How to dramatically change your studio lighting with a gridded stripbox
How to dramatically change your studio lighting with a gridded stripbox
I have posted before about one of my most favorite light modifiers in the studio - a gridded Profoto 1’x6’ strip-box (B&H / Amazon). It is a surprisingly adaptable light source in how you can swivel it and tilt it and rotate it. This tall stripbox gives a soft light, but highly directional. Once you realize you don't have to use stripboxes in a strict vertical position, a lot of options open up. For example: Using a gridded stripbox as the main light (model: Claudia) Profoto: Read more inside...On-camera bounce flash for beautiful portrait light
On-camera bounce flash for beautiful portrait light
Here are several portraits of a model, Koko, taken during a workshop in my studio last week. She was phenomenal with her posing. Just on all the time. I will post her IG account lower down. The lighting -- notice how soft and even it is, but with a gradual contrast to the one side of her face. No hard flash shadow. Just big, soft, directional light in the studio. All achieved with on-camera bounce flash. Just the one light. No Fong Dong! No MagMod boob! No Rogue Flash bender! Seriously calm down with that unnecessary stuff. You Read more inside...Colorful, dramatic portraits in the studio with continuous / LED lights
Colorful, dramatic portraits in the studio with continuous / LED lights
It was a thrill to work with the band Uncured on their promotional photos. They are focused! I expect them to break out and be huge. During this photo session we mostly worked with the usual Profoto flashes I have in the studio. The brief was to create dramatic photos of the band. I used gridded stripboxes which were gelled. This gave the desired effect. (I will post some of the images in a follow-up post here.) But for one sequence of photos (of which three images are shown here), I changed it up with some Read more inside...Headshot Photography : adapting the lighting setup
Headshot Photography : adapting the lighting setup
With headshot photography in the studio, there are several setups such that consistently give great, repeatable results. One such lighting setup is Clamshell Lighting, for example. The results are always solid. Just looks great. In this link with articles on headshot photography, you can read up about some of these lighting setups. While I alway enjoy working with clients to give them outstanding headshots and business portraits, it is an extra bit of fun when I meet a client who wants something extra. Something a little different Read more inside...Short lighting with on-camera bounce flash
Short lighting with on-camera bounce flash
In the recent article — The simplicity of on-camera bounce flash — the flash was used as fill light to "clean up" the light and give a sparkle to the eyes. In that scenario, as fill-flash the flash didn't really add directional light or shape the light on our subject. Where on-camera bounce flash is our only / main light source, then we can get creative with the direction of light and shape an interesting, dynamic light pattern on our subject. We can even create short lighting for our portraits created with only on-camera bounce flash. To Read more inside...Most versatile flashes – the Profoto B10 series
Most versatile flashes - the Profoto B10 series
With a headshot / business portrait photo session in Manhattan with Yana, we spent most of the time outside, using the New York cityscape as an out of focus background. But then we also had access the library / lounge area of the apartment complex Yana lives in. The outdoor session was mostly the ambient light outside, with some fill-flash from an off-camera flash. The B10 was more than powerful enough to work with the existing light like that. Profoto B10X flash (B&H / Amazon) Profoto OCF Beauty Dish Read more inside...Window light portrait
Window light portrait ... with a twist.
This sequence of photos is from a photo session in my studio with a model, Eryn. I have this one canvas backdrop where I prefer the back of the backdrop, which looks distressed, rather than the proper painted front of the backdrop. I like it this way because it looks unusual compared to the front. I wanted to photograph Eryn against this canvas backdrop ... and I wanted to use window light. As I opened up the window blinds, the indirect light spilling in was also punctuated by the sunlight glaring off the hood of my car, creating these patterns Read more inside...Studio portraits – different setups for different looks
Studio portraits - different setups for different looks
As a kind of “inaugural” photo session in my new studio space, I asked my photographer friend, @ClaytonReynolds, if he’d be willing come in to be photographed. I liked the way Clayton's confidence and natural charm comes through in these photos. We used 3 different setups for 3 different looks. From the simplest of setups -- just window-light, to a more complex setup using a spotlight with a gobo. There are two pull-back shots if you're curious about the lighting configuration. This photo above is a favorite way to quickly Read more inside...Clam-shell lighting for headshots and portraits
Clam-shell lighting for headshots and portraits
Clamshell lighting is one of the simplest lighting setups for headshots and portraits. Two lights are set up to light your subject from above and from below. Both are at approximately a 45 degree angle. This gives an even light on your subject, that somehow has a glowing effect. Easy to set up, and gives consistently good results. Here I used studio lighting, but obviously it is just as easy with speedlights. You must have seen similar clamshell style lighting setups, but with a reflector below instead. This 2nd light source from Read more inside...- 1
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