Outdoor Swimwear Portraits Using One Light on Location

When you're on location, being able to take great images with minimal gear makes life a lot easier; knowing what you can do with just one light is where a lot of folks start, and for good reason. Check out these great setups for when you're on the beach with a one-light setup.

Brought to you via fitness photographer Brett Seeley, he's showing off some stellar setups that are easy to understand and straightforward enough for anyone watching to try out too. The great thing about a one-light setup is how simple it is, which is why they make for an excellent place to start and are the perfect learning tool when you're looking to either stay mobile (when you're on the beach, for example) or when you're looking to learn about lighting. Like most things, though, just because it's simple doesn't mean it lacks depth; the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Understanding your options with just one light is a stellar foundation for creating any look you're trying to achieve.

Seeley takes us through a number of different setups and explains the different effects that can be achieved by positioning the light in different places, often working in tandem with the strong sunlight that is characteristic of a tropical beach scene. Understanding how to work with existing ambient light (to help create a rim light, for example) is something that can help you to capture a lot of depth despite the setup being deceptively simple. I've always been a big fan of a good one-light setup, and keeping it simple whenever possible is something that has served me well. If you're a fan of a clean one-light setup (or if you've found you prefer multi-light setups), leave a comment below describing one of your favorites and why you keep going back to it.