Shots of shampoo bottles plunging into water, wrapped in bubbles and topped with a crown of splash, look like luck caught at the right instant. Most of that look comes from planning, and the planning behind it answers a question you run into across product work: how to keep a subject exactly where you want it while everything around it moves.
Polished golf clubs reflect everything around them, so a light that flatters one club can leave the one beside it flat and glaring. Shiny, curved metal is one of the hardest subjects to light, and the decisions that solve it carry over to watches, jewelry, cutlery, and anything else with a chrome finish.
Rim light and fill light pull against each other in a high-key portrait: brighten one, and the other suddenly looks weak. Getting the two to share the frame is what separates a bright, clean beauty shot from one that looks flat or burned out.
Rain forecast for hours, gone in two minutes, followed by sun, clouds, wind, and a location that shut down mid-shoot. That's the exact scenario behind this off-camera flash session, and it turns into a lesson far more useful than the tidy tutorial that was planned.
A single black-and-white board can do the work of a reflector, a flag, a backdrop, and a negative fill panel, all in the same shoot. Learning to read light and shape it with one tool beats buying five separate modifiers.
The question of flash versus continuous light comes up constantly, and the honest answer sits somewhere between "barely any difference" and "a huge one," depending on what you're shooting. Both can produce nearly identical portraits, yet the way you work with each changes how you shoot, how you meter, and how much room you need.
Most studio shooters own a pile of modifiers and swap them constantly, but a single 48-inch octa can produce soft, moody, and hard light without ever leaving the stand. Learning to read what one modifier does under different conditions builds more control than owning ten of them.
Have you ever wanted to run away to a cabin in the woods, live off grid, and just create freely? It sounds like a dream, but modern photo and video workflows require too much power to make it a reality, that is, until now.
Most photographers will tell you the same thing: don't use a fisheye for portraits.
It distorts faces. It bends lines. It makes people look weird. And honestly, they're not wrong.
But they're also not thinking about it the right way.
Want to reclaim your desk space and maybe even reduce the pain in your neck by optimizing your viewing angle? Consider a monitor arm. Here, we take a look at the HUANUO FlowLift™ Single Monitor Mount (formerly SS6, but still model HNSS6). I also discuss the HUANUO Universal VESA Mount Adapter Kit (Model HNMUA4), which was needed for my particular monitor. How well did they work?
Dancers are among the most technically demanding subjects to photograph, and most of the challenge has nothing to do with dance knowledge. Understanding how a dancer's movement, positioning, and body lines interact with your camera, your light, and your background is what separates a compelling image from a wasted session.
One of the most common comments we get online is, "One day I'll create when I have a studio."
So David and I decided to challenge that idea. Over the next 100 days, we are building 25 photo sets inside our attic.
Laowa's new probe zoom lenses are finally here, and they might be some of the strangest lenses ever made. For the last two months, I've been shooting with the most unusual of the bunch—the 15-35mm T12 Periscope Lens—and the shots it produces are unlike anything I've ever captured before. Let's dive in and see what makes this lens so unique.
A cluttered studio turns simple decisions into scavenger hunts, and that bleeds into the work. Here's how to fix the issue.
Studio gear multiplies until your space feels more like storage than a place to shoot. This video tackles that problem by imagining a completely fresh studio and choosing seven pieces of equipment that actually deserve floor space and budget.
This new tripod from Manfrotto is trying to win your loyalty by offering to do everything you’d want a tripod to do. If you have various workflows and want to minimize your gear options, this might be for you.
The Godox X3Pro is a new TTL wireless flash trigger promising unprecedented control. It brings a 2.4-inch touchscreen, control over four groups, and expanded per-light adjustments to your lighting workflow.
So you’ve got a camera, lenses, lights, and a spare space to turn into a studio—perhaps a garage, basement, or garden room. Now what? Having previously run commercial studio premises, and now lucky enough to have my own creative space at home, in this article I share the essential non-photographic items that keep you focused on creating.
I entered the field and profession of photography in 1978, having worked as a photographer’s assistant for two years.
As anyone browsing Fstoppers articles knows, practicing photography comes with a hefty price tag. Cameras, lenses, and lighting gear are investments that deserve protection. Even in the safety of a home studio or home office setup, while break-ins may be rare for many, the risk of accidents or unexpected visitors can threaten valuable equipment.
There is a moment in every photographer’s career when a single camera bag is no longer enough. Maybe it starts with one C-stand, then a sandbag, a hard case of lenses, a power station, and before you know it, you are making three trips back to the car. This is the point where you have to stop looking for a bigger bag and start looking for a smarter solution.
There’s a reason why Manfrotto is one of the most trusted brands for professional camera support gear around the world. These Legacy Edition tripods show us that.
