Used Photography Lighting Equipment
Using Natural Light To Take Studio Quality Images
There’s a lot to be said about a fully equipped photo studio, filled to the brim with expensive lights and equipment just waiting to be applied to some artistic task. Unfortunately, most people who love photography as a hobby, don’t have the budget to spend money on a professional lighting equipment setup. If you’re only shooting pictures as a hobby, there is really no good reason to spend money on lighting equipment that you won’t regularly use. If you want to create studio quality images without buying a lot of expensive equipment, here are some tips you can use to get great results.
Get Out Your Paint Brush
Whenever you go to shoot, always remember that all surfaces either reflect or absorb light so keep this in mind especially when designing a room for taking pictures. If you know you’re not able to add a bunch of lights to a room, try painting the entire thing white (even the floor, if possible). The white walls will help to bounce the light around for a more even tone.
Make Your Own Reflectors
If you want to create soft and even light, you need to learn how to “bounce” the light off of the umbrellas or reflectors for the best results. Though this is hard to do without a few different light sources, you can mimic the effect by making your own reflectors to use when you shoot. A white sheet, large piece of poster board, or even some Styrofoam from a construction site can do wonders in this role, and will help to soften the shadows created when you only have one main light source (like the sun).
Create Your Own Backdrops
You may not be able to have a large selection of photo backdrops like in a professional studio, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun creating one of your own. You can use bed sheets for basic colors and then if you want to get creative you can always use paint to create a pattern or add color. If you hang these backdrops opposite a large window (or garage door opening), you’ll get the same effects as using a fill light pointed at them.
Know How to Use Your Flash
Direct flash can often make an image look shallow and cause harsh shadows, but when used correctly you will find it a great resource. Focus on bouncing it off surfaces around your subject whenever possible, and only use it to fill in the shadows from the front. One good way to think about using flash, is that if the image doesn’t look like it needs a flash, that’s a good time to use one for additional fill lighting.
Watch Your Time
The brightness and quality of the light will change depending upon the time of day. If you set up a backdrop facing the clear, early morning light, then use one of your homemade reflectors to soften the shadows and you’ll be surprised at how professional the final image looks. You should practice taking pictures at different times of the day so you know when the lighting is at its best, then schedule your sessions for these exact times so you can get the best possible lighting.
Don’t forget that studio lights are designed to simulate natural light as this is the type of lighting that is the most appealing. If you know how to harness this light and make it work for you, there’s absolutely no reason that you shouldn’t be able to generate images that compete with those created in the most expensive studio in town. All it takes is a bit of creativity and the will to make it work, and you can have your own makeshift studio in no time at all. Really, the tools that you use to get studio lighting doesn’t matter as long as you get the quality results that you want.
About the Author
Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames. Your Picture Frames offers a wide variety of beautiful gold leaf silver picture frames and silver leaf picture frames so you’ll be sure to find a frame that you’ll love. Shop online and see our selection of wooden silver leaf picture frames or call 1-800-780-0699.
|
|
8.5 ft Collapsible Photography Studio Light Stand – Multi Purpose, Can be used with Lights, Softboxes, Reflectors, Backgrounds & MANY Other Studio Equipment Pieces $25.95 This light stand is constructed from aluminum alloy, giving it exceptional strength for heavy duty work. For simple storage and transport, the stand collapses easily and is very lightweight to carry. Its solid locking capabilities ensure the safety of your lighting equipment when in use. Compliant with industry standards, this stand supports all major photo equipment including reflectors, softboxe… |
|
|
6ft Collapsible Photography Studio Light Stand – Multi Purpose, Can be used with Lights, Softboxes, Reflectors, Backgrounds & MANY Other Studio Equipment Pieces $20.95 This 6.23′ light stand is constructed from aluminum alloy, giving it exceptional strength for heavy duty work. For simple storage and transport, the stand collapses easily and is very lightweight to carry. Its solid locking capabilities ensure the safety of your lighting equipment when in use. Compliant with industry standards, this stand supports all major photo equipment including reflectors, so… |
|
|
6ft Collapsible Photography Studio Light Stand – Multi Purpose, Can be used with Lights, Softboxes, Reflectors, Backgrounds & MANY Other Studio Equipment Pieces $20.49 This 6.23′ light stand is constructed from aluminum alloy, giving it exceptional strength for heavy duty work. For simple storage and transport, the stand collapses easily and is very lightweight to carry. Its solid locking capabilities ensure the safety of your lighting equipment when in use. Compliant with industry standards, this stand supports all major photo equipment including reflectors, so… |
|
|
Master Lighting Guide for Wedding Photographers (Paperback) $24.59 Master the demanding lighting needs for weddings of any variety with this comprehensive guide from an industry expert. All the basics are covered, including how to choose and use the right equipment, how to control light and shadow while… |
|
|
Master Lighting Guide for Commercial Photographers $26.29 From lighting glass objects to photographing models indoors and out, this handbook demonstrates how to effectively use and manipulate light using a variety of traditional and unconventional lighting equipment. Written for both the professiona… |
|
|
Off Camera Flash (Paperback) $22.59 A guide to off-camera flash photography cover such topics selecting the right equipment, using simple and complex flash setups, modifying the flash for softer lighting, creating close-up images, combining motion with off-camera flash, and adding neurta… |
|
|
Lighting for Glamour Photography $7.48 Light is the key to quality glamour photography, and Lighting for Glamour Photography is for any photographer looking to take his or her glamour photography to the next level. Photographers learn how to analyze light; how to make it work for them; and ultimately, how to take better, high-quality glamour photographs. With clear and easy-to-understand diagrams next to each photo explaining how the shot was set up-the position of the lights, the filters, film, camera, and lens used-photographers will feel ready to choose the right equipment, set up their own shots, and get solid results from the beginning. This new edition has been completely updated to include information on digital photography, as well as to reflect current styles in glamour photography. |
