Memoirs of Steph

Lighting

Added 2021-11-28 22:29:48 +0000 UTC

For the longest time I stuck with natural lighting because studio lighting or strobes and continuous intimidated me; additionally, lighting can get very expensive. When you finally do break into strobe or continuous photography for portraits, product photography, or even cinematography it makes all the difference and opens new opportunities to create and ultimately get hired.

I made a deal with my self for a year to only use strobe and artificial lighting in my work, and I practiced on my wife.

2018 using an Avenger C-Stand with profto B1 and a 36" diffuser

Understanding artificial lighting can also help you understand natural light and when its best to shoot. We all know golden hour is the times to shoot, but you can adjust your styles to match the time of day, clouds, and refections.

2017 natural lighting

It's all about your style and how you want to shoot. If you have no interest in studio lighting after trying it, don't wasted your time, but rather refine your style in a way that you enjoy. If you don't enjoy it, you won't keep with it.

Part of the reason I have survived so many awful interactions with clients is my passion and happiness to create; and taking photos of my wife takes me to that creative zone.

As it stands now I use 2 Profoto B10's (strobes) with one profoto A1 that servers as both studio strobe or a on camera flash for weddings and event coverage.

On the continous lighting side I use mainly for video production, I use 8 Nanolite Pavotubes, 1 Aputure 120ii, and a 12" Neewer LED panal light

My wife and I filming content for a clients website 2021 (notice the key light and the back light which will seperate the subject from the background.)