L
ighting is a subject that could easily fill up several book and take years to
completely understand. If you are fortunate, though, you will be in this
profession long enough to see your lighting evolve from what it is today to the
level you will take it to tomorrow.Lighting Skills Evolve.
Many photographers read my books and e-mail me lighting questions. They
are confused because in one book I light my portraits one way, and then they
read another one of my books and it says I am lighting my portraits in a differ-
ent way. That is because, like every photographer, I too am a student. I am
learning all the time and everything I learn causes my lighting style to evolve and
become more refined. In this book, I am not going to discuss every conceivable
lighting style—just the styles that work for me, with my clients.A Note on Equipment.
Let me first start off by saying that lighting isn’t about brands or shapes, it’s
about knowledge. Give me anything—a window and a piece of foam-core cov-
ered with mylar; a $15 slaved flash and a $10 umbrella; sunlight and a reflec-
tor—and I will create salable portraits that my clients will buy.
The equipment I’ll discuss is what I currently use. While it may look a little
better or different than yours, it shouldn’t change the final image. I will first
start by discussing the auxiliary lights I use in the studio before I talk about the
main light and method of fill I use. I will also talk briefly about the lighting I
use outdoors and on location.Lighting Descriptions.
Before we discuss the individual lights, let me point out that I will not be dis-
cussing the specific settings (metered light output) for each light source. In-LIGHTING 375. Lighting.
Everything I learn
causes my lighting style
to evolve and become
more refined.