Lighting Setups Archives — Westcott University https://westcottu.com/topic/lighting-setups Lighting Education for Photographers and Filmmakers Thu, 26 Mar 2026 14:12:28 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://westcottu.com/wp-content/uploads/icon-university.png Lighting Setups Archives — Westcott University https://westcottu.com/topic/lighting-setups 32 32 How to Simulate Sunlight in Studio Photography https://westcottu.com/how-to-simulate-sunlight-in-studio-photography Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:06 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=156730 Joel Grimes breaks down one of his go-to studio setups using just two lights to mimic the feel of natural sun. It’s a repeatable, controlled way to get dramatic shadows and that cinematic outdoor style, all from the controlled environment of your studio.

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]]> 156730 Lighting Breakdown: How to Film a Corporate Video https://westcottu.com/lighting-breakdown-how-to-film-a-corporate-video Fri, 09 May 2025 11:13:09 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=156650 Westcott videographer Jacob Schoonover shows how he tackled a commercial shoot for a local business using constant lights, portable light modifiers, and a flexible mindset to capture great footage with a minimal setup.

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]]> 156650 3 Ways to Use a Beauty Dish Switch by Manny Ortiz https://westcottu.com/three-ways-to-use-a-beauty-dish-switch-by-manny-ortiz Tue, 26 Apr 2022 18:39:48 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=153631 In this video, portrait photographer Manny Ortiz breaks down three ways to use the Westcott 36” Beauty Dish Switch. The beauty dish was designed to capture both pristine beauty headshots and full-body portraits with one modifier. Lighting Setup 1: Beauty Headshot In his first setup, Manny is lighting headshots of his subject by placing the […]

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]]> 153631 Benefits Of Off-Camera Flash Vs Natural Light For Outdoor Portraits https://westcottu.com/benefits-of-off-camera-flash-vs-natural-light-for-outdoor-portraits Fri, 06 Nov 2020 19:36:07 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=152883 As a portrait photographer, it’s important to be aware of the lighting conditions that you face in natural environments. Whether you are looking to use natural light or off-camera flash when shooting outdoor portraits, understanding the effects of both will provide you with your desired result. While there is no definitive answer for when to […]

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]]> 152883 Freezing Motion with Precision: FJ400 Freeze Mode Explained https://westcottu.com/freezing-motion-with-precision-fj400-freeze-explained Fri, 11 Sep 2020 15:39:20 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=152854 When working in the studio in most situations, 1/280th of a second flash duration is more than enough to freeze your subject. But sometimes you need to photograph something that is moving much faster; a spinning dancer, a burst of powder, or in this case, splashing water. In these situations, you really need to think […]

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]]> 152854 Using Flash to Mimic Any Time of Day in Portraits https://westcottu.com/using-flash-to-create-any-time-of-day-in-portraits Fri, 21 Aug 2020 14:38:24 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=152798 As photographers, we all know that you don’t always get to shoot at the exact time of day you would like to. However, thanks to off camera flash, you are not tied down by mother nature. Using flash can convincingly allow you to recreate different times of day and lighting situations. There are many reasons […]

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]]> 152798 How to Create an Easy One Light Portrait https://westcottu.com/how-to-create-an-easy-one-light-portrait Wed, 19 Feb 2020 17:11:19 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=152554 Celebrity fashion photographer Ian Spanier began taking photographs at six years old when his parents gave him his first point-and-shoot camera. After majoring in photography in college, Ian worked in publishing as an editor, but making pictures never left him. Since re-entering the photography industry, Ian has mastered portrait lighting. For this setup, Ian wanted […]

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]]> 152554 How to Simplify Photo Compositing with the FJ400’s Mask Function https://westcottu.com/simplify-photo-compositing-with-the-fj400 Fri, 13 Dec 2019 14:28:49 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=152421 The original FJ400 strobe’s Mask Function is an excellent tool for creating in-camera cutout masks of foreground objects for easy photo compositing. Photographer Matt Hernandez combines his background in graphic design, his love for photography, and his passion for sports to create unique and artistic athlete portraits and composites. Often times, Matt is photographing his […]

