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Photography lighting tip: When “idiot” lighting works….

February 15, 2018 By Robert Provencher 2 Comments

Photography lighting tips from the trenches

Some of the best photography lighting is also some of the most basic lighting.

Two lights, one on either side, both with the same, or near same output. Wash the subject with light.
Kinda flat, kinda boring….

We used to call this idiot lighting. Maybe we still do, as offensive as that sounds.
The truth is, there’s a time and place for it. And I use it often enough.

The key is to know when and where. For me, I use it when I need properly exposed images and I have very little time, and the lighting and scene available is tricky. A wedding is a great example. Or, in a small location shooting families at a house.

Likewise, when I’m shooting a large family, I don’t want to fuss, just get the job done, done right, I will use this lighting.

To rely on this lighting and only this lighting is very limiting however. I suppose this is where and when “idiot” applies. Being able to create portraits using a main and good use of shadows is key to being diverse and creative.

Here’s an example I will be showing in an upcoming  Lighting Mastermind
(LIGHTING MASTERMIND REPLAYS ARE HERE FOR MEMBERS)….from a  fall in-home session:

Two lights, small softboxes each  a Nikon SB800 set to manual, same output. Also set to optical slave, a flash on camera with a weak output, bounced, to fire these flashes.
The results…..Sony A7Rii 16-35 lens set to 35mm. f4 ISO400 1/60th second on a tripod.
And some fun shots of the kids…same lighting all throughout this session:

I will also use this lighting outdoors, during a wedding, especially for the formal portraits with the family.

These shots are there to document the family, and I often have little time.

Same exact lighting as above. We’re in open shade, but there was not enough area to light everyone evenly so I set up my two softboxes.
Sony A7Rii 85MM Batis lens at f4 ISO 100. Weak fill flash on camera to fire the two softboxes.


You can see the two main lights showing up in the specular catch lights.

Knowing when to use this lighting for your photography and best results is key. When I am on location I always bring enough, more than enough gear, to make sure if I need to set up this lighting I can do it. I need to stress the importance of not relying on this lighting exclusively for your photography. You risk creating images that are stale and predictable.

To be fair, there are some photo industries and photography markets where this lighting will work all the time, say for example, sporting tournament and the like or similar higher volume demands.

Yours in lighting,
Rob

“If you want to be a profitable and successful photographer, then study profitable and successful photographers.”

Filed Under: Photography Lighting&Posing Tips Tagged With: photo lighting tips, photo tips, photography business, photography marketing, portrait photography tips

Finding, seeing and using the light you randomly find on location…

December 12, 2017 By Robert Provencher Leave a Comment

When I show up at the brides home for pre-ceremony photos, I look around for creative lighting and posing options. In this example, you can see the light reflecting in my assistant Danielle’s eyes. I spotted that right away, looked to my right and noticed the source. The same light is, in this shot, bouncing off the closet doors to my left.

The main source of this light. I spotted the bannister to the right as a possible option for some creative angles:
I knew I wanted to try some images here with the bride, and planned on shooting from several angles, since the main floor (upper right) would allow me a great place to shoot from. I love finding cool, unusual angles.

Here’s one angle, at eye level…notice the specular highlights in her eyes:

Another example, (the bride is in the exact same place, and this is one of many poses/ expressions) creative angle from up high, shooting just over the bannister:

The thing is, when shooting at a wedding, there’s isn’t a lot of time so I need to work fast, work with what I got and get maximum results.

Yea, yea, I could bring all sorts of studio lighting, or spend hours planning. I want the bride to enjoy the day, not have to sit for too long, and have fun in front of my camera…..

Yours in photography,

Robert Provencher

“If you want to be a profitable and successful photographer, then study profitable and successful photographers.”

 

Filed Under: Photography Lighting&Posing Tips Tagged With: how to shoot a wedding photography, lighting tutorials, photo lighting tips, photo tips, portrait photography tips, wedding photography tips

This method almost guarantees top google ranking for your studio…

August 30, 2017 By Robert Provencher Leave a Comment

Last week during our first installment in the Sales Success Secrets for photographers, Maria mentioned that the majority of her new clients came from online searches.

You know, master goog. The Yoda of search engines.

