Lighting How To

Most photographers would love to upgrade their camera every time an innovative new model with enhanced capabilities is introduced. But let’s face it: The “latest and greatest” gear seems to come around every year or two, and many of us can’t afford to break the bank whenever that happens.

We regularly share tutorials from Canadian photographer Irene Rudnyk, who has a unique ability to make pro-quality portraits at home without a lot of complicated and expensive lighting equipment. In the video below she’s at it again, demonstrating how to capture captivating people pictures using nothing more than table lamps and window light.

DIY projects are a fun way to make your own gear and save major bucks in the process, and the video below shows you how to construct a sturdy light stand for less than $5 worth of PVC pipe. If you really want to go “pro,” you can drop another $2 on a cheap PVC cutter.

Natural looking outdoor portraits can be difficult to make, especially under harsh lighting conditions. Using flash can help you meet this challenge, but only if you employ the proper technique. 

The holidays are upon us, and in this tutorial you’ll learn how to shoot festive candlelit portraits and add an “instant snow effect” in Photoshop. You may even want to use this technique to create personalized Christmas cards for family and friends.

How often have you captured what you thought was a great photograph, only to learn later that your “money shot” was soft and destined for the trash? We all miss focus on occasion, especially in low light, but the quick video below will help you keep those mistakes to a minimum.

Have you ever wished you had a few serious strobes and light modifiers so you could shoot professional looking portraits? If so, save your cash because in the video below you’ll learn how to turn your bathroom into a giant softbox and use window light to work some magic.