What if bounce flash isn’t strong enough?
What if bounce flash isn't strong enough?
Because I so often use on-camera bounce flash, one of the questions I'm regularly asked is, what if there is nothing to bounce your flash off? There is also the variant - what if there isn't enough light from the bounced flash? In both cases, the answer is the same - you improvise! Not only that, but you need to be prepared to improvise. The photograph above is from a recent Bat Mitzvah, showing the big group shot of the kids. If you've photographed Bar / Bat Mitzvahs before, you know this is coming up, and you have to be prepared for Read more inside...Studio lighting: Ringflash as a single light-source
Studio lighting: Ringflash as a single light-source
I have a confession to make about ring-flash, especially when it is used as a single light-source. I've never been a fan. I've never liked the stark over-lit look that it produces. Even in images that are supposed to be edgy and trendy. I've seen some incredible examples where the ringflash is part of a multi-light setup, with the ring-flash doing a just little bit of the work. But I haven't yet seen an image where the ring-flash was the only light source (or dominant light source), where the photo has set my world Read more inside...Lingerie photo session in the studio
Lingerie photo session in the studio
During this same photo session with Olena - the first in my new photography studio space - we also worked with just the studio flashes. Actually, this part of the photo session was first. An easy setup just to get things rolling. We used two lights here - the main light was a Profoto D1 head in the massive Westcott 7' Parabolic Umbrella (B&H / Amazon). It's an easy light modifier to use, since it gives a wrap-around light that is very forgiving. Forgiving to how the photographer places the light, and also forgiving to the Read more inside...Lingerie photo session: Video light & Studio flash
Lingerie photo session: Video light & Studio flash
Olena is a wonderful model that I love working with because of her natural instinct for posing. So for a test shoot in my new studio space, she was an easy choice. (Here is Olena's model mayhem portfolio.) We shot several outfits, using different lighting setups. This one is interesting because of the simplicity of the setup - using a gridded Profoto RFi 1’×4? softbox (affiliate) to control the light, and a Lowel ID-Light (affiliate) as a back-light to give that warm glow to her hair. It really helped enhance Read more inside...Wedding photography: Positioning your flash for the formals
Wedding photography: Positioning the lighting for the groups & formals
In setting up the lighting for wedding formals in the church, the question often crops up - where do you place the lights. How far from your subjects do you place the lights. The photograph above shows how and where I place the flash with the umbrella - about 3 pews in, just behind me or to my left (or right). This is approximate though. Two pews in would be fine. Of course, if you're shooting the wedding formals elsewhere in a different location, just use the same idea. The closer you bring the light, Read more inside...Lighting a boudoir photo session
Lighting a boudoir photo session
"We want it to look Fashion-y and Retro. And a little glamorous." "But I don't want it to be like a bridal hairdo!" No wonder the hair-dresser was confused by these vague instructions from myself and the model, Carla. The hair-dresser really looked like she was under pressure, wondering if she'd be able to come up with something fabulous enough to be all of that. Fashion-y and Retro and Glamorous. Carla is a friend (and previous bride), and we've been trying to get it together for a photo session for a few years now. But life, work and Read more inside...Colored gels with flash photography
Colored gels with flash photography
I met Jessica Joy during a photo shoot-out in Las Vegas last year when a group of photographers and models met up. She was there as both a photographer and a model. We had discussed doing a proper photo session some time in the future ... and then Jessica got news that her husband will be stationed abroad in a few months from now. So we decided that *now* was the time to do this. With winter-time in New Jersey and New York just too cold to comfortably do a photo shoot outdoors, we settled on doing it as a studio shoot. I bought two sets of Read more inside...Studio photography – Lingerie photo shoot
Studio photography - Lingerie photo shoot
Aiming for a sensual mood somewhere between Lingerie, Fashion and Art, I tried various lighting setups in the studio to get to the feel and look that I envisioned. I've worked with Carly Erin on other personal photo shoots before, and knew her playful and bold personality would help a lot with this photo session. I ended up with a large light modifier for my main light - the Westcott 7' Parabolic Umbrella (B&H / Amazon). The advantage of using a large light source, is that your subject has more freedom to move - you Read more inside...Controlling bright daylight with direct off-camera flash
Controlling bright daylight with direct off-camera flash
Working with Molly K as our model during an personal photography workshop in New York, we put into action the thought-process when using flash in very bright light. There's a specific algorithm that gets us to optimal settings. But, as usual, there's more to a final image than just the numerical settings on the camera ... Read more inside...- « Previous Page
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