Behind the Lens: Capturing Editorial Beauty with Victoria McGrath

Behind the Lens: Capturing Editorial Beauty with Victoria McGrath

When I was asked to shoot a beauty portrait for an editorial feature of fashion influencer Victoria McGrath, I knew it needed to strike a careful balance between elegance, personality, and intimacy. Victoria’s style is both classic and editorial—confident yet softly romantic. The goal was to create a portrait that reflected her sensibility with refined simplicity.

Shooting on Location: A Personal Touch

Instead of a traditional studio, we shot on location at Victoria’s home—a setting that instantly added a layer of authenticity and comfort. While scouting her space for the right background, my eyes landed on a pink abstract paintinghanging in one of the rooms. It had a textured, painterly quality and a soft, feminine tone that felt perfectly in sync with her style. I knew immediately that it had to be part of the frame.

That painting became the backdrop for the hero image of the shoot—subtle, warm, and filled with texture. It added personality without overpowering the composition. It wasn’t just a pop of color; it was a piece of her world, anchoring the portrait in a way that felt natural and intentional.

The Light: Wrapping Softness with a 5ft Octobox

To sculpt the light around Victoria, I used a 5-foot Octobox positioned close to her—just outside the frame and angled slightly down. This is one of my go-to modifiers for beauty portraiture. Its large, rounded surface diffuses light beautifully, eliminating harsh shadows while preserving depth and structure.

Because I placed it so close—about 2 to 3 feet away—it gave a soft, wraparound quality that gently highlighted her cheekbones and smoothed the skin. It’s a flattering light that requires minimal retouching and allows natural features to shine through.

Underneath the Octobox, I added a white reflector just outside of the frame to lift any shadows under her chin and eyes. The result was a soft, luminous look that made her skin glow without sacrificing definition.

The Final Portrait

This image is the final result—a calm yet striking portrait that blends editorial polish with personal warmth.

Victoria is styled in a structured camel blouse with exaggerated cuffs, her hair in loose, clean waves, and makeup that enhances her features without taking center stage. The light is even and gentle, allowing her skin to retain texture and vibrance. Her expression—serene, assured, slightly playful—draws you in without demanding attention.

The pink backdrop doesn’t just complement her makeup tones; it reflects a softness that balances the structure in her styling and posture. Together with the lighting, it creates a portrait that feels editorial and elevated, yet undeniably personal.

Working with Victoria

Victoria is a dream to photograph—not just because of her experience in front of the camera, but because of her sensitivity to the nuances of a shot. She understands light, angle, and expression with an editorial mindset. She doesn’t just pose—she collaborates.

We discussed the mood beforehand and kept things minimal. I gave light cues and allowed her to move naturally. The result was a series of frames where her expression and posture felt effortless, but intentional—never stiff, never forced.

All processing was kept subtle—natural skin tone, minimal retouching, and gentle color grading that leaned into soft pinks and warm neutrals to match the painting.

Final Thoughts

This shoot reinforced one of the key lessons in beauty and editorial portraiture: great light and personal context will always beat complexity. A soft modifier, a close placement, and a compelling backdrop—in this case, a painting Victoria already had on her wall—made for a shoot that felt both polished and real.

In the end, it’s not just a portrait. It’s a collaboration between subject, space, and light—where every element complements the other.