Homemade Photography Lighting Techniques

If you're looking to take your photography further you'll probably want to learn how to use off-camera flash. In this tutorial we show you 6 simple studio light setups that will help you capture some of the classic portrait lighting effects.What's more, these lighting techniques will provide you with a solid foundation from which you can start experimenting to find your own style.In our lighting setups cheat sheet below you'll learn how to use high contrast light at a 90-degree angle; diffused light and a reflector; high contrast light at 45 degrees; high contrast light at 45 degrees with a reflector; low contrast light at 45 degrees with a reflector; and finally rim lighting from behind.Lighting Setup 1: High contrast light at a 90-degree angleA striking result achieved with minimal kit. Using a single flash head at this angle can give an unflattering result, though.The light will show up bumpy skin textures and create stark shadows and bright highlights.Without a diffuser, the quality of light will be high contrast and if placed near the subject will create problems with fall-off where light is spread unevenly across the face.
By not using a reflector, shadows will be deep.Flash photography made easy: master everything from pop-up flash to multiple flashgunsPrint 14 Comments 0 You can produce professional-looking product photos without having to hire a professional photographer. By following simple instructions from online video tutorials, you can create rich product images for very little cost. Here is a list of online video tutorials for product photography. There are general tutorials that walk through a shoot from setup to post, as well as specific tutorials on lighting, do-it-yourself elements, tricks, and problem solving. , follow the photographer through an assignment to shoot seven wine bottles on a white background. This is a great example of how to develop multi-source lighting to create a rich image. This tutorial is an episode of “Digital Photography: One on One,” hosted by Mark Wallace. The show provides answers to questions from its photographer fan base. This episode demonstrates how easy and inexpensive it is to use a light tent to get great product pictures.
Kerry Garrison from Camera Dojo walks through a typical product shot, using his everyday setup. He demonstrates how to adjust white balance and how to set up the camera. This product photography tutorial is by Gavin Hoey, using the tabletop continuous light kit from Smick.co.uk. It shows how to take pictures on white and black backgrounds using a homemade lighting table. Gavin Hoey shows how a simple setup can be effective and repeatable for small product photography – specifically jewelry. He uses the small 50 cm light cube tabletop kit and a reflective white tile background. This tutorial takes you through a complete product shoot workflow, from planning to publishing. It demonstrates how to set up the scene and light the product, how to edit in Lightroom, how to clean it up in Photoshop, and how to publish online. Create your own photographic studio for product photography. Build a simple setup with two sawhorses, a laminated top, sticks in cans, acetate screen, foam core, clamps, and inexpensive can lights.
With these simple tools, learn to diffuse, reflect, and control light for a great image.Best Mold Air Purifier Reviews This tutorial shows how to build a DIY lightbox for product photography. Green Frog Car Seat CoversBuild an inexpensive lightbox out of a box, white t-shirts, and poster paper.Prom Dress Hire In Uk Learn how to light products from professional photographer Mark Bowers. This tutorial shows how to shoot a dark object on a dark background, filling in shadows with a reflector and defining the edges with a separate light.It demonstrates tabletop photography, using only one light and mirrors to shoot product photography. Learn about ideal DIY tools, such as silver poster board and mirrors.It covers photographing shiny metal and the laws of reflection.
Learn how to angle light, eliminate glare, and control your reflections to bring detail to a reflective object. This tutorial, by commercial photographer Dan’L Terry, introduces key light, the primary illuminating light in product photography. It also experiments with multi-source lighting. Here is another tutorial by Gavin Hoey. It demonstrates how to create a dynamic image with water and a bottle. Learn a simple photography trick to bring liquid to life, along with setting your camera and utilizing a flashgun. This tutorial explores problem solving for small product photography. By photographing a watch, it tackles how to highlight the metal frame while preventing glare from the crystal face. Examine possible solutions in pre-production and post-production. In this tutorial by Fstoppers, Lee Morris attempts to shoot a Rolex watch ad using studio lights and reflectors. After the shoot, Lee shows how he used Photoshop to complete the final image. Filmmaking can get expensive quick!
Save yourself some cash and free up some of your budget with this collection of DIY lighting tips. Top image from Wistia The high cost of filmmaking is tough to deny. Cameras, lenses, travel cases… the list of purchases goes on and on, and various lights can take up a big chunk of the list. Luckily, lighting is one field of filmmaking where you can find a lot of money-saving DIY options. Let’s take a look at some video tips and tutorials on DIY lighting that can help you come in under budget. 1. DIY Light Bar! The great Ryan Connolly of Film Riot fame shows us how to build a DIY light bar for less than $60. You’ll probably have most of the materials sitting around your house, and the completed light bar will work with most bulbs. 2. DIY: Make Your Own Basic Lighting Kit at Home In this video tutorial, Luke Leonard, the Lighting Course Director of Full Sail University, walks us through the steps of building and using a DIY light kit from items you can find at your local hardware store for less than $100.
3. DIY Bank Lights The Basic Filmmaker is always an enthusiastic source of helpful DIY tips. In this video, he shows us how to make inexpensive DIY bank lights that can come in handy for your next green screen shoot. 4. Quick Tips: DIY Lighting Kit! Here’s one more from Ryan Connolly that covers a basic (some would say must-have) light kit that should cover most of your needs on set and in the studio. In this video from Indy Mogul, Griffin Hammond builds a powerful video light for only $86, using hardware store parts, and eight 100-watt-equivalent compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs. He also touches on the basics of three-point lighting. While you’re feeling motivated, why don’t you take a minute and check out these other PremiumBeat tips for DIY filmmakers: 5 Effective DIY Dolly Hacks How to Create a DIY Ring Light How to Create DIY Diffusion Panels Got any DIY tips/tricks/hacks to share with the filmmaking community? We’d love to hear about them in the comments below!