A softbox is a box that fits over a flash head or tungsten lamp made of black sides, with white, gold or silver interior and a translucent front where light passes through. A softbox is most popular for it’s soft, even light. Softboxes are used heavily in portrait photography and many other types of commercial …
Monthly Archives: March 2005
Multiple Light Portrait Setup Hints
Understanding multiple light studio portrait setups can be challenging. Here are some tips and hints to consider when using multiple lights in a portrait: As a general rule, the exposure for your portraits should be based upon the main light, with fill light contributing little significant overall exposure. (An exception to this is “high key” …
Basic Portrait Composition
We have been discussing photo composition the last few sessions. I have a request to discuss portrait techniques, so I will be doing several sessions on portrait composition, portrait lighting, and flash photography techniques. Note that there are an infinite number of ways to group portraits, but I want to focus on three general portrait …
Portrait Lighting Styles
A portrait lighting system usually includes at least two light sources, the main and the fill light. Other light sources such as background lights and accent lights can be added, as well. The Main Light, which is also called the main light, is the dominant light source in a portrait lighting setup. Therefore, portrait lighting …
Accent Lighting for Portraits
Accent lighting isn’t always necessary, but can be important, if not essential, in certain situations. If you use a dark background, dark hair and clothing may blend into the background if you do not use a background light or accent lights. A properly placed accent light provides separation between the subject and the background. Background …
Setting Up a Home Studio for Portraiture
You don’t need to rent a warehouse to practice portrait photography. In fact, you can produce stunning effects in your own home. All you need is a bit of space and a trip to the hardware store. Finding Space for your Home Studio Most portraits involve the use of depth of field to accentuate the …
Short Lighting – Studio Lighting Setup
Main light is off from the camera axis Light falls mainly on the side of the face that is farthest from the camera Good for subjects with more round face Popular for dramatic look Move light farther away to produce Rembrandt lighting – creating a triangle of light on the camera side upper cheek
Broad Lighting – Studio Lighting Setup
Main light is close to camera axis Light falls mainly on the side of the face that is closest to the camera Good for subjects with more narrow face
Homemade Backdrops for Portrait Photography
A backdrop is one of the simplest ways to change the feel of your portrait photography. Changing from a classic painter’s drop cloth to bright colored velvet will quickly change the atmosphere from classic to trendy. For this reason, making your own backgrounds is a great way to experiment and find new styles. Homemade backdrops …
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Aluminum Foil Reflectors
Reflectors are extremely useful for studio photography. There are many companies that have built wonderful reflectors in many shapes and sizes. You may find it fun to build your own reflectors in order to experiment before you take the leap into professional gear. The simplest form of homemade reflector can be built with foam core, …