Often regarded as the best lighting company in the world, Profoto offers a few battery-powered lights. The pinnacle of such lighting is the Profoto B1X. In 2024, however, does it hold up against the competition, and are there better alternatives?
Understanding how to use beauty dishes is key for portrait photographers seeking close-up shots. This fantastic video tutorial will show you the ins and outs of using them for optimal results.
The Sony a9 III, featuring the first-ever global shutter in a full frame camera, is revolutionizing photography by offering unparalleled shutter speeds and flash synchronization capabilities. This innovation is particularly crucial for photographers who require precise control over both ambient and strobe lighting, and this fantastic video tutorial will show you how to take advantage of it.
I notice many guides online for various light modifiers available. What I don’t see as much is a proper comparison of nearly every modifier available. Having sorted through my kit a few days ago, I realized I have numerous modifiers. In this article, we will compare modifiers so that next time you’re selecting one, you understand their functions.
Strip boxes are an essential tool for photographers looking to refine their lighting techniques. Their dual functionality as both a narrow and broad light source allows for unparalleled versatility in creating both dramatic and subtle lighting effects.
Probably, most of us have at some point encountered a behind-the-scenes photo where there is a parabolic reflector with the name Briese written on the side in yellow letters. Yet, very few photographers have actually worked with it or know what makes it so special. Recently, I got a chance to try out Briese reflectors and generators in Hamburg. Read on to find out why I fell in love from the first sight.
It’s not that I hate Godox or that I am paid by a different lighting brand to hate Godox every month. It is simply that when it comes to producing professional work, their lights are just not fit for the job. Here is why I will not use Godox for professional work.
Understanding and mastering lighting patterns is a critical skill for any photographer focusing on portraiture. This great video breaks down five primary lighting patterns and their storytelling purposes, offering invaluable insights for photographers looking to elevate their portrait work.
There is a war going on in the lighting community: To dome or not to dome? Does the recessed front make a difference? Are the flat-front lights not usable anymore? Well, having had the privilege of owning a number of lighting variants, I did rigorous testing to settle the debate once and for all.
Honeycomb grids are a fantastic tool for taking your lighting to the next level. They offer precision and control that can transform an image's mood and focus.
Mastering off-camera flash techniques with a speedlight is a fantastic way to get started with off-camera portrait lighting. Utilizing a speedlight away from the camera allows for more controlled, professional-looking results, transforming simple shots into meticulously crafted images.
Having used flash for most of the work I've shot, it’s fair to say that I made a number of mistakes when starting out with a flash kit. Everything that could go wrong did, but I learned a number of techniques along the way. In this article, we will dive into some of the most common mistakes I see photographers make when using flash.
The transformative power of shadows in photography is often understated, yet they hold the key to creating images that resonate with depth, emotion, and a sense of mystery. This fantastic video tutorial explores this concept through the lens of Vincent Peters, a master of using light and shadow to craft visually stunning portraits that evoke the glamour of classic Hollywood.
One of the biggest tendencies I see among photographers is the pursuit of the latest and greatest kit. I, however, did the very opposite and invested in some truly ancient equipment. Not because I intended to write an article about it, but because there is a valid reason behind my choice. Let's delve into it.
Understanding the differences between TTL (Through The Lens) and manual flash settings is crucial for photographers looking to enhance their control over lighting conditions. If you are new to working with flash, this helpful video tutorial will show you everything you need to know.
Lighting is crucial to portrait photography, and learning to use artificial lights will free you from the constraints of working with just the sun. This helpful video tutorial will show you how to do that.
I had the opportunity to test some permanent LED lights. Designed primarily for video, I thought I would also try them out for photography as I am soon setting up a home studio, so I ran them through a series of tests to see how they fared.
Photography has evolved from a labor-intensive craft to a ubiquitous part of our daily lives, thanks in part to technological advancements. One particularly fascinating aspect of this evolution is the history of flash photography, which introduced significant challenges and costs to capturing images in low-light conditions, with sometimes explosive results.
Photography and videography heavily rely on the quality of lighting, and the choice of modifiers can significantly influence the outcome of a shoot. Parabolic lighting modifiers, known for their distinctive impact on texture and sculpting of human features, are especially important in fashion and beauty photography.
Sports portraits present unique lighting challenges that require creative solutions. This helpful video tutorial will show you some excellent techniques and advice for improving your sports portraits.
In an era where digital cameras offer advanced metering systems, the relevance of a traditional light meter might seem diminished. However, for photographers seeking precision and consistency in lighting, especially in complex setups, a light meter remains an indispensable tool.
Maternity photography is a special genre that captures the beauty and significance of motherhood. The right lighting can transform a simple photo into an evocative image that encapsulates the beauty and strength of expectant mothers. This fantastic video tutorial will show you three such lighting setups.
Understanding how to effectively use speedlights is crucial for capturing high-quality images in various settings, from weddings to family events. Speedlights offer photographers a compact, versatile lighting solution that enhances the quality of their work, especially in fast-paced and low-light environments. The helpful video tutorial will get you started working with one.
Mastering the use of light is essential in portrait photography. Harsh light, often seen as a challenge, can actually be a powerful tool in the hands of a skilled photographer. This awesome video tutorial will show you how to harness harsh light to create a compelling portrait.
Not long ago, I had the pleasure of participating in a creative photo weekend and showing a very green photographer some basics of lighting. While she was a darling and seemed to grasp every concept I explained, there were still quite a few misunderstandings that I had to clear up. In this article, I will explain the basic properties of light every photographer must know.