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]]> 152421 How to Create Rembrandt Lighting For Male Portraits https://westcottu.com/how-to-create-rembrandt-lighting-for-male-portraits Mon, 18 Nov 2019 16:16:04 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=152310 Rembrandt lighting is a classic lighting setup that most portrait photographers can master with a little practice. Rembrandt lighting creates a pretty dramatic, timeless look and it can be created with just a single controllable light source. Rembrandt lighting is named after Dutch master Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, who often used this style of lighting […]

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]]> 152310 Matching Ambient Light with Tunable LEDs https://westcottu.com/matching-ambient-light-with-tunable-leds Thu, 31 Oct 2019 19:45:38 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=152276 Celebrity fashion photographer Ian Spanier began taking photographs at six years old when his parents gave him his first point and shoot camera. After majoring in photography in college, Ian worked in publishing as an editor, but making pictures never left him. Since re-entering the photography industry, Ian has mastered portrait lighting. For this portrait […]

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]]> 152276 3 Point Lighting Setup for Bold Commercial Photography https://westcottu.com/3-point-lighting-setup https://westcottu.com/3-point-lighting-setup#comments Fri, 04 Oct 2019 16:58:07 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=152221 Celebrity commercial photographer Ian Spanier began taking photographs at six years old when his parents gave him his first point and shoot camera. After majoring in photography in college, Ian worked in publishing as an editor, but making pictures never left him. Since re-entering the photography industry, Ian has mastered the commercial portrait and 3 […]

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]]> https://westcottu.com/3-point-lighting-setup/feed 1 152221 How to Get the Best Facial Expressions for Your Portraits https://westcottu.com/best-facial-expressions-for-portraits Fri, 14 Jun 2019 13:23:37 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=151933 Peter Hurley is a master of posing and capturing authentic, flattering facial expressions. He is one of the world’s top headshot photographers and founder of the renowned Headshot Crew. He shares his signature photography techniques through his online community and in live events around the globe. Recently, we invited Peter to the Westcott Soundstage to […]

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]]> 151933 3 Ways To Use Plexiglass For Creative Portraits https://westcottu.com/3-way-to-take-creative-portraits Tue, 04 Jun 2019 16:30:44 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=151877 As a portrait photographer, it can often be difficult to keep things interesting in the studio. Adding a unique element to your images can help them stand out while also allowing you to have little fun. The unique element that I added for my most recent shoot was just a simple piece of plexiglass. Here […]

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]]> 151877 Professional Lighting for Awesome Headshots https://westcottu.com/professional-lighting-for-awesome-headshots Tue, 27 Nov 2018 21:43:05 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=151483 Educator, motivator, and headshot master Peter Hurley is known for creating flattering portraits with pristine lighting. To get the most out of each of his client’s headshot sessions, Peter developed a  headshot lighting kit and background system that allow him to quickly create his signature portraits in any space available. The Peter Hurley Kit is […]

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]]> 151483 How to Create Cross Lighting Like Joel Grimes https://westcottu.com/create-cross-lighting-like-joel-grimes Tue, 21 Aug 2018 14:55:48 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=151196 Renowned photographer and Canon Explorer of Light Joel Grimes is known for creating impeccably clean and stylized lifestyle portraits. His signature style of Rembrandt cross lighting involves feathering two light sources at different brightnesses onto his subject. Joel starts by placing his light sources opposite each other, parallel to his camera access. He then adjusts the […]

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]]> 151196 Lighting for Black and White Portraits https://westcottu.com/lighting-for-black-and-white-portraits Thu, 29 Mar 2018 16:55:30 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=150809 This article is courtesy of lifestyle photographer Jay Watson. It first appeared on Rangefinder. Using one big light source created three things for this black and white assignment for Bicycling magazine of road racer Peter Stetina: an evenly lit background, edge light, and contrast due to fall-off. Highlights and shadows give us a range of tones […]

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]]> 150809 Creating Cinematic Sports Photography https://westcottu.com/cinematic-photography-solix Wed, 15 Nov 2017 21:02:38 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=150507 Matt Hernandez began his career as an award-winning graphic artist in his home state of Kentucky. After discovering a passion for photography, Matt combined his experience in design with his appreciate of sports to create an amazing portfolio of cinematic and precise sports images that stand out. Now one of the country’s premier sports photographers, Matt has built a signature style of lighting that turns a standard team photo into an […]

