Capturing an F1 Motorsports Icon: Laura Winter
Photo by Esme Buxton
When an F1 presenter steps in front of your camera, you know it's going to be an exciting shoot. Laura Winter, a familiar face in Formula 1 broadcasting, recently visited my studio for a professional portrait session, and I wanted to share some insights into how we approached this dynamic project.
Planning The Perfect Shot
As a photographer, there's something special about working with someone who's usually on the other side of the camera. Laura spends her time interviewing F1's biggest stars and delivering compelling race coverage, so we needed to create images that would match her professional presence while capturing her natural warmth.
The brief was clear: create a versatile set of portraits that would work across multiple platforms, from broadcast media to social channels. But more than that, we needed to capture images that would resonate with both the high-end world of Formula 1 and Laura's engaging personal brand.
Photo by Esme Buxton
Studio Setup: The Best of Both Worlds
One of the most interesting aspects of this shoot was our decision to work with two distinct lighting setups. We started with natural light, taking advantage of the studio's large windows. There's something magical about natural light when it comes to creating editorial-style portraits – it brings a softness and authenticity that's hard to replicate.
But we didn't stop there. To ensure we had every base covered, we also set up a strobe system against our painted backdrop. This gave us the ability to create those crisp, corporate-style headshots that are essential for any broadcaster's portfolio. The deep green backdrop we chose added just enough texture to keep things interesting without becoming distracting.
The Session: Finding the Right Moments
Working with Laura was a photographer's dream. Her experience in front of the camera was evident, but what really made the difference was her ability to switch between professional and approachable looks effortlessly. We moved between our two lighting setups, exploring different angles and expressions, always keeping in mind how each shot might be used.
Our hair and makeup artist created a look that would translate well across all our lighting scenarios – natural enough for the daylight shots but polished enough to hold up under the strobes. It's these small details that make such a difference in the final images.
The Results: Versatility Meets Quality
The final selection of images perfectly encapsulates what we were aiming for. From formal headshots for broadcast media to more relaxed portraits for social media, each image serves a specific purpose while maintaining a consistent quality and feel. We delivered multiple crops of each selected shot, ensuring Laura had options for every platform – from Instagram's 4:5 ratio to LinkedIn's preferred formats.
Photo by Esme Buxton
Technical Notes
For those interested in the technical side, here's what we used:
Natural light setup: Positioned near large north-facing windows with strategic reflector placement for fill
Strobe setup: Main light with a large softbox for that perfect wrap-around light
A variety of focal lengths to provide different perspectives while maintaining flattering proportions
The Takeaway
This session reminded me why I love what I do. It's not just about taking pictures – it's about creating images that serve a purpose while capturing something genuine about the person in front of the lens. Seeing Laura use these images across her professional platforms, from F1 broadcasts to speaking engagements, has been incredibly rewarding.
The key to a successful portrait session like this isn't just in the technical setup or the equipment used – it's in understanding your subject's needs and creating an environment where their personality can shine through. When you get that right, everything else falls into place.
Whether you're photographing a sports presenter or a corporate executive, the principles remain the same: listen to their needs, plan your approach carefully, and be ready to adapt as the session unfolds.
