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?
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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: Use a black reflector to absorb light for a dramatic effect
A silver and white reflector adds light to a scene whereas a black reflector — or fabric— absorbs light. This will give an illusion that light is being taken away from a scene. Known as negative fill, it will produce a dramatic effect especially when converting the image to black and white. Want to learn more? Check out this article, “How I Got the Shot | Negative Fill” … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Use a black reflector to absorb light for a dramatic effect
The InFocus Interview Show with Roberto Valenzuela | Photofocus Podcast August 3, 2018
https://soundcloud.com/photofocus/infocus-interview-show-with-roberto-valenzuela-photofocus-podcast-august-3-2018/s-4Uqkl In this episode: Photographer, Educator, Author and a Canon Explorer of Light, Roberto Valenzuela shares his tips on Lighting to Communicate. Topics: Lighting to Communicate Why you need to Practice YouTube Channel Window Light vs. Reflector vs. Flash Picture Perfect Lighting Workshop Learning to be Proficient If you like these Infocus Interviews, please consider supporting our partners and … [Read more...] about The InFocus Interview Show with Roberto Valenzuela | Photofocus Podcast August 3, 2018
Portrait Tips: Watching and practice are key for kids
Do you ever feel like Nemo's dad, Marlin, from Finding Nemo? He meets a new group of fish and they say, "Hey, you're a clownfish: Say something funny!" Once people find out you're a photographer, the pressure is on to be able to make a great photo on the spot under any conditions and one of the hardest of those circumstances can be photographing children. But I've found one key that helps me photograph kids, and that's practicing being observant. Readiness from watching Now, don't go get your binoculars and hang out at the park, 'cause that's … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: Watching and practice are key for kids
Using Speedlights for Glamorous Clamshell Lighting
Have you ever walked down the makeup aisle at a store and just stared at the images? Trying to understand what lighting setup they used to light that model/celebrities face? I do it all the time. In fact, sometimes I have to purposely avoid that section of the store so I won't get sucked in. The answer...clamshell lighting people! It will be your new favorite go-to lighting for women and I am going to help you achieve it using a speedlight. What Is Clamshell Lighting? Clamshell lighting setup is commonly used by fashion and beauty … [Read more...] about Using Speedlights for Glamorous Clamshell Lighting
Studio Tip: Attaching a Flag to an Extension Arm
Studio flags are similar to a 5-in-one round reflector with the except they are easier to mount to a c-stand. Here’s how to use the Flag’s built-in pin to attach to the knuckle of an extension arm which is attached to a c-stand. Why use studio flags? Studio flags--such as the Digital Juice Pro Flag Kit--are great for modifying light. You can use them to diffuse light, bounce light and even block light. Studio flags differ from a 5-in-one round reflector simply by how they attach to a c-stand. They come with a pin that slips into a knuckle … [Read more...] about Studio Tip: Attaching a Flag to an Extension Arm
Portrait Tips: Soft Light vs Hard Light
I'm always talking about soft light and how great it looks for portraits. But what does it mean? If there's soft light, is there hard light? Let me show you what it means and you'll see that yes, there is hard light, and soft light is waaaaay better. Soft/Hard = Big/Small Hard light comes from small lights, and soft light comes from big lights. The important thing to remember is that the softness depends on the size of the light in relation to your subject. So even if your light is the size of a bus, unless your subject is close to it can … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: Soft Light vs Hard Light
Gear Review: Impact Collapsible Oval Reflector Soft Gold/White
When it comes to reflectors, I prefer large oval shaped tools and the Impact Collapsible Oval Reflector Disc is a good one. In this video, I show you the things I like about it. The unit I show has a reflective white side and a soft gold side. I like this tool and I'd recommend it in any of the configurations sold at B&H. Be sure to check out this related article on how to use a gold reflector. https://youtu.be/lrwTHde_NnM Here's another video about how to fold the reflector. https://youtu.be/GdaFA7r2mUY … [Read more...] about Gear Review: Impact Collapsible Oval Reflector Soft Gold/White
Gear Review: Impact 5-in-1 Reflector with Handles
(Editor's note: Levi shows how to fold circular, triangular and oblong reflectors in this tutorial.) After a camera and a good tripod, I'd say a 5-in-1 reflector is a must have tool for every photographer. Whether you're photographing flowers, portraits, or products a 5-in-1 reflector can help you make great light. I got my hands on Impact's 42-inch 5-in-1 Collapsible Circular Reflector with Handles. Let me tell you what I think of it see if it's the right tool for you. The Basics As far as reflectors go, this is the smallest I recommend … [Read more...] about Gear Review: Impact 5-in-1 Reflector with Handles