|
|
Artificial Lighting for Photography $40.53 Artificial Lighting for Photography clearly explains the use of artificial lighting of all types through a rich combination of detailed diagrams, visual examples, and practical instruction. Written for beginning photographers, the book introduces and explains the basic concepts of lighting techniques and the relevant equipment and hardware before going on to cover the latest advances in lighting equipment and digital capture devices. This fundamental knowledge is then used to teach key techniques that will help readers utilize the equipment effectively in their work. Equally emphasizing both studio and location environments, Artificial Lighting for Photography describes methods for solving a variety of challenges so that readers will gain a thorough understanding of how and why artificial lighting techniques work. |
|
|
Lighting for Portrait Photography $25.48 Great portraits are more than technique. They demand a broad range of skills…and a way with people. Lighting for Portrait Photography looks at the work of top photographers who reveal exactly how their finest portraits were created, and the beautiful full-color examples throughout the book show famous and unknown faces in commercial, editorial, and personal work. Many different styles of portraiture are covered, from simple set-ups using one light to more advanced multi-light plans. This fully revised edition of a popular original includes completely new lighting diagrams and the latest equipment and techniques. * Great examples and explanations from top photographers* Portraits of the famous and the not-so-famous–and how each image was created* Fully revised and updated with new lighting diagrams and more |
|
|
Photography $22.98 This best-selling, comprehensive guide to photography—featuring superb instructional illustrations—is the most cutting-edge photography book on the market. It offers extensive coverage of digital imaging—with the latest technological developments, such as Web page design and formatting photos on CD-ROMs. Chapter topics explore the process of getting started, camera, lens, film and light, exposure, processing the negative, mounting and finishing, color, digital camera, digital darkroom, lighting, special techniques, view camera, zone system, seeing photographs, and the history of photography. Step-by-step instructions include a “Lights Out” feature to help learners better identify darkroom techniques. For anyone with a personal or professional interest in photography. |
|
|
The Lighting Cookbook for Fashion and Beauty Photography $19.48 ? Step-by-step recipes for great pictures? Demystifies lucrative fashion and beauty photography ? Beautiful examples with diagrams and instructions?everything the photographer needs in the studio or on location Learning to set up, use, and control lighting is the biggest challenge for photographers in the field of fashion and beauty. Never fear! This book shows exactly how to become a lighting master. Dozens of stunning examples?some taken in a studio, others on location?are analyzed with set up details, lens choices, composition decisions, and lighting diagrams, plus step-by-step directions on re-creating the look. From an inventory of every essential piece of equipment, with a full explanation of how, when and why to use each one, to an in-depth discussion of the film versus digital formats, The Lighting Cookbook for Fashion and Beauty Photography is the complete guide to mastering this popular and lucrative genre. |
|
|
Lighting for Nude Photography, Revised Edition $25.48 Lighting a nude can be challenging. How does a photographer turn a naked body into a work of art? Learn the top tips and techniques from Lighting for Nude Photography, now in a fully revised and updated edition of the acclaimed original. The photographs, including full nude art photos, semi-nude erotica, and much more, are beautiful and inspiring, and the lighting on each is fully explained and diagrammed. New, updated text, diagrams, equipment, and techniques reveal how to use every type of lighting from natural light, to simple lighting setups, to complex multi-light arrangements. * Completely up to date, designed for today’s photographers* Useful information on every aspect of lighting the nude* Beautiful full nudes and semi-nudes to inspire and illuminate |
|
|
Travel Photography $3.48 Travel Photography presents striking photos from around the globe, inspiring photographers to capture such stunning shots of their own! Internationally known US based travel photographer Christian Heeb and Detley Motz, editor of Colourfoto, a German photography magazine, present this collection of spectacular photographs from all over the world. Inside, photographers will find scenes that include magnificent landscapes, wildlife and people from all walks of life, along with adventure trips such as rafting, snorkeling and even images taken from planes and helicopters. In addition to the inspirational shots, Travel Photogrphy includes technical advice on areas such as equipment, techniques, lighting, how to plan a photography trip and more, to help readers get started on their own journey. It’s a book for amateur and professional photographers alike who just want to get away with their camera! |
|
|
Digital Portrait Photography and Lighting $22.48 Portraits preserve people Since the earliest portraits were scratched onto cave walls, we’ve developed increasingly sophisticated tools for capturing human likenesses. Yet the motivation has changed little — to freeze a human image as an art form, a means of communication, a piece of personal history. Whether formalized with elaborate settings and lighting or snapped at the beach to hold forever the pure joy in a child’s face, portraits preserve people. Today’s digital technology offers flexibility, economy, and almost limitless tools for perfecting your images, and these experts help you use it. * Discover the skills you need to move from serious amateur to professional photographer * Learn how a snapshot differs from a casual portrait * Identify what you want your portrait to communicate * Investigate lighting equipment and how to use it in different scenarios * Use natural or mixed light to create unique effects * Explore composition, posing, and handling challenges * Handle props, backgrounds, color, location shooting, and studio shots * Work with groups, children, and pets * Perfect image-editing methods and final-touch processes that produce high-quality, professional images * Find resources that can help you in setting up your own portrait business |
