One of my favorite things to do for corporate clients is to make headshots at their annual meetings. Their employees live all around the country, so this is the only opportunity to make pictures for them all in one place. This is a challenging shoot, but it's a lot of fun — like a headshot factory that quickly turns out good portraits. My setup is simple and adaptive, and something similar could help you make a lot of portraits quickly. The space As you can see, I'm not allotted a whole lot of room. This is in the hallway outside the … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: Headshot factory
Lighting
Creating one-of-a-kind landscapes with Lume Cubes
A while back, I saw a photo my friend Gary Alan Brink posted of the Fallasburg Bridge in Lowell, MI. It featured a car driving through the covered bridge, creating for quite the night scene. I had long been a fan of the bridge but had only ever photographed it during the day. I wondered what I could capture after seeing his inspiration. I decided to bring my Lume Cubes along, thinking that I could light paint the bridge, similarly to how this barn shot turned out. But upon arriving at the bridge, there was one problem — there was no easy … [Read more...] about Creating one-of-a-kind landscapes with Lume Cubes
Lighting up a barn with Lume Cubes
If you follow Olympus Visionary Jamie MacDonald, you might be familiar with "the barn." Located in Eaton Rapids, MI, this barn is on private property, but Jamie has permission and regularly photographs there. A few weeks ago, I finally had the chance to check out what I had only seen in pictures, in hopes that we'd combine the barn with some really cool lighting just after dark. The idea Jamie and I had talked about using his Mavic Air drone, and attaching a Lume Cube to the bottom of it. While Lume Cube makes drone kits, I didn't have one … [Read more...] about Lighting up a barn with Lume Cubes
Understanding exposure: The aperture setting
Exposure is the process of choosing the correct settings on your camera to produce a picture that "looks right;" not too bright, not too dark, and sharp where it should be. While your camera will figure all of this out for you, it's good to know how to take control away from your camera, and make sure it's making the right choices in each situation. In this series, you will learn what each setting means, how they affect the way your images look, and how they work together to create an image that matches your creative ideas. The process of … [Read more...] about Understanding exposure: The aperture setting
Quick Tip: Use a V-flat to flag light and prevent light spill on the background
To use a V-flat to flag a light, position the black side of the V-flat between the background and the light — black will help absorb the light. Turn on the light’s modeling lamp to see if the light is spilling onto the background. Adjust the V-flat until the background isn’t affected. Want to learn more? Check out this article, "Modifying light with versatile, extremely portable V-flats" … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Use a V-flat to flag light and prevent light spill on the background
Portrait Tips: Build a scene with Lume Cubes & holiday lights
Holiday lights are so cool. If the tree didn't dry out and start dropping needles, I think I'd petition my wife to leave them set up all year. They just give such a terrific mood. It's because they have a warm tone and because they are so spread out they make a very soft light. Plus, when they are in the background of the photo, they make really cool bokeh bobbles. I wanted to utilize these lights in the background, so I needed to build the light in the foreground so that it wouldn't overpower the twinkle in the back. Here's how to do it. Use … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: Build a scene with Lume Cubes & holiday lights
How to set up a V-Flat World V-flat in less than a minute
I have used V-flats my entire career as a studio photographer. I've always had storage space for the 4-by-8 foot V-flats. But I never, no matter how much I wanted to, took them on location. They were way too big to fit into an SUV. Now I take them everywhere thanks to the innovative design by V-Flat World. From carrying bag to fully set up in less than a minute V-flats from V-Flat World come folded into a 40-by-40 inch package contained in a convenient carrying bag. Face the taped side up Once the V-flat is out of the bag, rotate it and … [Read more...] about How to set up a V-Flat World V-flat in less than a minute
Using diffusers or silks to soften light
Using diffusers to soften light from Improving Your Photography and Portraits with Lighting Modifiers by Robert Vanelli Sometimes having too much light is just as bad as not having enough light. This LinkedIn Learning video will show you how to use a diffuser or silk to soften harsh light to produce a pleasing image. Topics include: What's the difference between a diffuser and a silk The purpose of a diffuser How to tone down too much light on a scene using a diffuser Soften shadows Creating pleasing images … [Read more...] about Using diffusers or silks to soften light
Portrait Tips: How to use V-flats to light a group
When you light a portrait, a good rule of thumb is that your light should be about the same size as your subject. That's easy for a single individual where any softbox will work, but what about lighting a group of people? A light that big is hard to find. V-flats offer an easy way to make a large light that gives soft, even coverage for your group. You can use them to make soft light on the whole group, but you can also move your subjects around for different effects. V-flat as a modifier The V-flat is two large sheets (typically 7 or 8 … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: How to use V-flats to light a group
How to achieve clamshell lighting on location using natural light
Clamshell lighting produces a soft glamour style with minimal shadows, making it popular for beauty portraits. Setup is simple: Resembling a clamshell, place one light tilted high, just above the subject’s eye line, and a second just below, tilted with the subject in the middle. Normally used in a studio environment, here’s how to achieve clamshell lighting on location using natural light. Set your camera in Aperture Priority and shoot in continuous mode To make life simple, set your camera in aperture priority with an aperture between f/2.8 … [Read more...] about How to achieve clamshell lighting on location using natural light