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]]> 150507 Behind the Scenes with the Flex Drum Softbox https://westcottu.com/behind-the-scenes-flex-drum Tue, 17 Oct 2017 18:19:28 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=150476 In this behind the scenes look, filmmaker and producer Jem Schofield offers an overview of the Flex Drum Softbox. The Flex Drum is an awesome new solution for filmmakers and cinematographers looking to create soft and vast 360º lighting with Flex 1’ x 2’ and 1’ x 3’ LED mats. This one-of-a-kind softbox is a 1 ¼-stop […]

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]]> 150476 Behind the Scenes with the Flex China Cube https://westcottu.com/behind-the-scenes-flex-china-cube Tue, 17 Oct 2017 17:37:16 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=150466 In this behind the scenes look, filmmaker and producer Jem Schofield offers an overview of the Flex Cube modifier. The is an awesome new solution for filmmakers and cinematographers looking to create soft overhead lighting with Flex 1’ x 1’ and 2’ x 2’ LED mats. This unique softbox is a 1 ¼-stop collapsible diffusion […]

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]]> 150466 Fashion Photography with Octaboxes https://westcottu.com/fashion-photography-with-octaboxes Wed, 23 Aug 2017 14:39:55 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=150374 Octabanks (or octaboxes) are one of the most popular styles of light modifiers. These large octagonal softboxes are an awesome tool for creating soft, even lighting in the studio. While shooting in his home studio in sunny Las Vegas, renowned portrait photographer Jerry Ghionis showed us how he uses a single octabank and strobe to […]

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]]> 150374 How to Create Environmental Food Photography https://westcottu.com/how-to-create-environmental-food-photography Fri, 06 Jan 2017 21:12:43 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=149517 Seattle-based photographer Steve Hansen has a knack for creating food images that pop. Standard food photography is often times flat and lifeless, with minimal props and color. Steve avoids boring imagey by adding a a sense of environment to his food photography, which makes his work stand out from the rest. For this shoot, Steve’s […]

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]]> 149517 Ad Campaign Photography (Part 1) https://westcottu.com/ad-campaign-photography-part-1 Tue, 22 Nov 2016 20:18:04 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=149286 In part 1 of this ad campaign tutorial, talented photographer Lou Freeman discusses the dos and don’ts of a commercial photo shoot. Behind the scenes at Coyote Ugly saloon in Florida, Lou begins her shoot by reviewing the requests from the client. Commercial photography clients will typically give their hired photographer suggestions on mood, styling, […]

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]]> 149286 #FilmmakerFriday with Running Wild Media https://westcottu.com/filmmakerfriday-with-running-wild-media Fri, 16 Sep 2016 21:33:12 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=148884 Introducing #FilmmakerFriday, where you can meet filmmakers that inspire Team Westcott. Running Wild Media is a Toledo-based production team comprising of Alex Goetz (director and cinematographer) and Justin Grubb (host and producer). Running Wild Reel 2016 from Alex Goetz. Running Wild Media is an adventure and environmentally-inspired film production company. These guys travel the world filming […]

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]]> 148884 How to Capture a Shallow Depth of Field in Sunlight https://westcottu.com/shallow-depth-of-field-in-full-sun Wed, 07 Sep 2016 16:09:15 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=148847 Many photographers struggle with overpowering the sun when shooting on bright days. This becomes even more difficult when a shallow depth of field is desired. To maintain a proper exposure with a shallow depth of field, renowned photographer Joel Grimes utilizes a strobe and the 24″ Beauty Dish Switch. He aligns this light source slightly above […]

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]]> 148847 Understanding Beauty Lighting with Joel Grimes https://westcottu.com/beauty-lighting-beauty-dish Thu, 07 Jul 2016 13:08:54 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=148602 World­-renowned photographer Joel Grimes knows a thing or two about beauty lighting. And that’s why he designed the new Rapid Box Beauty Dish. Grimes’ 24″ Rapid Box Beauty Dish is a collapsible, travel­-friendly softbox for beauty, fashion, and commercial photography. This ultra­-portable beauty dish directs a soft, clean pattern of light. With a custom-­designed white interior […]

