lighting 24 - Behind the Shutter

3 Go-To Lighting Setups for High-Volume Headshots

Post author:Gary Hughes
Post category:Commercial Photography Headshots Lighting Shutter Magazine
Reading time:10 mins read

My first paying gig as a photographer was shooting headshots of doctors at a medical convention, packed into a tiny corner of a trade show booth. Back then I didn’t quite understand the impact that type of situation would have on my methods of lighting. Every technique I developed over the next decade was based around learning to shoot a great, professional portrait quickly and in just about any location. I’ve since refined the process, and have found that most of my lighting for high-volume headshots can be categorized into three main techniques.

Choosing the Best Off-Camera Lighting for Your Budget

Post author:Michael Anthony
Post category:Lighting Product Spotlight Shutter Magazine Wedding Photography
Reading time:9 mins read

We are currently going through a lighting revolution. Off-camera flash technology is progressing quickly. The technology for low-noise, high-ISO sensors has improved over the past five years. Flashes are becoming less expensive and coming with more features. If you are not using off-camera flash, there has never been a better time to start. Here are a few of my recommendations for equipment.

Using Off-Camera Flash to Create Dramatic Images

Post author:Raph Nogal
Post category:Lighting Shutter Magazine Wedding Photography
Reading time:7 mins read

Light is pretty much everywhere, you just have to find it. Just because you find light doesn’t mean it is good light. As a full-time wedding photographer, it’s part of my job to find the best light to flatter my subjects. My groom wants to look cool and my bride wants to look beautiful. When good light is available, I’ll certainly use it, but it’s not always there. But guess what is always available? My off-camera flash.

Powerful & Portable Lighting for Destination Photography

Post author:Phillip Blume
Post category:Lighting Product Spotlight Shutter Magazine
Reading time:12 mins read

As a photographer known for my creative use of small “pocket” flashes, I long resisted transitioning into the world of larger studio strobes. But I did my research and became intrigued by Phottix's system. If you shoot like I do, Phottix may be your ideal all-in-one setup for powerful, portable destination photography.

Using Consistent Lighting to Brand Your Business

Post author:Vanessa Joy
Post category:Branding Lighting Shutter Magazine
Reading time:8 mins read

Nothing affects your ability to gain and maintain business like learning how to light in a way that defines your brand image. If you haven’t honed in on your photography brand image yet, now is the time to start. You have control over lighting like no other businessperson does. There are three easy ways you can start displaying a strong brand using lighting as your guide.

Light Through a Wedding Day

Post author:Christine Yodsukar
Post category:Lighting Shutter Magazine Wedding Photography
Reading time:10 mins read

If you’re overwhelmed by the technical side of lighting, don’t fear. You can try these simple approaches to wedding day lighting. As with every part of the wedding day, I apply in-studio lighting techniques to my photographs using my keylight (the main light), hair light (light that separates the subject from the background) and fill light (fills in the shadows). The mood I want to create changes throughout the day as the story I am telling changes, so my light sources vary from natural to artificial.

Beauty Lighting Made Easy

Post author:Michael Corsentino
Post category:Lighting Shutter Magazine
Reading time:8 mins read

In beauty light, there are several tried and true tools and techniques guaranteed to create gorgeous light every time. In this article, I demonstrate the basics of beauty lighting, lighting pattern and fill light options, introducing accent lights and best tools and techniques to get the job done right.

Mastering the Golden Hour

Post author:Brian MacStay
Post category:Lighting Shutter Magazine Wedding Photography
Reading time:10 mins read

Why do we covet those last few minutes of light at the end of the day? Obviously, the golden light is much easier to work with. It’s the beauty and versatility of the light that we cherish. Most importantly, it provides us more options for creatively capturing our couple’s love story. The key to successful wedding portraiture at golden hour is flexibility.

How I Got the Shot – NYC Concept Shoot

Post author:Sal Cincotta
Post category:How I got the shot Lighting Shutter Magazine
Reading time:5 mins read

Recently I had the honor of working with and photographing the beautiful Bella. I met Bella and her family at ShutterFest 2017. She was one of the models for the event. At the time, I didn’t have a chance to work with her one on one, but I knew I wanted to spend some time and try some new concepts with her.

Making Something Out of Nothing

Post author:Raph Nogal
Post category:Lighting Shutter Magazine Wedding Photography
Reading time:6 mins read

There is an expectation for professional wedding photographers to deliver our best work at every single wedding. Location can certainly help with this. It’s a lot easier to create impactful images in the streets of Venice than Flint. Now, I don’t know about you, but I rarely get to shoot in the streets of Venice, and still create artistic, impactful images for my clients on a consistent basis. You need to set yourself up for success.