Detailed Studio Lighting Tutorial for the Photographer in You

Do you love to capture each and every candid moment going in your surroundings? Do you secretly love professional cameras more than your crush? If your answer is yes; you certainly have a hidden photographer in you. Regardless of your age, you can start your photography career at any point of time. You just need to have that passion and zeal in you. Although this might seem to you as a mere theory; but, this is actually the basic truth. If you follow your passion religiously, you can transform from a beginner to a professional photographer. Furthermore, you do not need to attend any classes or a crash course to polish your skill. You can start practicing at your home itself.

So, here’s a complete tutorial that will help you capture those picture-perfect candid moments. But, before we start, you need to understand that a flawless click is the one that has proper lightning effects. Without optimum usage of lighting (and its tricks), you cannot end up getting a fine-tuned photograph.

Let’s just now get started with the tutorial. Read it carefully and practice it at home:

Step 1 – Assemble the Equipment

First of all, you must have a complete kit of tools and equipment at home. Obviously, you won’t prefer to spend big dollars on the equipment at the learning stage. So, you can purchase the ones that fit well within your budget. Make sure you purchase the following for an ideal home studio:

• Flash heads
• Softbox
• Umbrella
• Reflector
• Snoot or honeycomb
• Light stands

Step 2 – The Techniques

After you have assembled all the equipment at home, it is now time to gain an insight into several home studio lighting techniques that will help you learn the photography or lighting tricks at an instant:

a) Clamshell Lighting

Clamshell lighting is often used in the fashion industry. It is generally performed to capture a classic headshot. In short, it is used for beauty images, when the subject is to be captured with precise detailing. For the setup, you would require two softboxes, one reflector, two light heads and two flash heads. Place the softboxes at equal distance and angle from the subject. You can place them at any side of the subject. Further, place the reflector under the face of the subject. The light will bounce to the face and provide room for a perfect click.

b) Rembrandt Lighting

Rembrandt(popularly known as Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn) was a Dutch painter who used this technique quite often. You can easily create the setup for this lighting technique by using a reflector and one light. The motto of this technique is to bounce the light back to the subject and cover any areas with hard shadows. For the setup, adjust the flash head at six feet height making a 45° angle to the subject. This produces a key light that acts as a direct source of light from above and sideways. Now, place a reflector on the other side of the subject. This will make the light even and bounce on the side of shadow.

Other easy and popular techniques include rim lighting and backlight. But since, you are a beginner; it is advisable for you to start your journey with some baby steps. Hence, go to the market today or shop the equipment online to practice the above lighting techniques. Once, you gain expertise over these techniques, you can then, switch to the latter ones. Keep clicking..Keep exploring..!!

Professional Green Screen

A green screen offers an opportunity to add images, graphics, etc at the later stage of editing. Green is the important color used for chroma keying because the video camera sensors are sensitive to this color. It provides a better contrast to the skin color of the subject. Even other colors can be used to key but the outcome may not be as effective as green. Using green is an excellent starting point, but here are four more specific (and less obvious) tips for getting a professional green screen result.

Green screening allows the film producers to make extraordinary effects for their videos. It provides an opportunity to make varied editing options post production. It is very flexible. It helps us to overcome issues like noise, natural lights and other factors. Let's now consider the ways to develop a professional green screen background.

Reflection shouldn't collide with the subject

Generally, green screen keying drops a reflection on to the subject when light effects are given. So we have to focus appropriately to avoid reflections. Because the reflection will give a greenish effect on the subject and later we try to do it, it may takeaway all the natural green effects on the subject. So to overcome this, we have to place the subject away from the green screen. This helps to reduce the reflections. The aim is to attain a perfect picture by avoiding green light effects on to the subject.

Lighting Effects

A separate light effect has to be used for the subject from that of the green screen. It makes the keying concept easier. Now let's consider the lighting procedures for better outcome:

Green Screen Lighting:

Ensure to use the same pitch of green base for the entire screen with proper lighting. This helps to avoid shadow. This can be attained by placing two lamps on either side with equal distance from the screen. This will give an even lighting to the entire screen and avoids shadows.

Light effects on the Subject:

Ensure to place the subject in long distance from the screen to avoid shadows and then the lights has to be placed. In case shadows are cast on the screen, the subject has to be moved front and the light effects has to be adjusted accordingly.

