Understanding fill light and its influence on portraits is a cornerstone for mastering off-camera flash techniques. This helpful video tutorial will show you how fill light can elevate a portrait from good to great.
Coming to you from Pye Jirsa of SLR Lounge | Photography Tutorials, this educational video focuses on the fundamental mistake many photographers make: overlooking the value of fill light in their portraits. Jirsa demonstrates using a model and setting in his naturally lit living room to show how adjusting fill light can dramatically alter the visual outcome. The demonstration underlines how fill light determines the depth of shadows in an image, thereby affecting its overall tone and feel.
Moreover, Jirsa’s approach to teaching, using the CAMP framework (Composition, Ambient light, Modify, Photograph), provides a structured method for photographers to enhance their lighting skills systematically. By adjusting ambient light to set the scene's fill before introducing flash, photographers can achieve a more intentional and refined look in their images. This technique challenges the notion that flash photography must result in dramatic, contrast-heavy images, opening up new creative possibilities for using light in a more nuanced and expressive manner. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Jirsa.
If you would like to continue learning about how to light a portrait, be sure to check out "Illuminating The Face: Lighting for Headshots and Portraits With Peter Hurley!"
