A lot of the times when you’re shooting in direct sun, it’s very harsh on your subject’s face. Many people try not to put themselves in this situation because of it. Sometimes you have no choice, or maybe you like the location a lot so you have to put up with the challenge. Without any equipment, the sun can create harsh shadows and an unflattering look on your talent.
Godox recently released its new EC-200 extension head (AKA Flashpoint eVOLV 200) for the Godox AD200 TTL Pocket Flash (AKA Flashpoint eVOLV 200). Celebrity photographer Markus Klinko decided to combine four extenders and flashes into this unusual-looking quad-flash.
Apollo is a new "immersive illumination" iPhone app that lets you edit 3D lighting in Portrait mode photos. The app uses the depth map created by dual camera iPhones, allowing you to post-process photos as if they were 3D renders.
Here's a 6-minute educational video by Shutterstock in which filmmaker Todd Blankenship discusses the basics of diffusing light and introduces three cheap options for doing so... including a $5 shower curtain.
If you ever need to shoot a product photo of a beverage bottle, the concept might not seem too complicated, but seasoned product photographers actually have a number of tricks they use to take their images to the next level. Here's a helpful video in which photographer Max Bridge of Square Mountain shares 5 pro tips in 5 minutes.
At the WPPI wedding and portrait photography conference and expo this year, photographer Trevor Dayley taught this 1-hour class titled "17 Fast, Easy, Awesome Lighting Recipes." Dayley shares 17 lighting ideas you can keep in mind on any portrait shoot using a memorization story.
Portrait photographers Manny Ortiz and Jessica Kobeissi just did a shootout that pitted flash against natural light. The two each shot portraits of the same model in a studio, except Ortiz used an off-camera flash as his main light while Kobeissi only used the sunlight bouncing around in the space.
If you're not sure how to photograph a landscape, one primary factor you should consider is the current position of the sun in the sky. Here's a fantastic 3.5-minute video by CreativeLive in which National Geographic photographer Frans Lanting shares tips on harnessing different kinds of sunlight.
Lighting equipment can be expensive, but sometimes you can get great results using makeshift products that won't put a dent in your wallet. Here's a 15-minute video from Dustin Dolby of workphlo that looks at how you can shoot high-quality product photos using something as basic as an IKEA MELODI lampshade.
Here's an 11-minute video from photographer Sean Tucker that looks at how you can identify "good light" in street photography.
Brono is a new Norwegian lighting solution that aims to "revolutionize" studio lighting by giving photographers more control and options. It's basically a large grid of mirrors that can be individually adjusted.
Photographer Nick Fancher is known for combining thriftiness and creativity into eye-catching portrait lighting, and he has even written two books on the subject, titled Studio Anywhere and Studio Anywhere 2. If you like workshops more than reading, Fancher just shared this free 2-hour video of his Studio Anywhere workshop.
Here's a 6-minute video from Andrew Mikhaylov that looks at how you can easily shoot beer can photos using 4 light sources for that signatory reflection on the can.
Apple just released this 1-minute video that offers a short and sweet behind-the-scenes explanation of how the company created the Portrait Lighting feature found in the latest iPhones.
Photographer and Profoto Legend of Light Miguel Quiles made this 7-minute video in which he shares 5 different ways he likes to use a beauty dish for portrait lighting.
Here's a 17-minute video from Adorama that takes you behind-the-scenes on a "character" portrait shoot with photographers Joe McNally and Daniel Norton. The goal is light the subject in a way that emphasizes what the photographer sees in the person.
My name is Jimmy Chan, and I'm the wedding photographer of Pixelicious in Montreal, Canada. I decided to challenge myself and write a comprehensive, in-depth guide to wedding photography in any lighting situation. As the title suggests, it will cover from preparation to reception and beyond, dissecting the characteristics of light while offering many step-by-step actionable tips to delight your next client.
How much of a difference is there between using an expensive high-end lighting setup and shooting the same portraits with cheaper gear? Photographer Patrick Hall of Fstoppers made this illuminating 9.5-minute video that compares a $10,000 studio lighting setup with a $425 option. Can you tell the difference between the resulting photos?
High-end product photography can be done with fewer resources than many might think if you add creativity and careful execution. Here's a 7-minute video from Dustin Dolby of workphlo that shows you how you can take professional perfume bottle photos in a studio with a single speedlight.
Photographer and retouching expert Matt Kloskowski made this 14-minute video that introduces on technique for adding life back into a portrait subject's eyes using Photoshop.
Here's an informative 18-minute tutorial by photographer Dustin Dolby of workphlo that teaches how to blend speedlight exposures for water splash product photos. Dolby is shooting a pair of advertising posters.
If you're just getting started in studio portrait light, here's a 12-minute video that may be helpful to you. Photographer Antti Karppinen shares 7 of the most common lighting mistakes done in studio portraits, and he teaches how you can avoid each one.
You may have a favorite time of day to do an outdoor photo shoot, but sometimes you might not have the luxury of picking the perfect time and lighting conditions. Here's a 4-minute video from photographer Kayleigh June that details a number of ways you can cope with harsh light from a midday sun.
When is the best time of the day to take photographs outdoors? What are the ideal weather conditions for outdoor photography? Should I take photos during golden hour and blue hour? What can I photograph on a dull cloudy day for example? What can I photograph when it’s raining? How does the guy who drives the snowplow get to work in the morning? This tutorial aims to answer most of these questions and more.
