You can do quite a lot with natural light, but if you want to truly take full control of your photos, learning how to work with artificial light is the way to go. If you are wondering how to get started, this excellent video tutorial will guide you through the process of shooting outdoor portraits using a speedlight and affordable shoot-through umbrella.
Coming to you from our good friend, Pye Jirsa, with SLR Lounge, this great video tutorial will get you up and running with artificial lighting. In this case, Jirsa is shooting portraits with a dramatic sky behind his subject. This is a popular look, as it makes for a fantastic background. The problem, however, is that if you expose for the sky, your subject will be underexposed, while if you expose for your subject, the sky will likely be blown out. The way around this is to expose for the sky before you add any flash, then use the flash to bring the exposure on your subject into balance with the rest of the image. It is an excellent way to start learning about working with artificial light. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Jirsa.
