One Light Setup Shoot

To create really stunning portraits, you need to understand portrait lighting. Many home photographers must work with very few lights for portraits, simply because they do not have a studio setup and may not be able to afford the expensive light kits. Using one light is simple and inexpensive, and it can create some awesome photos.

1. Choose your portrait light. An umbrella light bounces light off the inside of a metallic-looking umbrella to create soft light. A light soft box goes around the bulb and provides light diffusion at the front for a softer light.

2. Choose your lighting position. For a look at the subject's entire face, point the light down from the top of the camera lens directly onto the subject's face. This is called butterfly lighting. It provides a very direct look at the subject.


 


To create side shadows; place the light to the side and almost behind the subject's face. This is called rim lighting. It provides a very dramatic light and dark portrait.

 



Short lighting means that you place the light on the far side of the face, putting some of the face in shadow. This technique makes faces look thinner. 



Broad lighting means that you light the side of the face that is closest to the lens. This makes the face look fuller.

3. Move the light closer to the subject for a harder, more defined look. Move the light farther away for a softer look.

4. Use reflectors. A piece of aluminum foil or a white box reflects and moves light around a person's face, creating extra lighting effects.

Tips on How to Prevent Red-Eye

Unless you are looking for a monster look you do not want red-eyes in your images. If you follow the tip below you will have better success with this well known issues.

1. If possible, don’t use a flash
   Natural light would be best if possible, but if you have to use a flash try to opt for an external flash as it can be manipulated to allow you to bounce light away from the subject's eyes. You can also try to diffuse the light by using wax paper or a tissue.
2. Don't shoot straight on
   Taking photos straight on is the worst because the flash has more eye coverage. If you tilt the subject's head slightly it will reduce the flash coverage on the eyes.
3. You can always turn on the Red-Eye Reduction feature on the camera
   What this feature does is it will trigger several pre-flashes that will constrict the eyes before the big flash. This give you a ready subject because the pre-flashes exposes the eye to the light. This feature may also slow the camera's shutter speed so if you are taking pictures of moving subjects do not use this feature.
4. Final you can remove those eye in post processing software
   If not else works you can always rely on a post processing software or take the photos to a developing station. There are red-eye removal tools in these softwares that will auto detect the red eyes and remove them.

Cheapest Lighting Kit for Every Photographer

The cheapest lighting kit you will every need for your professional or amateur needs is actually free, and it is around most of the day. You got it, it's the sun. The sun is the most powerful readily available light source for everyone to use. This is good and bad in different cases, but in this post I will show you how to use it to your advantage. You can use the sun as a fill and hair light if you know how to manipulate it using flags and reflectors. You can use flags to help diffuse the harshness of the light that the sun produces, this will help give a much softer look on your subject. After you get rid of the harshness of the sun you can start using reflectors to start placing light back on to your subject as you need. You may use multiple reflectors to get the lighting that you like. The picture below was shot with only one reflector to help with the elimination of shadows.

Welcome

Hello all,

Welcome. My name is Cedric Pollard and I am a fashion photographer. If you are on this blog you must want to learn about the art of model photography. I have acquired a lot of information and skill in my short time of being a photographer and would love to share it with you. The purpose of my blog is to show you different techniques and concepts you can use as a fashion photographer. I will be demonstrating different photography lighting scenarios and ways to make your pictures turn heads. I will also show you what products such as cameras, filters, lighting gear, and reflectors you can purchase without breaking the bank and still produce one-of-a-kind images. If you have always wanted to know the art of model photography this is the blog for you.

Cedric