Lighting How To

There are some who say you're not a true photographer if you shoot in natural light. What utter nonsense!

Lighting your portraits properly is the key to producing a great image. Everyone knows this but not everyone knows how to do lighting right. Fortunately, there are experts like photographer Manny Ortiz who shows you how to do the ultimate lighting set-up in just two minutes.

Most of us don’t make our living as professional photographers, but there’s no reason to advertise your amateur status with images that somehow miss the mark. Fortunately, you can easily up your game by watching the quick video below.

Sooner or later every photographer, regardless of specialty, tries their hand at shooting people pictures. The “assignment” could be as simple as photographing a family member, or a more ambitious formal portrait.

High-quality portraits can be difficult to make without a studio and a bunch of expensive gear. But if you have a willing model, a single light, a basic umbrella, and a simple backdrop (or even a white wall), you can capture some beautiful images.

If your creative juices are running low, and you need a jolt of inspiration, the quick video below is exactly what you need. You’ll pick up a bunch of simple tips, in less than three minutes, for creating eye-popping images than make people ask, “How did you do that?”

Spring is in full bloom, with summer barely a month away, and it’s time to pull out the macro lens, brush up on your technique, and start thinking about close-up