With power stations, everyone wants more capacity and longer life, but nobody wants to lug around a 60-pound brick. The Dabbsson 2000L aims to strike a balance by packing 2 kWh of energy storage into a surprisingly portable form factor at a very competitive price point. Is the Dabbsson 2000L an ideal entry point for creators looking for a large power station?
Grip equipment might not sound exciting, but mastering these essentials can save you headaches and streamline any shoot. Having the right gear is critical—not just to keep your set running, but also to make your work smoother, safer, and more professional.
If you’re a one-person crew or working with a small team on photo production, you’ll know the pain—especially when it comes to lighting setups. It can be one of the most frustrating parts of a shoot. It’s not just about turning a light on.
Don’t think you have enough space at home for a studio? Laura BC knows how to make the most of what’s at hand, and her latest video is a goldmine for overcoming your limitations when it comes to shooting space.
The arrival of a new flagship from a top camera maker inevitably sparks a debate regarding how much sense it makes to upgrade to the latest model. Camera makers boast of the many improvements their new models offer, but each photographer must determine if those improvements are worth the cost of upgrading.
Profoto just announced their new 500 Ws studio strobe, the D30. I've been playing with it for the last few weeks, and today I am finally able to share with you a full photoshoot using this powerful light.
Invaluable advice on why photographers, particularly those more advanced in their careers, should reconsider the practice of spontaneous, unplanned test shoots in fashion and beauty photography.
Hiring a photo assistant can significantly enhance your workflow. Their role is often misunderstood or underutilized, but understanding how and when to hire one can make your shoots more efficient and less stressful.
Creating a professional photography studio at home can feel daunting, but it doesn't have to be. This helpful video tutorial shows you how to create stunning portraits in a small home studio using minimal equipment.
Let's be real, photography gear can get expensive. Between cameras, lenses, lighting, and backdrops, the cost of setting up a studio can quickly drain your bank account. But what if there was a way to create a functional studio without breaking the bank?
When it comes to equipment, I'm looking for ways to simplify. I try to find tools that make my life as a photographer and videographer easier. And with the Zhiyun Fiveray M20 and M20c lights, I can achieve that, as I show in this article.
There has been constant talk about the new OM System OM-1 Mark II in Micro Four Thirds Facebook groups since it was first announced. So, is this new flagship camera worth the upgrade?
There's one easy way to find out: watch this comprehensive in-depth review about the OM-1 Mark II brought to you by Thomas Eisl.
Doing a photoshoot with slime was my Nickelodeon-inspired childhood dream come true. We used 20 gallons of blue slime in this shoot, and it created some wild photos.
If you’re like me and live somewhere with out-of-control housing costs, finding somewhere with enough space to shoot in can be difficult, to say the least. Having built out a home studio in a major city, here’s why I did it, but also how.
Is it really necessary to have your own photo studio? Here's why I let go of my own photo studio and use PeerSpace instead.
Go behind the scenes with photographer Thierry Kuba to observe how he lights, shoots, and edits this high-speed flash project with water splashes. Learn the techniques he uses, listen to discussion of his mistakes, and take in all of his tips and tricks along the way.
I took a chance on purchasing a no-frills £12 tether cable to see how it performs in comparison to other well-known brand cables. If you shoot tethered, you might want to read on.
Standing desks have become somewhat ubiquitous over the last few years and hold a number of benefits for photographers and content creators. Having used them in the past with mixed results, I was pleasantly surprised by the standing desk from FlexiSpot in terms of quality, form, and function.
Normally, when we take photos, we save them to the memory card, pop that card into our computer, and download the images to Lightroom or whatever cataloging program we choose. However, many studio photographers use tethering to bypass the logistics of working with a memory card, but it offers more advantages than just the convenience.
As a photographer, how many times have you wished you had a portable power source in remote locations? Whether for outdoor lighting or simply to power some tools, this 1,200 W power station might just be what you were wishing for.
Constant lights are traditionally used for video work. But I think they make for the perfect solution for a photography studio.
James Quantz Jr is one of the best portrait photographers out there, with his innovative lighting and dramatic concepts making for eye-catching images. While every portrait photographer knows the importance of things like lights, there are some other items that we think about less often, but that can be tremendously useful on a shoot.
Have you ever fantasized about transforming a corner of your home into a professional photography haven? Are you eager to cut costs, minimize stress, and craft remarkable images for your clients, all from the comfort of your own space? If so, this article is for you.
Mother’s Day is an important day for any mother, but it is even more exciting for the soon-to-be mother.
Many expecting mothers are excited in the lead-up to Mother’s Day, thinking about how they will soon hold their babies in their arms. Plus, for first-time expecting mothers, this is the first year they are recognized as mothers or soon-to-be mothers.
You don’t have to spend big bucks to get a virtual wall these days. Bring your studio to life with just three televisions.
Epic Light Media is showing off their new virtual studio setup. Sometimes known as a “mixed-reality” studio, this is as much an elevated look as it is a time-saver. Thankfully, this version isn’t too much commitment.