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]]> 148602 How to Perfectly Light Couples with Speedlights https://westcottu.com/perfectly-light-couples-with-speedlights https://westcottu.com/perfectly-light-couples-with-speedlights#comments Thu, 30 Jun 2016 21:15:39 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=148550 In this video from SPTV, Bob Davis demonstrates how to perfectly light a couple during a real-life engagement session. Chicago portrait and wedding photographer Bob Davis is a 25 year veteran of photography, specializing in speedlite shooting. Here, Bob utilizes speedlites modified with the to capture beautiful portraits of his clients. By adding the softened […]

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]]> https://westcottu.com/perfectly-light-couples-with-speedlights/feed 1 148550 5 Ways to Use the Book Light Kit https://westcottu.com/5-ways-to-use-the-book-light-kit Wed, 08 Jun 2016 17:30:15 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=148529 Featuring Westcott Page! a high-end customizable design, provides the ultimate light control for narrative and interview video productions. This is a must-have kit for filmmakers, directors of photography, run-and-gun shooters, gaffers, and cinematographers. The Book Light Kit was developed by Westcott in partnership with Jem Schofield, founder and host of the popular filmmaking educational site theC47. In this […]

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]]> 148529 Ice Light 2 Master Series with Jerry Ghionis https://westcottu.com/il2-master-series Mon, 02 May 2016 21:02:02 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=148366 Join renowned photographer Jerry Ghionis on this 20-part behind-the-scene video series with the Ice Light 2. Nikon Ambassador Jerry Ghionis is widely regarded as one of the top wedding photographers in the world. Based in both Melbourne and Beverly Hills, Jerry has developed a successful career based around his unique ability to capture the magic […]

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]]> 148366 Lighting On the Fly with Dixie Dixon https://westcottu.com/lighting-on-the-fly-with-dixie-dixon Tue, 16 Feb 2016 22:20:27 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=148196 This article is courtesy of renowned beauty and fashion photographer Dixie Dixon. As a Commercial Fashion and Beauty Photographer, I am always focused on bringing out the real raw beauty and personality of my subjects! This requires placing them in the best light (no pun intended) and utilizing certain techniques that truly flatter faces. I […]

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]]> 148196 Dramatic and Effective Lighting for Team Portraits https://westcottu.com/how-to-light-team-portraits https://westcottu.com/how-to-light-team-portraits#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2016 21:34:27 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=148169 Renowned sports photographer Matt Hernandez has had years of experience capturing professional and high school team portraits. Through years of shooting in a variety of locations, he has perfected the group lighting setup. To perfect the light coming from his key strobe, Matt prefers to use a reflective . By bouncing his strobe into this modifier, […]

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]]> https://westcottu.com/how-to-light-team-portraits/feed 1 148169 Timeless Fashion Portraits with the Zeppelin https://westcottu.com/fashion-portraits-zeppelin Fri, 29 Jan 2016 16:45:24 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=148152 This image is from fashion portraits I shot recently while testing out the incredible . This modifier is fantastic for full body fashion portraits because of its large size. This helps to maintain even, soft lighting while the modifier can stay far out of frame. A strobe was mounted to a on the Zeppelin. While I only […]

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]]> 148152 Using a Silver Bounce Umbrella on Major Productions https://westcottu.com/using-a-silver-bounce-umbrella-for-video-production Thu, 28 Jan 2016 18:40:28 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=148139 As the Director of Photography for Saturday Night Live’s Film Unit, Alex Buono has had the ability to “play” with lots of different lighting equipment, finding the best options for illuminating a massive variety of scenes. Sometimes, the lights that best fit the bill on any given video production day are lights that may be […]

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]]> 148139 Location Lighting Using The Rapid Box: Share The Light https://westcottu.com/location-lighting-using-the-rapid-box-share-the-light Tue, 29 Dec 2015 21:33:45 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=148096 Lighting can separate you from the pack, using light to define your style and elevate the quality of your work is as important now as it was back in the day when you had to light to capture an image. Today the cameras we use can capture an image in just about any light; they […]

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]]> 148096 Food Styling Tips for Tasty Images https://westcottu.com/food-styling-tips Wed, 16 Dec 2015 22:26:52 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=148074 For photographers new to photographing food, food styling may seem a bit daunting. People can make a successful career out of styling food for magazines and blogs. Luckily, Seattle-based food photographer Steven Hansen is here to lend some useful tips on food styling. A former chef, Hansen has mastered the art of food presentation and his […]

