Archive for Lighting – Page 2

Shooting A Wedding Is Like Shooting On The Move

Shooting a wedding is like shooting while you are walking. As a wedding photographer, you are constantly moving, your lighting is constantly changing, your models are not professionals and getting their attention is next to impossible. So with all these obstacles, how do you go about getting those one-of-a-kind beautiful wedding photos? Well in short, you do it quickly.

As a wedding photographer your skills as a professional are never in more need than they are during a wedding. A wedding is a moving photoshoot. From the time that the bride and groom walk down the aisle to the time they are together on the altar the lighting is different. You as a photographer have to be able to adjust for this. You have to know that in the 30 minutes or so after the wedding you have to put together 10 to 30 small portrait sessions when you do the formal portraits of the wedding party. You have to anticipate what your lighting is going to be like when you get to the reception. You have to be ready for anything.

Your first priority is planning. If you have never been to the ceremony location and it is located in the same city you are in I suggest you make a visit prior to the event date. Check the lighting; check out the surroundings and the backgrounds. Scout for the best location to take the formal portraits after the ceremony. Talk with the location event coordinator if possible and ask about rules for photographers during the event. Every location has their own rules and they are all different. If you want to be respected and asked to return I advise that you follow those rules to the best of your ability. I also suggest that you make your client aware of any rules that may impair their perception of how the wedding photography should happen. Read More→

Photography 101: Lighting Alternatives

When one thinks of lighting and photography, the idea of flashes and strobes probably come racing to mind right away. This maybe true for a vast number of photographers, however there are plenty of other ways to get your lighting on, and they will not even break the bank. Some solutions may even surprise you!

Let’s get the easiest lighting source out of the way right now. That solution is natural lighting, or the sun. The sun never runs out of batteries, won’t blow up in the middle of a shoot, and is not something you will need to worry about getting stolen while you are out doing your work. On the downside, you cannot control the sun, and it may not cooperate with you. There is also having to work around those peak times of shooting in the morning and in the evening. Even with its uncontrollable nature, the burning star in the sky is easily the most reliable light you can use.

So what do you do when the sun is blanketed in clouds. Have no fear, as cloudy weather can provide a big benefit to your lighting needs as well. Overcast skies often reduce harsh shadows. This means if you are shooting flowers, bugs, and whatnot, the need for fill light may not be necessary. Clouds also provide a more interesting sky. Learn to work with Mother Nature as she provides some of the best options around! Read More→

Photography 101: Five Things I Learned on My First UrbEx Trip

A couple of weekends ago I was able to take a day away from all my moving and packing shenanigans to hit an abandoned hospital for a little bit of photography fun. Urban Exploration photography is something I rather enjoy to look at, so this opportunity to go on my very first UrbEx trip was rather exciting, and nerve racking at the same time. While I had a ball, I learned a few very important lessons from this trip.

Ghostly Lights

Ghostly Lights

Lesson number one was to pack plenty of lighting options. When we (there was a group of 12 of us) started roaming the hospital, we started in the basement. If you had no lights, this would be an extremely dark area to play in. I had a headlamp and four flashlights to use as I saw fit. The issue I had was that all but one of these lighting options was LED lights. When you have an opportunity to get creative with lighting like this, being limited to only the cold blues that LEDs emit was a tad frustrating. The next time I go, I plan to either get various colored gels for my flashlights, or bring a few different lighting options. Read More→

2011 WPPI Coverage – Promark Brands

Promark Brands Logo

I had the chance to meet with Bob Higgins, Sales and Marketing Manager from Promark Brands, at the 2011 WPPI Trade show and Convention, to talk about their latest lighting systems from Photogenic, Smith-Victor, Norman and Cool-Lux. If you’re looking for Flash units, entry level constant lighting or compact video lighting you’ll want to check out the great products from Promark Brands.

Photogenic LogoSmith-Victor Logo

Norman LogoCool-Lux Logo

Note: The PL625DR (Powerlight Line) does not have an audible flash confirmation, just visual.
We have Lead Acid and NiCAD battery supplies for Cool-Lux, no Nickel Metal Hydride.

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2011 WPPI Coverage – Expo Imaging

Expo Imaging Logo

I had the chance to meet with John Baker from Expo Imaging, at the 2011 WPPI Trade show and Convention, to talk about their new Rogue FlashBenders.

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Create and Share Lighting Diagrams with Strobox

“Wow! That’s a great looking portrait. How did you set that up?” your friend asks. “It was pretty easy,” you say. “I used a softbox and a reflector and a…”

Okay, it’s probably a little hard to describe your lighting set-up for that sweet portrait in any kind of detail. But what if you could create that set up on your iPhone and email or MMS it to your friend? Maybe you are experimenting with a number of lighting set-ups and want to record which ones work best for you?

Regardless the reason for recording your lighting set up, Strobox is the app you need to create lighting set-ups quickly and easily. You may then send them via email or save them in your camera roll for later use. All you do is click to create a new diagram. Your subject and camera appear on screen by default. You may then add items such as backdrops, strobes, softboxes, umbrellas, beauty dishes, speed lights, reflectors, and more. Items are easily placed and rotated to meet your needs. Once you are finished, simply save the diagram and share it as you see fit. It’s just that simple. Read More→