Remove the complications and long lists of equipment that you think you need to create stunning portraits. Look at what Irene Rudnyk can achieve shooting with this simple LED light set up in her living room.
Irene is conducting a photoshoot in her small living room with two models and has opted to use Zhiyun Molus G200 LED lights paired with Zhiyun parabolic softboxes. The compact LED lights are ideal in such a tight working space.
After all these years, I am still amazed by the diversity of possibilities that can be achieved with a one-light setup just by positioning and modifying the light in varying ways. In this video, Irene is using a technique called feathering the light, which takes some of the punch out of the light falling on the subjects, assisting with the painterly feel in the results. After making a number of portraits with this one-light setup, Irene adds a second light for comparison.
The behind-the-scenes video is an interesting view into the inner workings of a shoot with minimal equipment, shot in a makeshift studio. A studio, after all, is just a space where you can control the light.
Irene recommends LED lights over strobes for beginners for studio lighting because there is no manual needed and you are able to see where the light falls in real-time, responding and adjusting to learn as you go.
note to ed: Thanks for using the five W's to introduce this article. You get points for this! Irene- Nice work on this video. I like your set up explanations and recommendations.