Creating dramatic studio lighting with Profoto A2 flashes
Creating dramatic studio lighting with Profoto A2 flashes
Profoto has created an entire system of portable lighting with accessories around their Profoto A2 flash (B&H / Amazon). I had the rare opportunity to connect again with one of my favorite models, Erin Leigh Pribyl, for a photo session in my studio. Even in this short video clip, you'll get a sense of her personality. With this, I wanted to create dramatic portrait lighting with a hint of the old Hollywood Glamor lighting, but with color instead of B&W. In this video is a glimpse of how I built up 4 Read more inside...Times Square NYC photo session – off-camera flash
Times Square NYC photo session - off-camera flash
Becky and Mark were visiting New York from the UK, and wanted to do a photo session here. I took them around various posts in the vicinity of Times Square where their hotel was. The lighting for this photo session varied from the available light in Times Square, to enhancing it with off-camera lighting. The idea was to make the off-camera light still look fairly natural in those surroundings. Manhattan is always hectic with pedestrians, and a light-stand isn't always feasible. So I have my assistant hold up a flash on a monopod. Read more inside...Headshot photography : Dramatic B&W photos
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
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
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
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
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
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
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...- « Previous Page
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