How to get colored light without using gels, part two
If you haven't already read part one, check it out here, to give you an idea of my thought process. Otherwise, let's get started. To get this image I used a Vankyo Leisure 3 portable projector, the Lumix GX8 and my Panasonic 25mm f/1.7 lens. Before the shoot, I downloaded a variety of abstract art images I found on Google that I thought would create some cool looks for the purposes of this article. I also used a fellow photographer and friend, Destry Murrays', light painting image. Remember that using a recognizable image from other … [Read more...] about How to get colored light without using gels, part two
Don’t make this outdoor lighting mistake
I made a mistake. It was one that I teach photographers not to make, but I still did it. You see, it was a scorching, sunny day. There was no wind, so I didn’t plan on bringing any sand or water bags to weigh my light stand down. But then, out of the blue came one strong gust of wind. For only the entire photo session. Down came my light sand. I was lucky, in a way, because my umbrella broke the fall, and took the effect of the impact. The umbrella’s rod snapped in half, but my strobe was in perfect … [Read more...] about Don’t make this outdoor lighting mistake
3 ways to use a ring light in photography
At first glance, it might appear as though a ring light has only one purpose in photography. But really, you can think outside the circle (pun intended) to use a ring light in multiple ways. Today we’d like to share some of those with you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJketh_sOEI Standard method The standard method for using a ring light is to use it as a main light source with a camera inside of the circle. That enables the light to illuminate the subject’s face perfectly in a complete circle. With the camera inside of the circle, the … [Read more...] about 3 ways to use a ring light in photography
Quick Tip: Kill the ambient light
Before lighting a subject in a studio environment, start with an empty set, leaving the overhead lights on. Dial in your desired exposure settings and take the first shot. Your goal is to create a completely black image. This will prove the ambient light will not affect your image when you proceed to light the subject. Want to learn more? Check out this article, "Photography Strip Lighting" … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Kill the ambient light
Portrait Tips: How close should the light be to your subject?
This is a great question, but when you're getting going making portraits (and especially when you're buying gear) it often gets overlooked. How close should your light be to your subject? Furthermore, what effect does a different distance have on the photo? Let's start with the impact the distance makes. Feel free to skip to the last section for the quick answer. Closer is softer but more contrasty When you bring a light closer to your subject, you make it bigger in relation to your subject, and a bigger light is softer. For instance, the … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: How close should the light be to your subject?
Creative lighting with Lume Cubes
Now that my Lume Cube Photographer's Pack was unboxed, it was time for me to go in the field and give it a try! I got out from my comfort zone as I wanted to force myself to work in a different way than I was used to. What did I end up photographing and how did I like working with my new lighting system? Inspiration First, I needed to get some inspiration. As I really wanted to give all the attention to the Lume Cubes, I thought it could be a really cool idea to take the pictures in the dark. Then, I had to find a place I could make those … [Read more...] about Creative lighting with Lume Cubes
Unboxing my Lume Cube Photographer’s Pack
It felt like early Christmas when I got my Lume Cube box delivery. The company guys sent multiple devices and accessories to try in order to see how I like them and for me to review. I've had one hands-on experience with these devices at the Photofocus Photowalk (at the PhotoPlus Expo in New York City) but that's it. I have yet to discover almost everything about it. To become more familiar I am actually unboxing the Lume Cube and its accessories as I am writing this article. I thought I might as well bring you with me along the way so we could … [Read more...] about Unboxing my Lume Cube Photographer’s Pack
The recipe for balancing natural light with flash
Balancing natural light with flash isn’t complicated — once you know the recipe. The key ingredients are softening the natural light with a diffuser, exposing for the background, then adding the right amount of flash to expose the subject. Now that you know the ingredients, here’s the recipe to balance natural light with flash. Use a diffuser to soften direct sunlight Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a remote to control the sun? Sure, we could schedule our shoot early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid direct sunlight but that’s not … [Read more...] about The recipe for balancing natural light with flash
Four ways to photograph a white background
Editor's Note: We welcome Scott Wyden Kivowitz to the Photofocus team. Scott is a father and photographer whose dedication to teaching photographers comes through in a straightforward and no fluff style. Scott is also the Chief Community Officer at Imagely, the WordPress Photography People. Sometimes the simplest things can produce the most results. Sometimes the least expensive things can open up more doors than you ever thought was possible. Sometimes photography feels like magic. White backgrounds are such … [Read more...] about Four ways to photograph a white background
Quick Tip: Use a ring light to create killer catchlights in the eyes
A ring light adds unique lighting to a portrait. You place the lens through the middle of the light, causing the light to come from the same plane as the lens. This produces very few shadows and a unique catch light. There are several different types of ring lights. I used the Angler Circo LED Ring Light to capture this shot. It’s continuous, so what you see is what you get, making it easy to position your subject. To complete the look, I placed two strip boxes on each side of the subject and added a blue gel to one of them. Want to learn … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Use a ring light to create killer catchlights in the eyes
