Search results for: photography buying guide studio lighting basics
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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 Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Family portraits are a great way to capture a moment in your family’s history. You may find yourself wanting to capture family photos every few years or so, more often when the little ones are, well, little. Maybe you’re looking for a way to take matters into your own hands, or maybe you’ve been taking your own family photos for years and have found yourself being asked to take photos of friends, family members, or even paying clients.
Family portraits can be a lot of fun to shoot. Maybe you’ve been taking photos of your kids and want to
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Everyone loves cute baby photos. It may seem simple, but these are important images. These little ones won’t be this small again, and they certainly don’t remain that size for long. Whether you have a little experience under your belt or just getting started, one area that can seem overwhelming is lighting. In this guide, we’re looking at the lighting tools needed to capture stunning portraits of infants and newborns.
The Basics
First, some general newborn photography pointers.
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Anyone who has dabbled in pet photography knows that it can be a rewarding yet challenging experience. While pets are considered to be part of the family, they’re still animals who walk to the beat of their own drum and do things at their own pace. Even the best listeners can be easily distracted or have trouble sitting still for more than two seconds. If you’re considering trying your hand at photographing our fuzzy friends, we’ve put together this helpful guide for you. In this guide, we’re going to cover the essentials for those with a
by Zack Young · Posted
While photography tends to get a lot of the spotlight here at B&H, 2025 was also full of groundbreaking cinema lenses, powerful LEDs, and versatile audio equipment. So we thought we'd take a moment to honor unique new favorites in lighting, video, and audio.
Lighting
Nanlite wand RGB LED Light
Yes, it's a tube light with a built-in handle and barn doors, but that's not a bad thing. The Nanlite wand RGB LED Light
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Photography is, by definition, the capture of light on a light sensitive surface. Exactly what kind of light this is in reference to is up to you as the photographer. When we think of lighting for photography we may immediately conjure up images of on-camera speedlights or big studio lights with soft boxes atop towering light stands.
While these lights can give us control over our scene in a variety of lighting conditions, they're not the only way we can light our images. Natural and ambient lighting can be harnessed to dramatic effect, if we
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 Rebecca Melville · Posted
Content creation has exploded into a multi-billion-dollar industry with no signs of slowing down. While it’s true that anyone with a smartphone can become a content creator, the shift toward polished productions might have you browsing some more professional gadgets. Luckily, affordable, easy-to-use gear is widely available for every kind of content creator. Let’s explore some options you might consider snagging for your new hobby or upcoming project.
Best vlogging cameras for content creators
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Food photography is an undeniably popular artistic medium, involving all kinds of people and gear to make those mouthwatering shots possible. If you’re an aspiring food photographer or someone looking to take their existing work to the next level, we’ve put together a special, themed gift guide that’s perfect for any skill level.
1. A 50mm Lens
Whether you are far into your photography career or just starting out, whenever you complete a dish in your kitchen or have a plate placed in front of you at a restaurant, there’s no better starting
by Zack Young · Posted
Once you’re familiar with the basic concepts behind high-volume photography, the next logical step is to figure out what gear you need to purchase. That’s when the panic might hit. Suddenly you’re flooded with decisions about cameras, lenses, strobes, backdrops, barcode scanners, and more, each category including tons of different options at every
by Cory Rice · Posted
The equipment used by fashion photographers varies considerably, depending on what is being photographed and who is behind the camera. In general, the kit requirements for documenting a fashion show are more standardized than those for creating editorials. There are successful fashion photographers who can fit all of their gear in a single bag—and others who require an entire equipment truck. This article is aimed at photographers getting started with fashion productions. Photographers interested in capturing runway should read Theanos Nikitas
by Bjorn Petersen · Posted
There were nearly 200 new lenses released this year, many of which were iterations of an existing lens. Many of the lenses were also wholly new designs, whether first-party designs to pair with a new flagship camera or third-party innovations designed to fill the gaps in existing lineups.
With such a breadth of new lenses available in the past 12 months, we're narrowing things down to cover some of the highlights and most unique or exciting lenses that came out
by Shawn C. Steiner · Posted
New cameras or lenses are great, but they’re not always the easiest gift to give every holiday season. Rather than spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars to please a photographer in your life, you might consider some smaller expendables that every photographer needs. They might not be the snazziest gifts out there, but your photographer will be grateful to have them.
Gaffer Tape
To non-photographers, a roll of tape might seem like the worst gift of all time. However,
by Mary Latvis · Posted
Welcome to Filmmaking 101, where we offer some tips on how to go about creating your movie masterpiece. Read on to discover suggestions for your pre-production, production, and post-production phases.
Pre-Production
Scriptwriting
You have your idea for an arthouse masterpiece or an action-based blockbuster; now how do you translate that into a script―the backbone of your production? You can use MS Word, Google Docs, or another document program. But using dedicated screenwriting software provides the standard formatting, outline tools,
by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
Often, we need to add extra light to a scene to ensure we have enough light to create an image, freeze movement, or simply enhance the scene for the sake of the photograph. The primary way photographers do this is by using a flash.
The electronic flash has been around since 1931 and, today, there are several variations—all with different potential uses for the photographer. Here, we will take a quick look at the types, compare them, and discuss the benefits of each type.
Terminology Basics
Before we dive into flash types, let’s get familiar