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]]> 148074 How to Light Faces with Jerry Ghionis https://westcottu.com/how-to-light-faces-with-jerry-ghionis Wed, 09 Dec 2015 22:46:04 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=148044 Westcott Top Pro Elite photographer Jerry Ghionis is widely considered to be one of the best wedding photographers in the world. Along with his wife Melissa, Jerry shares his expertise on posing, creative framing, and lighting in workshops, seminars, and events – often to sold out crowds. During his recent Luxurious Light seminar at Vistek […]

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]]> 148044 Capturing Professional Portraits in a Tiny Studio https://westcottu.com/capturing-professional-portraits-in-a-tiny-studio Fri, 21 Aug 2015 18:48:54 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=147844 While some photographers may be fortunate enough to own adequate or large studio space, many photographers and photography enthusiasts must learn to shoot in whatever space is available. This space may often be within their homes or in make-shift portrait studios. And while taking photo shoots outdoors is a great solution to a tiny studio issue, it […]

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]]> 147844 Creating Awesome Senior Portraits with Only One Light Source https://westcottu.com/creating-awesome-senior-portraits-with-only-one-light-source Tue, 18 Aug 2015 20:51:37 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=147834 Kentucky sports and senior portrait photographer Matt Hernandez is known for capturing dramatic, awesome senior portraits with relatively simple lighting setups. To capture these dramatic images of Cash, a high school football player, Matt uses a single strobe modified by the  softbox. Matt specifically chooses the largest Zeppelin due to it’s ability to create a large, directed light source. […]

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]]> 147834 The Essentials of Motivated Lighting for Cinematography https://westcottu.com/the-essentials-of-motivated-lighting-for-cinematography https://westcottu.com/the-essentials-of-motivated-lighting-for-cinematography#comments Wed, 24 Jun 2015 13:32:03 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=147649 In his second part of the ‘Storytelling with Cinematography’ series, DSLRguide‘s Simon Cade focuses on the way that filmmakers can use lighting to tell a story. He takes a deeper look at the different aspects of lighting, and how they affect an audience. Lighting Setup 1 Here I used just one light, an LED, and literally […]

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]]> https://westcottu.com/the-essentials-of-motivated-lighting-for-cinematography/feed 1 147649 Behind the Scenes of a 6 Hour Athletic Photo Shoot https://westcottu.com/behind-the-scenes-clint-davis Wed, 17 Jun 2015 13:12:16 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=147624 “I got the green light from OhYeah! Nutrition to shoot their upcoming campaign featuring “weekend warriors” having an OhYeah! moment. To say these athletes are weekend warriors is a bit misleading, considering they can all probably beat me in arm wrestling with their pinky finger. When it comes to lighting a white seamless environment, the more lights […]

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]]> 147624 Experimental Lighting Setups for Dynamic Band Portraits https://westcottu.com/experimental-lighting-setups-for-dynamic-band-portraits Wed, 20 May 2015 21:42:58 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=147432 I must admit, I’ve never photographed a band before. Especially for something as important as official promo images that’ll be used for almost everything a band can think of (posters, album art, show banners, website). What scared me most is figuring out an interesting way to position multiple people. Luckily the guys from Birthday Boy […]

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]]> 147432 Capturing Food & Beverage Photos with Continuous Lighting https://westcottu.com/capturing-food-beverage-photos-with-continuous-lighting Thu, 30 Apr 2015 14:18:51 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=147216 The Westcott is a superb solution for photographing beverages. In this video, I will demonstrate my go-to lighting setup for photographing glass bottles. I prefer this method when photographing any glass or bottle from a bottle of beer to a glass of cola because it creates a dramatic separation from the background and reveals the […]

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]]> 147216 Subtle Cinematic Lighting https://westcottu.com/subtle-cinematic-lighting Fri, 24 Apr 2015 17:14:26 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=146979 This article on cinematic lighting is courtesy of lifestyle and celebrity portrait photographer Haoyuan Ren.  When my client came to me about this shoot, he asked for raw, cinematic photographs that captures his decade of training from his boxing gym that is now closed. After seeing the gym, I knew immediately what I needed for […]