How to photograph in direct sunlight
Shooting in direct sunlight can be challenging. It can cause harsh shadows, blown out highlights, uneven light on faces, and dark patches under the eyes that look great on a raccoon but not your subject. Most photographers wait and shoot earlier or later in the day to avoid these problems. But sometimes you can't wait and you're forced to shoot during this horrible time of day. Here's how to embrace this challenge so you can shoot in direct sunlight. Softening harsh light A simple solution is to use a diffuser. A diffuser is a translucent … [Read more...] about How to photograph in direct sunlight
Quick Tip: Try wax or parchment paper as a diffuser when photographing food
Food Photographer Lou Mann suggests using wax or parchment paper as a diffuser to soften the light source when photographing food. Want to learn more? Check out this article, “5 Simple Lighting Tips for better Food Photography” … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Try wax or parchment paper as a diffuser when photographing food
How to balance flash with natural light to make pleasing portraits
If you're like most photographers, using a flash to make portraits is intimidating. Using available light is so simple that most photographers never dive into the world of using flash to light their portraits. Unfortunately, that severely limits the hours of the day when you can make pictures and leads to worrying too much about how well your camera performs at high ISO's. Making great balanced light pictures doesn't require the fanciest tools or a full-frame camera. I shot all the pictures here with a cropped micro four-thirds camera. You can … [Read more...] about How to balance flash with natural light to make pleasing portraits
Quick Tip: Use a strip box to create an edge light
A strip box is a thin, rectangle softbox that is used to control where the light falls on a subject. This is very important when creating an edge light. For an edge light to be effective, it needs to be precise and light just the edge of the subject. Want to read more? Check out more in the article, “Photography Strip Lighting” … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Use a strip box to create an edge light
How to create a dramatic portrait on a rooftop
This composite was created by designing a photo shoot around an Abode Stock image of a city rooftop. To match perspective, we constructed a platform and shot at an upward angle. The image was lit with a three-light setup — two strip lights on each side and a beauty dish in front. We added a blue gel to the stip lights to match the scene as if it were shot during the blue hour. Since we knew the image was being composited on a dark background, we position the subject far from the background and let it fall to black. A much better solution would … [Read more...] about How to create a dramatic portrait on a rooftop
Quick Tip: Meter one light at a time when working with multiple lights
When working with multiple lights, I find it easier working with one light at a time. Start with the main light and take a reading with a light meter. Once you enter these settings on your camera, turn the main light off and proceed to the next light—taking a meter reading to see if it is brighter or darker than the exposure in the camera. Adjust its power for the effect you want. Do this for each light. Once you have all the lights in place, turn them on and take a photograph to see how the extra lights affect the exposure. Want to learn … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Meter one light at a time when working with multiple lights
Illuminati reads light and color for perfectly exposed photographs
My name is Bryan Esler, and I have a confession. I’ve never used a handheld light meter. For me, light meters were old technology. They weren’t something that was necessary. I didn’t completely understand how to use them, what the benefits were and most importantly, it just seemed like “one more thing” to carry around with me on a shoot. Enter the Illuminati, a light meter designed for the smartphone age. But Illuminati takes it one step further, allowing you to also determine the correct color temperature level and chromaticity for your … [Read more...] about Illuminati reads light and color for perfectly exposed photographs
How to create an action portrait with venetian blinds
This action portrait was created using a three-light setup, a black background and, of course, a window blind. The light shining through the blinds was positioned low on a 45-degree angle with a honeycomb grid to control the direction of the light. A second light was placed high against the background, shooting straight down. We added a blue gel to give the black wall a little color. This light was wrapped with Cinefoil to ensure it only lit the background. The third light was positioned behind the subject, just above his shoulders — with a … [Read more...] about How to create an action portrait with venetian blinds
Quick Look: The Electric L.E.D. Light Orchestra
Luxli, a Gradus Group company, has introduced three instruments in their Orchestra of L.E.D. lights. They are the 10-inch Cello, 1foot square Tympani, and the 5-inch Viola. A rainbow symphony of lights These lights are nothing short of amazing. Each one has individual white balance settings for tungsten, fluorescent, daylight, overcast, open shade and snow. Each light can dial in specific color temperatures from 3000ºK to 10,000ºK as well. They have a hue control for dialing in an exact color. For example, 0º is Red, 120º is Green and 240º … [Read more...] about Quick Look: The Electric L.E.D. Light Orchestra
Freezing motion with light
Freezing motion with light is a fun way to create a sense of movement and expression. Having a concept in mind is foremost in every session created in my studio. All jokes aside about the hatred photographers have toward Pinterest, I’ve found it to be an awesome resource for storyboarding and creating themes for shoots. The first step is making sure you have the right talent in place — it’s important that the subjects can create movement with style and grace. Most dancers are incredibly graceful and can make the most amazing shapes with their … [Read more...] about Freezing motion with light