As it turns out, we get top ranking in our area as well. And I’m not talking about paid searches. Organic, google friendly, top shelf position.

Gotta love it.

But getting there takes specific steps. And one of the best is google reviews. It’s what works for our studio.

Turns out, SEO alone ain’t enough.

Maria has discovered a technique to create a steady, ongoing flow of positive google reviews. Yes, reviews. The magic ingredient, so to speak.

Turns out google loves reviews. (good ones me thinks)

Anywho, she shared her strategy in the replay and sent me the actual email used.
It’s all in the forum. This, my friend, is pure gold.

GO watch, listen to the replay.

One more thing. The second presentation is happening today. This afternoon.
At 2:00PM EST. With one of the biggest, baddest, most dynamic photographers around. Maggie Habieda.

JOIN US….(or, as usual, watch the replay later)
Shine on…

Robert N. Provencher – Your Master Coach Marketer

“If you want to be a profitable and successful photographer, then study profitable and successful photographers.”

Filed Under: WrapUp Tagged With: commercial photography, make money with photography, mastermind marketing, photography business, photography marketing, portrait photography tips

Market your studio like a Navy Seal….

May 26, 2017 By Robert Provencher Leave a Comment

Got an idea, a promotion, a money making strategy for your studio?

Never mind the over-complicated, bureaucratic, uber-rhetoric marketing strategies often promoted by the gooroos….

There’s only ONE WAY. Market like  a navy seal. Maria Sampao, now she’s a SEAL if I ever met one.

I prompted (aka light a fire under her butt) her to run a fairy day promo.

So, without hesitation, she did. NO overthinking. NO over planning.

Just go. Set a date. Gets her HUSTLE on! Now….not later. NOW.

Within four weeks, ads run, costumes in the house, everything is set to go.
Like a SEAL.

Her sales were so strong, her success epic, even I got weak in the knees when she told me.

It’s why she joined me yesterday in the May lighting mastermind meeting.

To talk about lighting, yes, and posing, and many other strategies.

She’s successful because she markets like a Navy SEAL….WATCH, LISTEN to the replay HERE.

It’s how it gets done. Like a SEAL.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

Not a member? Instant access.

Filed Under: WrapUp Tagged With: digital painting, fairy portrait tips, fairy portraits, lighting tutorials, mastermind lighting, photo lighting tips, photography marketing, portrait photography tips

Chad 2.0….”How to interact with clients and get killer expressions.”

April 10, 2017 By Robert Provencher Leave a Comment

What happens when your roll Yervant, Ghionis and a few other big name marquee photography names into one?

You got Chad. He’s a just a regular dude pushing his wedding photography business and totally crushing it.

I call him Chad 2.0 because we had him  present 3 months ago and his ideas, his content was epic…..

I never got it why people got so excited over “celeb” photographers….mostly because they’re speaking at conventions and such.

Like being on a stage is the thing.

Well that, and they’re creating really great images. We like others who seem to have magic powers when it comes to creating stunning images.

I do. I try and be like them all the time. We all wanna be rockstars.

Thing is, there’s a whole lot more out there than the dudes and dudettes on the stage or in the Creative Live ad.

The truth is, we’re all a bunch or regular ‘ol shmucks….like me.

Out there doing our best to keep our businesses going, maintaining a steady cashflow.

We luvs our gurus don’t we?

I like guys like Chad, because he’s the real deal. He works very hard. He lives in the Bronx, has a wife and family and some serious passion for his craft.

Mostly, he’s really got it going on in the photography department.

And he brought this passion to his presentation last week. No fluff talk, no equipment, no tech….. pure story, pure strategy based on real, honest to goodness client interactions.

All on creating emotional connection with them and creating images that sell.

It doesn’t get any better than that.

Real talk, real strategies, from real photographers.

That’s how I like to expand, grow, learn (something we always need to be doing in todays climate) and build our photography business.

The replay for our mastermind meeting last Thursday called:

“Success Shooting Couples and Families- How to interact with clients and get killer expressions.”

It’s in the downloads section……go get it here.

If you aren’t a member, and want access to it, it’s simple….details.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

Filed Under: WrapUp Tagged With: photography business, photography marketing, photography tips, portrait photography tips, wedding photography tips

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