Here's a 5-minute video by photographer Bill Lawson that shares 7 different DIY gobos (go-betweens) that you can use to introduce creative shadows to your portrait photos.
Here's a 20-minute tutorial from Dustin Dolby of workphlo that looks at how you can shoot high-end product photos using just one speedlight by painting light. Dolby also looks at how to composite and enhance the shot to produce the final image.
There is an almost endless supply of lighting modifiers available on the market right now, some are cheap and some of the better ones are certainly a lot more expensive. But does cost directly relate to quality? Well, a lot of the time yes it does if you're referring to build quality.
Want to get started with shooting portrait photos with studio lighting? Here's a helpful 8-minute video by Adorama with photographer Mark Wallace that introduces the different types of studio lighting and the specific job they each perform.
Photographer Francisco Hernandez has launched a new video series titled "Behind the Shot" that will document the entire process of how a photo of created, from concept to finished image. In this 12-minute video, Hernandez shares how he shot a portrait of a model named Barbie.
Want to learn portrait lighting but don't have a model you can spend hours and hours with? Here's a 4-minute video in which photographer Ed Verosky offers a simple suggestion: Buy a cheap mannequin head to practice your skills.
The new iPhone X has a number of Portrait Lighting looks that allow users to "fake" professional lighting styles. Here's a 4-minute video by photographer Daniel DeArco that compares the iPhone X's Portrait Lighting with the real studio lighting setups they're designed to mimic.
Nine months after taking office, the White House has finally released official portraits of both President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. Last month, the Washington Post did a story highlighting the empty walls of some 9,600 federal buildings, all waiting for for an official portrait of the new POTUS.
Here's an unusual idea that you may only be able to pull off if you're rich, famous, and well-connected: socialite Khloe Kardashian wanted the perfect driver's license photo, so she decided to bring her own portrait lighting and makeup artist to the DMV.
Do you enjoy making your own lighting gear instead of spending hefty fees for commercial products? Here's a 10-minute tutorial by photography instructor Joe Edelman on how to build and use your own strip light modifier for under $25.
Here's a 10-minute video tutorial in which photographer Kyle Cong shows why a strip softbox is a very handy thing to have if you're shooting portraits on location.
In this 5-minute video from The Slanted Lens, learn how to create a window in a seamless and add beautiful shafts of light into your studio shots.
In this 9-minute tutorial from photography Andrew Boey of Beyond Photography, learn how to use a white wall to create any color backdrop you want by using just a speedlight and a colored gel.
Say hello to colorspike, a powerful animation-driven LED light stick that can revolutionize how you think about adding colored light to photo shoots and video projects.
Lightroom's adjustment brushes allow you to apply local adjustments to specific areas in your photos -- great for landscape photography. In this 18-minute tutorial from PiXimperfect, learn how to use the brushes to "shape light" in landscapes.
One way portrait photographers like Annie Leibovitz light large-scale group photos is by lighting smaller groups by themselves and then compositing everyone together into a large group. Photographer Barry Harley recently employed this technique with relatively affordable gear for a group photo with friends while on vacation.
Bald people can pose a bit of a difficulty for photographers, particularly because of the shine that can come off the skin in the studio. To illustrate this problem, Kalem from DSLR Video Shooter shaved his head for this 7-minute tutorial filled with tips for lighting bald people.
The Godox X series has become very popular over the last two years as strobists enjoy the vast functionality, portability, and low prices. This includes speedlights such as the TT685 and V860II, hybrid strobes such as the AD200 and AD360II, and portable monolights like the AD600.
White wine in product photography can be easily made to glow and give a beautiful color and gradient through the glass. In this 9-minute tutorial, Dustin Dolby of workphlo shows a great way to achieve this with a simple setup.
Using drones to illuminate scenes and subjects using flashes and powerful LED lights is a new trend made possible by the emergence of affordable and intelligent consumer drones. If you'd like to see what the latest experimentation is producing, check out the 2.5-minute short film above, titled "mémoires". It was lit entirely with drone lights.
There's a feature tucked away in the new iPhones that doesn't seem to be getting a lot of traction, but it represents a massive sea change in photography. It's the "Portrait Lighting" mode, and it's the second shot across the bows of traditional photography from the world of computational photography.
We all know and love the legendary lighting manufacturer that is Profoto. For decades, they have produced and supported the most durable, powerful, and consistent lighting equipment for professional photographers around the world.
Profoto has just announced the A1, the lighting brand's first-ever on-camera flash. It's also what the company calls "the world's smallest studio light."
Here's a 2-minute video that offers a look at how the HBO series 'Insecure' makes its black actors look so good on camera. What is it that makes everyone "pop" so much on screen?
The KOBRA is a new flash modifier that's hoping to be a "game-changer" in an already crowded market. The brainchild of photographer Paul McKelvey, the KOBRA has just been launched on Kickstarter. McKelvey was frustrated with the results of what's currently on the market, so he created the KOBRA to "paint with light, not spray."
Profoto has just announced the new Air Remote TTL-F. Fujifilm photographers will now be able to benefit from TTL (Through The Lens) and HSS (High-Speed Sync) capabilities with a number of Profoto flashes.