I consider myself a very lucky photographer. After all, I have a studio to myself, plenty of various funky lights, and plenty of lighting knowledge to rely on when I want to create something. This was not the case a few years back. At some point, all I had was a light and an umbrella. If you are in this boat, this is the perfect article for you. There is a lot you can do with just a light and a modifier.
As photographers, we often go through many modifiers to find the right one, and this may just be my new go-to. With its low cost, portable form factor, and ease of setup, the Aputure Lantern could be right for you too.
Just like most photographers, my off-camera flash journey began with the purchase of a speedlight and some inexpensive triggers. Many photographers will tell you that as soon as you get a speedlight, you need to acquire proper off-camera flash units. However, there are still many things you can do with a speedlight, and in this article, I will show you some of them.
In the past ten or so years, one of the most common features flash photographers started using is HSS. However, HSS can ruin your images when it comes to freezing ability, consistency, and light output. In this article, I will show just how HSS can be a detriment to your images and what you should do instead.
It seems more and more, competitors are showing up in the COB LED lighting world, and this is no exception. This is the Genaray Portabright, and here's what it’s like to shoot with and ultimately who it could be for.
I've recently heard this statement confidently asserted, mostly by non-photographers, when talking about lighting. I briefly mentioned that it's a little more complicated than that without delving into a whole lesson on light and how it works, but it did leave me pondering the statement longer.
Having been a Profoto user for most of my career, I have experienced pretty much everything they have to offer. I have bought a substantial amount of Profoto equipment myself and use it as my daily driver. Being a huge investment, I wondered if it was worth it. Well, here are my results.
Just like photos, lighting for video is an essential skill that not only helps you get the right exposure, but sets the mood for the frame. This excellent video tutorial will show you four different nighttime lighting setups sure to add a lot intrigue to your shots.
When it comes to artificial lighting, small and portable lights can be as valuable as having larger and more powerful light sources. With an option that requires no cables and can be used virtually anywhere, this light from SmallRig definitely has a lot to offer.
Capturing the spirit of love’s celebrations demands thoughtful artistry behind the lens. In his latest tutorial, seasoned wedding shooter Pye Jirsa demonstrates essential techniques for intentionally crafting evocative engagement portraits through deliberate light shaping. Through five versatile lighting recipes, Jirsa spotlights how to create desired moods and contexts to transform setups into narrative tools.
Many photographers looking to pursue more conceptual portraiture are intimidated by elaborate lighting configurations required to achieve intensely stylized effects. However, this excellent video tutorial makes the case that venturing beyond single-source illumination opens doors for bringing unique creative visions vibrantly to life.
Photographers often hit walls when controlling off-camera lighting on shoots. While TTL flash offers some automation, real mastery means moving to manual settings for predictable, quality results. The excellent video tutorial will put you on the right track.
Learning to shoot with off-camera flash brings a whole new level of control and creativity to photography. But along with the endless possibilities comes ample room for slip-ups. This fantastic video tutorial outlines the five most common mistakes people make when first stepping into off-camera lighting, along with fixes to set you up for success.
Uncover the remarkable versatility of a single light source as we venture behind the scenes of an engagement photoshoot in this helpful video tutorial.
This is one of my most favourite test shoots I’ve done to this date, not only based on how we got the shot but also how they turned out. Here’s how we shot it, how it was lit, and everything that came together to make this shot happen.
Connectivity is something that can't be overlooked in professional photography. A lot of the work that photographers do relies on one form or another of connectivity, whether it's capturing an image tethered or controlling a 6-light setup from your remote. Now there is a better way to control your lights: the Profoto Desktop App.
Blending continuous lighting and strobes may seem technically daunting, but this helpful video tutorial makes the process look smooth, artistic, and accessible. Check out how it was done.
While many photographers shy away from hard light, thinking it is unflattering, portraits can benefit from judicious application of hard shadows and contrast. This excellent video tutorial will show you how to use hard light to create a dramatic and dynamic portrait.
When it comes to artificial lighting, while technical skills are critical, even more important is learning to light scenes in service of the narrative rather than conspicuous lighting for its own sake. This great video demonstrates that concept and offers five useful steps to put you on the path to success.
Sometimes, you want the look of natural light, but there simply is not enough of it available for a properly balanced exposure. With a little bit of know-how, though, you can replicate the look of natural light, allowing you to create that look whenever and wherever. This helpful video tutorial features an experienced photographer showing you how to do just that.
Creating standout portraits hinges on understanding and controlling light. This excellent video tutorial illuminates how to balance bright sunlight with off-camera flash to sculpt dimension and mood and shows that hard light can be just as compelling as soft light.
The beauty of working with flash is that you can walk into any lighting situation and shape it to your creative vision and needs, and that frees you from relying on the sun to cooperate and to dictate your shoot's timing and location. Perhaps no scenario is more challenging than harsh midday light. This helpful video tutorial will show you how to use off-camera flash to work with that harsh light to create compelling portraits.
It takes a lot of skill and experience to light a portrait of a single person, but lighting groups can be an entirely different challenge. Nonetheless, depending what you shoot, you may be called upon to photograph groups. When that happens, you will want to be ready to transition quickly. This great video tutorial will show you an effective and straightforward approach for producing quality group photos.
Learning to use off-camera flash can feel quite daunting, especially when you combine it with natural light in an outdoor environment. Once you understand and grow comfortable with a few fundamental principles and techniques, though, you will find the entire process much more intuitive and easier to tackle. This fantastic video tutorial features an experienced photographer walking you through an engagement shoot using off-camera flash and natural light to help you learn those crucial fundamentals.