Julie Powell is a photographer, writer and educator, offers unique photographic opportunities and inspirational ideas to help YOU become the photographer you wish to be.
All in Lighting
Using a projection unit like the Godox AK-R21 is a technique that can take your studio portraits to the next level.
Hollywood lighting is famous for its dramatic and cinematic effects. It has become a signature style of films and TV shows, making them more visually appealing and engaging.
There’s something about the natural beauty and tranquillity of a garden that makes it an ideal subject for capturing with a camera.
I adore doing fantasy/fairytale-themed photoshoots. I recently did an Aladdin/I dream of Jeannie-inspired portrait session, with harem pants, belly dancer outfits, Turkish rugs and hookah pipes — the whole bit. So much fun. I also have this fabulous little wooden treasure chest which is perfect for making a little bit of magic happen.
Let’s be real: Sometimes we’re working in cramped quarters and it can be tough. But don’t worry, we’ve got tricks for reflecting light to help make the most of even the smallest spaces!
Let’s take a look at different types of lighting for portrait photography. The key is to know what type of portraits you want to photograph. The type of portrait, the mood and the requirement of the photo all play important roles in determining the best lighting setup for a portrait photoshoot.
I truly believe that these lighting techniques are important in portrait photography. They help to create different moods and emphasize different facial features. They allow the photographer to control the direction and quality of light falling on the subject. As such, they allow you to shape your subject’s appearance and create a desired visual impact. I personally use all three and even a combination of them in most of my studio portraits.
I switched over to Godox a couple of years ago. They have made my life so simple and easy. In and out of the studio. Out of the box, the Godox AD200Pro has no complex menus, it’s simple but oh-so powerful. I adore it so much I bought a second one! Let’s have a closer look!
I recently posted how I got the shot of these yummy chocolate brownies. While I had everything set up, I figured I would replicate the shot without all the high-tech gear, just some simple lights and my mobile phone.
Simple can be good. In this modern age of gizmos and gadgets, where you need to figure out what’s what, the Adaptalux studio lighting kit is a welcome bit of gear. Out of the box, it has no complex menus, it just works. You can adjust the beam and the brightness. While it looks a little alien-like, it’s a fantastic LED light source for macro and product photography. Let’s have a closer look!
Have you ever really stopped and looked at what’s out your front door? Or even your backdoor? Without ever leaving your property, sometimes it’s worth having a second look at what marvels you have. And not just for macro photography either.
Sometimes when working with natural light, you can’t always get the most flattering image, especially when it comes to food photography. That’s where using a supplemental speed light can help dramatically.
Depending on where you live it’s either Spring or Fall. Either way, chances are you’re bound to have a few days that the weather is just miserable and you really don’t feel like leaving the house and having a photography adventure. But don’t let that bring you down, why not make the most of the dreary weather and have an indoor photography adventure?
I put together exactly how I got the shot with this cool gel lighting set up in the studio with LED Light panels.
I put together exactly HOW I got the shot with this cool coffee setup in the studio with a single speed light.
Stunning food photography in natural window light is a quick and cost-effective way to capture gorgeous food images.
I put together exactly HOW I got the shot of these beautiful red tulips in the studio with my strobe lights.
Here’s a funny thing, some photographers will ONLY use natural light, claiming they don’t NEED artificial light … while some studio photographers claim they ONLY use artificial light.
There are lots of different lighting styles out there to choose from, but when it comes to simple, beautiful portraits, it's hard to go past clamshell lighting.
Occasionally I do like to capture some of the action in the studio with High-Speed Sync (HSS). But what is HSS?