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]]> 146979 How to Add Dimension to Food Photography https://westcottu.com/how-to-add-dimension-to-food-dimension Thu, 23 Apr 2015 18:51:40 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=146952 Award-winning Seattle food photographer Steve Hansen captures stunning food photography images with amazing depth and dimension. This can be extremely difficult when working with flat surfaces, as the camera is typically capturing the image straight-on from above. To improve the dimension in his food photography, Steve utilizes the . He places 2 of these compact […]

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]]> 146952 Modern Pin-Up Photography https://westcottu.com/modern-pin-up-photography Thu, 23 Apr 2015 17:48:34 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=146920 The shoot starts with the Yaphank Garage, a restored 1930’s-era gas and service station that these days is a museum. It’s about 15 minutes from my home in Long Island, New York, and I pass it countless times, each time thinking, I’ve got to do a shoot here.          I get my chance this past summer […]

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]]> 146920 Beauty Portrait Lighting with Hernan Rodriguez https://westcottu.com/beauty-portrait-lighting-hernan-rodriguez Thu, 11 Dec 2014 19:56:00 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=142748 This article is courtesy of celebrity portrait photographer Hernan Rodriguez. Read the full article on Hernan’s photography blog.  Simple Beauty Portrait Lighting There are endless approaches in creating beauty lighting. The most common which has been used throughout the ages, we can refer to as “Simple Beauty Lighting”. Here you can set a large soft box […]

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]]> 142748 Behind-The-Scenes with Rick Nunn https://westcottu.com/behind-scenes-rick-nunn Mon, 21 Jul 2014 15:00:39 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=141438 The following article is courtesy of English portrait photographer Rick Nunn.  She and I spent a few days at the cabin in the woods over the weekend. In between coffee on the balcony & trips to the beach, we made some time for a few photos. We wanted to do something a little surreal and fairytale-esque. When the sun wasn’t blocked by […]

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]]> 141438 Inspired Photography with George Deloache https://westcottu.com/george-deloache-strobelite Fri, 06 Jun 2014 15:04:57 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=140942 Westcott Top Pro Elite George Deloache discusses his lighting set up behind this Prince-inspired photo shoot with the Strobelite Plus: A few months ago, I had the opportunity to acquire a new studio space in a creative building located in the burgeoning Downtown Los Angeles Art District. The area is vibrant with creativity and I […]

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]]> 140942 Modern Beauty Photography with Lou Freeman https://westcottu.com/lou-freeman-part-2 Fri, 06 Jun 2014 14:38:14 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=140932 Lou Freeman has practiced the art of fashion, glamour, fine interior and product photography for three decades. Her clients are among the most respected and recognized names in America and Europe. Her work is both powerful and visionary and has been recognized by both the publishing and advertising worlds, winning her the prestigious OBIE and […]

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]]> 140932 Behind The Scenes with Hernan Rodriguez https://westcottu.com/behind-scenes-hernan-rodriguez Tue, 06 May 2014 18:12:48 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=140498 When I saw the Zepplin showcased at this year’s WPPI Convention, my creative juices began brewing on what project I could create to give this bad-boy a run. As I unpacked my Zepplin, just by looking at the silver inner baffle and the option of multiple scrim diffusers, I could envision the quality of light […]

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]]> 140498 Joel Grimes in the Studio with the Zeppelin Deep Parabolic https://westcottu.com/joel-grimes-zeppelin-deep-parabolic Fri, 04 Apr 2014 03:38:04 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=140339 Westcott Top Pro Elite photographer Joel Grimes has worked as commercial and advertising professional for over 26 years. Specializing in bold, eye-catching photography, Joel has been the recipient of a variety of awards and accolades, including a dedicated 18-month exhibit at the  Smithsonian American History museum. Joel strives to create beautiful conceptions with his photography […]

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]]> 140339 Shooting Luke Bryan for Rolling Stone with Drew Gurian https://westcottu.com/drew-gurian-and-luke-bryan Fri, 28 Mar 2014 21:23:59 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=140311 This article is courtesy of celebrity and music photographer Drew Gurian. Rolling Stone just asked me to photograph country star, Luke Bryan, for the new issue of the magazine (with Justin Beiber on the cover). The shoot involved three scenarios- the first of which was to spend some time with Luke crafting a couple of […]

