Search results for: photography buying guide flash photography for portraits
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by Luke Rollins · Posted
There comes a time in a photographer’s life—usually after some consistent success with an on-camera flash—when they say to themselves, "I’m ready to make my own light on demand." Thus begins a seemingly never-ending journey—first mastering the basics, then trying to put some feeling and expression into their photos.
Assuming you’re versed in
by Shawn C. Steiner · Posted
After you pick up your first speedlight, strobe, or LED panel, the best investment you can make is in some modifiers. These are tools that shape and alter the intensity of our light source. Modifiers come in all shapes and sizes based on the type of light you plan to use them on, which can make it difficult to pick one out if you are new to photography. Since each modifier comes with its own distinct look and ideal use, here is a
by Cory Rice · Posted
The trick with any home studio is in creating a space that can be used to create images that do not betray the fact that you shot them in your living room, in your pajamas, using your pet dog as an assistant. Luckily, creating a home studio can be done fairly easily without breaking the bank. This article will help get you up and running.
Planning Your Studio
Before making any purchases, it is important to sit down first and answer some basic questions about what you want your studio to accomplish. First, what type of photographs do you plan
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
One of the most effective ways to improve your portraiture is by controlling the light, and one of the most effective ways to control your light is to move it. Seems like a simple enough concept, but it can be daunting at first, especially if you're using a speedlight or an on-camera flash. Despite its misleading name, an on-camera flash can, very easily, be used off the camera. The "on-camera" part simply refers to its form factor
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Getting great pictures of your newborn or infant is certainly no easy task. Indeed, the window of opportunity for coaxing a perfect expression and a picturesque pose from your little bundle of joy is fleeting, at best. For parents (and others) who aspire to capture such moments, user-friendly gear, highly functional accessories, and photogenic props can make all the difference. With this in mind, here are our best recommendations to help make photo sessions with your unpredictable little darlings a success.
Pick the Right Camera for the Job
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
While much of what makes a great family portrait photographer comes with practice, there are ways you can improve your workflow with the right gear. Today, we’re going to look at accessories that will make your life as an at-home or even aspiring professional portrait photographer easier.Family portraits can be one of the most challenging yet rewarding genres of photography. On top of technical expertise and a familiarity with your gear, it also requires personability and the ability to (sometimes) wrangle up large groups. Even after you get a
by Bjorn Petersen · Posted
When working with flash lighting, it is rarely the case that bare-bulb flash is the ideal choice for lighting subjects, especially when those subjects are wedding participants and your objective is to create inviting, flattering light. Flash can be modified in several ways, which all effectively diffuse and redirect the initial light source into a broader, more aesthetically pleasing source that is ideally suited for creating interesting and controllable illumination.
Softboxes and umbrellas are two of the most frequently used light modifiers
by Cory Rice · Posted
Portrait photographers take many forms, from casual household paparazzi to dedicated studio professionals. Whether the portraitist you are shopping for specializes in celebrity portraits or social media selfies, let me help you check them off your list.
Profoto A2 Monolight
Profoto's newest light is a jack-of-all-trades for portrait photographers. About the size of a soda can and weighing not much more, the A2 travels like an extra lens in
by Cory Rice · Posted
One of the leading trends in digital cameras over the past few years has been the development of advanced video capabilities in mirrorless and DSLR cameras. Features that could once only be found in costly cinema cameras now come standard in still cameras targeted toward hybrid photo-video content creators. Accompanying the interest in cameras able to create high-quality stills and videos has come a demand for lights that can be used for both purposes.
While on-camera flashes and strobes have long been the standard for photographers, the short
by John Harris · Posted
Whether you want to photograph your pets, pamper them, study them, or memorialize them for eternity, B&H has a wide array of gifts that will appeal to animal enthusiasts. Let’s have a look at a few possibilities.
Fisheye Lenses
Not for fish, but perfect for taking fun pictures of your dog, cat, or bunny rabbit. Extreme wide perspectives from a fisheye lens create pet portraits with exaggeratedly long noses and elongated whiskers. They are also great for capturing action shots, like a dog in mid-frisbee jump. Check out these screw-on
by Jill Waterman · Posted
No matter how many lenses a photographer has, there are often added lenses we still wish for, and even more lenses after which we lust.
There are so many options that choosing your next lens can often involve a dizzying cavalcade of choices—manufacturers, focal lengths, prime or zoom functionality, auto or manual focusing, and price. Below, we offer up some thoughts on what your next lens might be based on your shooting preferences and needs.
To keep things simple, our suggestions are based on the use of a full-frame camera—those seeking a
by M. Brett Smith · Posted
Portrait photography, or portraiture, remains one of the most popular genres of photography today—and for good reason. Portraits are compelling; they are evocative. Portraits tell a story; they elicit an emotion. Shot correctly, a portrait can reveal the true essence of a person, who they are and what they feel. According to Godard, portraiture is tantamount to capturing the soul. About what other medium or form of expression could you say such a thing?
As with most genres of photography, portraiture is not beholden to any one specific
by Cory Rice · Posted
Like vinyl records and your father’s wardrobe, instant cameras are back and as popular as ever. Alongside refurbished and reimagined analog cameras, many new hybrid models combine the benefits of digital capture with the immediacy of instant film. Polaroid and FUJIFILM continue to produce “true” instant film stock—the kind you expose and then wait to see develop. They share the market with a new thermal printing technology, ZINK, short for “Zero Ink,” a borderless printing process that has risen in popularity, particularly with hybrid cameras
by John Harris · Posted
If you have someone under 20 years old in your life, you probably know that photo prints are in fashion again. I’m not necessarily referring to darkroom prints on fiber paper, but prints made from disposable cameras that appear in an envelope after being sent “somewhere” and, more so, prints from instant cameras. FUJIFILM and the INSTAX series of cameras have been popular for years, but several other brands have entered the market and are making
by John Harris · Posted
When you think of photography accessories, of what do you think? Cameras? Of course, they’re not. Lenses? No, too integral. Tripods? I feel they are their own item, not an accessory. Flashes? I say yes, because what good is a flash without a camera, but Nikon lists flashes as their own category, not an accessory. Can we all just agree that straps and caps are accessories and if not, how do you define an accessory?
Speedlights
For the sake of this article, let’s start with flashes, a.k.a. speedlights. The top of the line from Nikon is the