that beautifully showcased these amazing philanthropists.


Join the team and I as I take you behind-the-scenes and share the photography setups for each portrait.

 
 
A smiling man in a navy blue suit with a black shirt and tie, sitting at a bar with vintage decor, including a vintage lamp and gold-accented wallpaper, at Sinema.

For the shot of Brandon, we utilized the downstairs bar at Sinema, which exudes a super cool vibe. I incorporated a vintage-looking lamp, the venue's unique wallpaper, a striking red velvet curtain, and gold accents, all of which complemented Brandon's blue outfit. We used a 46-inch umbrella as the main light, aiming for Rembrandt lighting from a slightly elevated angle. Additionally, we used an orange gel from the camera left to add a subtle touch of color to Brandon and enhance the background and bar reflection.

A woman in an elegant orange dress with feather details, standing on a staircase with gold railings and patterned wallpaper, at Sinema.
 
 

For the shot of Apphia, we utilized the stunning staircase, which features my favorite wallpaper and a gold winding handrail that creates an intriguing leading line towards Apphia. We used two lights for this setup: the main light was a 46-inch umbrella positioned to the camera left. Additionally, one of my assistants placed a 60-inch umbrella on a 9-foot stand downstairs to fill in the background and lightly illuminate Apphia from behind and fill in the shadows in background.

 
 
A woman in a green sequin dress with one shoulder, standing on a staircase with gold railings and mirrors in the background, at Sinema.

For the shot of Jill, I used a 46-inch umbrella as the main light to highlight her features. To illuminate the bar area downstairs, which would otherwise be very dark, we placed a 60-inch umbrella to cast light in that direction. In post-processing, I noticed that the gold mirrors behind her appeared overly green, so I had to desaturate them slightly to achieve a more natural look.

A man in a purple velvet jacket with a black bow tie, standing in a warmly lit room with bookshelves and a couch, at Sinema.
 
 

For the shot of Spencer, we aimed for a moody and cool aesthetic, utilizing a spot in Sinema with velvety fabrics and intriguing Art Deco decor. We used a small umbrella as the main light to focus on Spencer and a 60-inch umbrella in the background to prevent it from going completely black. Positioning the main light overhead added a dramatic touch to the image.

 
 
A woman in a silver metallic gown, standing between two vintage studio lights with a red velvet curtain backdrop, at Sinema.

Given the Old Hollywood theme for this shoot, we captured a particularly cool shot of Samantha against a reddish-orange velvet background. Our set stylist, Bruce Pittman, brought in two lights that added the perfect accent and enhanced the overall vibe and that metallic dress… PERFECTION! We used a single 46-inch umbrella positioned to the camera right for lighting, achieving a classic and dramatic look.

A man in a black suit with a gold-patterned jacket, leaning against a bar with a warm, red-toned background, at Sinema.
 
 

For the shot of Sean, the final result turned out differently than originally planned. I envisioned a cool shot of him standing against the bar, with the background wall's interesting texture enhanced by a gobo to create a unique lighting pattern. However, during setup, my assistant was in between placing the gobo, and I captured a shot with the bare bulb that revealed a cool spotlight effect on the background. I decided to go with that look instead. We used a single 46-inch umbrella for lighting, but it cast too much light on the front of the bar. To address this, I had an assistant hold up a reflector to flag off some of the excess light.

 
 
A man in a black suit with a white shirt and no tie, standing at the base of a staircase with gold railings and vintage decor, at Sinema.

For the shot of Ethan, we utilized the amazing staircase again, but in a different location to give the photos a distinct look and vibe. We lit this scene with two lights: the 46-inch umbrella as the main light, and the 60-inch umbrella to illuminate the background, highlighting the detailed wallpaper and the set styling Bruce Pittman arranged on the table. We aimed for a Great Gatsby vibe, which we all felt was perfectly captured in this setup.

A man in a white jacket with a black shirt and glasses, holding a drink and leaning against a purple velvet couch with a moody, dark background, at Sinema.
 
 

For this shot of Adam, which ended up being the cover, there was quite a lot going on in the image. We used our 46-inch umbrella as the main light and a 60-inch umbrella positioned in a room to the camera right to fill in the shadows behind the couch and illuminate the table. Despite these efforts, something still felt missing. To enhance the scene, I had one of my assistants place a light with orange gel in the room visible through the windows, adding an extra layer of interest. In post-production, I removed some distracting lighting above his head. The final image turned out beautifully.

 
 
A woman in a red gown, standing in a dressing room with lighted mirrors and makeup accessories on the counter, at Sinema.

I have to say I'm obsessed with Mary’s dress—kudos to the Wardrobe Department. This was one of the toughest photos to capture due to the room being filled with mirrors and being small. This made lighting a challenge as it would reflect in the mirrors, and I had to position myself carefully to avoid being seen in them. We used a 46-inch umbrella as the main light. However, it was still a bit too dark and shadowy on her, and getting my assistant closer would have made them visible in the mirrors. To solve this, I used an AD200 to bounce light off the bathroom stalls, filling in some of the shadows. It was a complex setup, but I'm really happy with how the shot turned out.

A woman in a light blue satin gown, standing with hands clasped in front of her in a room with vintage wallpaper and curtains, at Sinema.
 
 

This last photo of Tara was particularly fun to shoot. We utilized the beautiful backdrop wallpaper with a hint of gold in the background. I used a 60-inch umbrella as the main light, which illuminated her entire body while still maintaining a moody look with a slight Rembrandt effect. To make the velvety curtain stand out more, I placed a 46-inch umbrella to the camera left, filling in the curtain and adding a bit of side light on Tiara to give the image extra pop. I also added in another light behind the curtain and bounced that light to fill in the background area.

Wrapping up this series for the June issue of nFocus, celebrating Nashville's Fresh Faces of Philanthropy, was incredibly rewarding. Each Sinema location provided a unique backdrop, perfectly complementing these remarkable individuals. From dramatic lighting to the venue's stunning decor, we highlighted each philanthropist's essence. Capturing their dedication and passion was a privilege. If you want to learn more about these amazing philanthropists, read the June issue HERE. Thank you for joining me behind the scenes!

None of this would be possible without the AMAZING TEAM!!!

Editor: Janet Kurtz @musiccitytraveler

Art Director: Christie Passarello @passarello

Photographer: Tausha Dickinson @taushadickinson

Photographer Assistant: Anthony Romano @anthonyromanocreative , Phil Silverberg @phil_silverberg

Wardrobe Stylists: Emily Bache, Abigail Breslin (The Wanderlust Girls)

Hair and Makeup: Nichole Holloway-Smithson @hollowaysmithson, Danielle Rose | MHD Beauty @mhdbeauty

Set Stylist: Bruce Pittman @brucepittmaninc

Location: Sinema @sinemanashville

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please read my affiliate disclosure.

 
 
 
 

About The Author

My name's Tausha Dickinson and I'm a photographer specializing is headshots, fashion and commercial work. I live in Franklin, TN, just outside of Nashville, with my husband and my son!

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