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Headshot photography : Dramatic B&W photos

September 16, 2022 Neil vN 2 Comments

Headshot photography : Dramatic B&W photos

I had an interesting headshot photo session in the studio this afternoon. The brief from the company was oddly specific about which #Profoto light modifiers need to be used, and the power settings and angles and position, etc. As it would happen, when they contacted me and sent over the brief, I was all, "Sure, I have all of that." Because, you know, I do. I'm always keen on reverse engineering photos anyway, to figure out the lighting -- but in this case they made it easy with the diagrams and notations. The company is  Read more inside...

Bounce flash photography with wooden ceilings

February 5, 2021 Neil vN 2 Comments

Bounce flash photography with wooden ceilings

When photographing wedding receptions, I would ideally like to get away with just one on-camera flash that I bounce off surfaces behind me. A venue with (close to) white ceilings and walls are just perfect. Super easy. Even with really high ceilings, I try to make it work. Here for example, I used a single bare on-camera flash to light up the entire place -- Wedding reception lighting with one flash. No diffuser cup or white bounce card. Bare flash with the Black Foamie Thing. But occasionally I reach the dead-end of a venue with black  Read more inside...

review: Profoto A10 flash

January 26, 2021 Neil vN Leave a Comment

review: Profoto A10 flash

The Profoto A10 flash (Amazon / B&H)is an update on the already impressive Profoto A1 flash - it is powerful, and it recycles fast - just 1 second from a full power burst. The controls on the A1, and now the A10 are easy to use. The same for the menu system - everything is obvious. With this video review of the Profoto A10 flash, we are going to look at some of that features -- but also the way that you can now control the Profoto A10 via an app on your phone, using the bluetooth connection. Another improvement that the A10 has over  Read more inside...

Studio portraits – different setups for different looks

January 8, 2021 Neil vN 2 Comments

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...

Off-camera flash with the Profoto A1, A1x, A10 flashes

November 23, 2020 Neil vN 3 Comments

Off-camera flash with the Profoto A1, A1x, A10 flashes

Profoto has a huge array of light modifiers which use their proprietary speed-ring and collar. The Profoto collar is especially easy to use in how the light modifiers fasten to the Profoto flashes. All fine .. except that until now, there was a big gap preventing you from using the Profoto A series flashes with those light modifiers. Profoto took the obvious next big step by adding the Profoto OCF adapter  (B&H / Amazon) into the mix. You can now use your Profoto A1 series flashes with any of those light  Read more inside...

Clam-shell lighting for headshots and portraits

October 29, 2020 Neil vN 1 Comment

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...

Using Profoto gear on photo shoots and events

June 20, 2020 Neil vN 3 Comments

Using Profoto gear on photo shoots and events

When I first started moving beyond just using a speedlight, towards off-camera flash and studio level lighting gear, I had a few detours via other brands like Quantum flashes and Lumadyne, but decided at some point to buy into the renowned Profoto brand. My first serious flash unit was the Profoto AcuteB 600R which I eventually upgraded to the Profoto B1 when that was released. From there on I stayed with Profoto via the Profoto B10 and Profoto A1 flash. If I had to make the decision all over again, having the money to spend again, I  Read more inside...

Feminine portraits with dramatic flair

March 9, 2020 Neil vN 2 Comments

Feminine portraits with dramatic flair

Still exploring what the Profoto Spot Small light modifier can do in creating dramatic studio portraits, I had Lauren sit in for some test shots. I was curious to see if I could use this hard light source in a way that still work for a feminine portrait and be flattering. The best option so far for me is to add supplemental light that softens the overall harder lighting or the spot light. By adjusting the power on the big octabox behind me - see the pull-back shot below - I was able to control the contrast. This way I could still retain the  Read more inside...

Dramatic portrait & headshot lighting in the studio

February 23, 2020 Neil vN 2 Comments

Dramatic portrait & headshot lighting in the studio

Working with the Profoto Spot Small (affiliate), I wanted to create portraits for my portfolio that showed a more dramatic light for portraits. I think these could even be used as secondary headshots in a portfolio. For this photo session, I had actor / model Andy Peeke (Instagram) in the studio. He has the cheekbones for this! For other results from the Profoto Spot Small light modifier, also check out this article: Dramatic studio lighting with the Profoto Spot Small In adapting the lighting setup  Read more inside...

Dramatic studio lighting with the Profoto Spot Small

February 20, 2020 Neil vN 1 Comment

Dramatic studio lighting with the Profoto Spot Small

For portrait photography, soft, flattering light is easy to work with. You can more easily pose your subject compared to when the light source is small. Also, it is more immediately flattering to you subject. You have to be really specific in how you pose and position your subject when you use a harder / smaller light source.  This is true whether you use available light or studio lighting or off-camera lighting. For example, much of what I do with on-camera bounce flash, is to create directional soft light from what starts out as  Read more inside...

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