Choice of material

There are a variety of material that can be used for the green screen. The choice of material depends on our budget and the way used for keying. For a film shooting ,the budget is usually high and so the sets used are large with huge lighting effects. Whereas for a short film or video even a simple green cloth will cater to our requirements. Let's consider the material options that are available:

1. Green Screen Paper: These are disposable backdrops that can be discarded after use and are usually cheaper than other materials. It is difficult to store these for future use as rolling it can cause damage and we may have to buy a new one for future use. A matte paper requires lesser light effects
2. Fabrics: Muslin is the most used fabric material for backdrops. This is a great choice of decoration of the backdrop. They are flexible enough to pack and carry from place to place with ease. They are wrinkle free and are durable.
3. Vinyl: Its a hard material subject to last long when handled with care. But a better choice than paper as gives a better effect. This is suitable for those looking for a small budget screening.

Exact Focus

A lot of things are need to be considered before we shoot. Even the accessories of the subject can cast shadows on the backdrops. We need to consider all these and shoot accordingly by re-positioning. Hair is an important factor that can cause bad effects. When let loose, it may cast shadows and may make the key process difficult. The color of the subject's attire shouldn't be green

Green screening helps to get marvellous outcome of the shoot. But all this can be attained only on having a professional use of the chroma key else it may end up by causing a cumber some work post production. By considering the above stated factors, we can use the green screen effectively.

A backdrop can be anything that augments the beauty of the portrait. It is enriching the background with eye catching effects. Backdrops will give any environment into a striking studio effect. The variety of backdrop options a photographer possess will bring him more people. The photo backdrops are produced by many companies at present. The choice of a backdrop can be anything which includes the vinyl, canvas, muslin, etc or it can be your own effect from a tablecloth, rugs and so on. The choice of the appropriate backdrop that best suits the shoot is essential. Lets now consider the ways to buy a backdrop:

• Create your own backdrop stuff

By using our own backdrop from the available resources, we can save money. This may include anything like a stylish carpet, rugs, tablecloth, papers, etc. We get a better idea to create a new backdrop by reading a blogs online. We will be able to implement these ideas and produce a striking effect for our backdrop.

• Buying backdrops online

On online sites, we may find a number of backdrop choices either new or used. We can make a choice of our desire by going through the descriptions, price and other criteria. One way to make a right choice is from the reviews from other buyers. We can compare rates on various sites and decide our purchase from the site that offers a good deal.

• Place orders in Photography Companies

There are a number of photography companies . We can place orders from these companies as when promotions are announced by them. There are many photographers who intend to sell their old and used backdrops for a nominal rate. We can buy from such persons after proper examination on the worth and quality.

• Purchase from photography stores

By visiting a photography store, we get a sense of satisfaction as we touch and feel the product we intend to buy. We can consider various factors like its transit, storage, portability and so on.

Usually a backdrop can vary from a muslin cloth with solid colors like black, red, white or any color of our choice and with creative images on it. It should be portable enough to move from one place to another. But in present day situation most photographers use digital backdrops. Lets now consider the various types of backdrops that are available: 

Types of Photography Backdrops

Each backdrop has its own features and the choice of the right one that suits the shoot is necessary

• Muslin Backdrops: A backdrop made of fabric with rich solid colors and that best suits for a portrait like Identification card. This lasts long as it can be reused after washing for a number of times
• Paper backdrops: These backdrops can be used only for one time as storing them by rolling will lead to tarring. But it is cost effective.
• Painted canvas backdrop: These are generally bulky backdrops that can be used only for indoor shooting.

The Role of Your Backdrop

The excellence of a portrait is determined by the backdrop that is used for the photo shoot. By choosing a right backdrop we are capable of portraying the feel and the individuality of the subject precisely.

Lighting your Backdrop

A perfect lighting adds more beauty to the backdrop. The lighting should be capable of harmonizing the backdrop and emphasize the features of the subject like the facial expressions, hair and skin color.

Choosing the Right Photography Backdrop

The foremost factor for consideration in choice of the backdrop is the color in the back and foreground. It should coincide with each other. The backdrop chosen shouldn't suppress the features of the subject. The viewer's attention has to be on the subject rather than the background. The background should enhance the beauty of the subject. Also we must ensure that an adequate space is there between the subject and the backdrop. This eliminates the risk of shadows falling on the background.

The choice of the right backdrop can be done from the outcome of earlier trial shots made. When a photographer doesn't pay importance to the role of the backdrop, he may regret after the final outcome of the picture. The main factors of consideration in the backdrop are the subject attention, lighting effects and the outcome.