using a video light for boudoir photography
An image from a boudoir photo session today. I ended up mostly using a video light (or two) for the directional and dramatic quality of the light. I tried on-camera bounce flash a few times, but even when I carefully flagged and bounced the flash, there were a number of times where I found that the bounce flash just evened out the light too much. Sometimes it is soft light, and sometimes it just becomes flat light.
With the video light (held up by my assistant), I was able to ask my assistant to flag the light and drop the light off dramatically to the model’s legs. That’s the beauty of using video light – it is completely WYSIWYG. You can make immediate changes to the position of the light – or how you position yourself – based on the light and light patterns on your subject. And with an assistant holding up the light, instead of fixed on a stand, you even have voice-activated automation in how the light is placed.
More on the video light equipment I use, and more examples of how I use video light for photography lighting.
1Steel Photo says
Very dramatic photo.
I am guessing that the image posted has had little to no post processing as per your usual.
I do have to comment that the particular look of that photo with the colors and light drop off has the modern lomo type processing looks that seems to be one of the photography rages today. Although, most of the people I know doing that actually use photoshop to do it.
Its nice to see other styles of your photography.
Thanks for another great read.
2Neil says
3Pat says
Lovely image Neil!
I had not thought of using a video light for boudoir on location before but can see the obvious benefits :-)
I’m curious why you only tried bounce flash and not triggering it remotely?
Although I can see the advantage of WYSIWYG of video over a flashgun.
4Neil says
5Andrew says
Neil,
You need to use that as your promotional shot for your workshops :)
Fundy
6Jonathan says
Hi Neil,
Great work. What about color temperature of ambient light mixing with video light ?
How to color correct ?
7Neil says