Portrait Tips: How To Use A Gold Reflector
I highly recommend a 5-in-1 reflector as a tool for helping you get terrific light under many circumstances. It should be the first lighting tool you buy, and you should learn to master it before buying more lighting. The good news is that a 5-in-1 reflector is relatively cheap. I recommend the oval shaped reflectors because they give you more room to work without covering the surface with your own shadow. The trouble is, one of the surfaces is a gold reflector and since it's included many photographers think it must be there to use for … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: How To Use A Gold Reflector
The Easy Way To Fold Reflectors & Backdrops
A collapsible reflector is a must-have tool for all kinds of photographers. I favor the 5-in-1 styles, and I favor a long oval style. The thing is, the toughest part about using a reflector has nothing to with lighting your subjects--the hardest thing is putting it away. This short video demonstrates how to fold several kinds of collapsible tools, including a circular reflector, a triangular reflector, an oval reflector, and an enormous collapsible backdrop. There's one simple way to do it: fold it in half, and tuck the ends together. Check … [Read more...] about The Easy Way To Fold Reflectors & Backdrops
How to Construct the Most Versatile Studio Gear: V-Flats
Flats are large rectangles of lightweight foam core. Theater set designers use them to create background scenery. Their lightweight design makes them easy to move around sets to be used as backgrounds, flagging light and as reflectors. Hinging two flats together—creating a letter V—creates what is know as a V-flat. Here’s how to construct your own V-flat. Different Size V-Flats You can build any size V-flat to meet your needs. A product photographer may not need an eight foot tall V-flat as much as a portrait photographer would. Building a … [Read more...] about How to Construct the Most Versatile Studio Gear: V-Flats
Portrait Tips: The Best Light For Portraits
Here's a classic geeky photography thing to say: "The only thing that alters how hard or soft the light is on your subject is the size of the light in relation to your subject." Said more simply, Big Light = Soft Light Small Light = Hard Light Let's consider the sun. It's huge, right? So it should be a soft light. But, even though it's 865,000 miles wide, you can completely cover it with your thumb held out at arm's length. So, in relation to us on Earth, it's very small, and that means it's a hard light. Hard or Soft? It's all in the … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: The Best Light For Portraits
Portrait Tips: Free Portrait Class For Limited Time
I'm excited to share some quality education with you. I've created several classes for LinkedInLearning.com, and now my most popular class on basic portrait photography is available at ThinkTapLearn.com for FREE for a limited time. I had a fun time making this class, and I know you'll find ideas and techniques to help you in all aspects of your portrait photography. Just follow this link and register with your email and you can watch the course for free. This class took two days of filming to create, plus a ton of scripting and writing and … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: Free Portrait Class For Limited Time
Underwater Portraits with Directed Light
Underwater portraiture is a beautiful medium with many factors to consider that can't be addressed within a single post, so we'll start off here by focusing on one aspect: directing the light. Just like above water, the direction and quality of the light dramatically change the look of the portrait. Choosing a Lighting Source for Underwater Underwater strobes and lights get expensive and require special camera housings to truly be effective. I've seen ingenious ways to get strobes fired from above the pool to be reflected down into the pool, … [Read more...] about Underwater Portraits with Directed Light
How I Got the Shot: Controlling Natural Light with a Diffuser
Midday, with the sun at its highest point in the sky, has often been typecast as the worst time to take outdoor photos. With the light falling straight down, little to no light falls on the subject from the side producing dark shadows. The eyes on portrait often become very dark. Some say it's best to put the camera away for a few hours and wait it out. But what if that's not an option? What if that's the only time you have to get the shot? To solve this problem, we used a diffuser to control natural light. This is how I go the shot. Quick … [Read more...] about How I Got the Shot: Controlling Natural Light with a Diffuser
Professional Portrait Light from a Simple Tool
A little while ago I showed you how I used a translucent diffuser to create soft light with a speedlight and hot red hairdo in a hot red jeep. When you shine a little through a translucent material, it's spreads out that light and makes it bigger, and a bigger light is a softer light. I love soft light. But speedlights are expensive and calling them temperamental is an understatement. The diffuser can be had for well under US$50, however, and is the perfect complement to the largest, cheapest light source in the solar system: the sun. I'd go … [Read more...] about Professional Portrait Light from a Simple Tool