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]]> 140311 Perfecting Maternity Portraits with a Stripbank https://westcottu.com/portraits-with-a-stripbank Fri, 07 Mar 2014 16:12:50 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=140265 As most of you know, I’m kind of obsessed with studio lights. I spent my first 3 years in business as a “natural light snob”, terrified of lights/flash only because I was completely intimidated by its complexity, and worried it would make my work look “flashy” and “unnatural”.  Once I moved into my studio space […]

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]]> 140265 Newborn Lighting Do’s and Dont’s https://westcottu.com/newborn-lighting-dos-donts https://westcottu.com/newborn-lighting-dos-donts#comments Fri, 21 Feb 2014 18:24:06 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=140205 This article on newborn lighting techniques is courtesy of renowned newborn portrait photographer Amber Scruggs of Little Moon Photography in Virginia. I always aim to feather my light so that I get nice light going down the baby’s body, the shadows help define their tiny little features. My light is always placed about 90 degrees […]

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]]> https://westcottu.com/newborn-lighting-dos-donts/feed 1 140205 Shooting a Fashion Editorial with the Apollo Orb https://westcottu.com/fashion-editorial-with-the-apollo Fri, 14 Feb 2014 16:36:42 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=140189 Starting fresh with a brand new blog in 2014. Over Christmas, my friend and fantastic model Mike Socozza, who was most recently on Americas Next Top Model cycle 20, and I wanted to collaborate on a shoot. Fortunately, so did a mutual friend Aaron Pierce, who is co-owner of bespoke clothing company; Commonwealth Proper. So a few phone […]

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]]> 140189 Lighting Active Children https://westcottu.com/lighting-active-children Tue, 11 Feb 2014 18:45:59 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=140172 This article is courtesy of Westcott Top Pro photographer Dawn Weisinger. It has been my pleasure to photograph some of the most adorable children over the last 9 years. I have spent a great deal of that time photographing toddlers and preschoolers and have come to love every minute with that age group. Yep, that’s […]

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]]> 140172 Dance Photography with the Strobelite Plus https://westcottu.com/dance-photography-with-strobelite Thu, 16 Jan 2014 20:26:58 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=140046 This article is courtesy of Westcott Top Pro portrait photographer George DeLoache of Los Angeles, California. Dance is a phenomenal art form incorporating, music, movement, color and compositional forms. I had this image in my mind for quite a while until I met Roxane and Igor, who are competition Ballroom dancers. When I saw them move […]

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]]> 140046 Shooting in Sunlight with Rick Nunn https://westcottu.com/shooting-in-sunlight-with-rick-nunn Fri, 03 Jan 2014 16:55:25 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=139964 This article is courtesy of English photographer and designer Rick Nunn. When you are shooting with the sun, the time of day, location & your positioning are very important. Believe it or not THE SUN IS BRIGHTER THAN YOUR FLASH which can make it very hard to balance, especially since you can only use a limited range […]

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]]> 139964 Stripbank Lighting for Dark, Dramatic Portraits https://westcottu.com/apollo-strips-in-portraits Thu, 02 Jan 2014 15:24:33 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=139942 This article is courtesy of  renowned portrait and architecture photographer Thierry Dehove. Lea Vendetta is this kind of model you dream to capture due to her energy and her personality. I like her very much, so easy to work with. This photo was taken in Delray beach in Florida, my buddy’s house (I love this […]

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]]> 139942 Shooting a Nighttime Portrait with a Softbox https://westcottu.com/nighttime-portrait-with-an-apollo Mon, 30 Dec 2013 19:45:32 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=139925 New Hampshire portrait photographer Sid Ceaser previously discussed his preference of Westcott’s Apollo line of softboxes. Sid uses a 28″ Recessed Medium Apollo when shooting one or two subjects and a large when shooting groups. All Apollo softboxes are constructed with an umbrella-style frame, which allows for quick set-up. In this particular shoot, Sid demonstrates his use […]

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]]> 139925 Sid Ceaser’s Favorite Modifier: The Westcott Apollo https://westcottu.com/sid-ceaser-and-the-apollo Wed, 18 Dec 2013 16:25:28 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=139879 This review of the Westcott Apollo is courtesy of portrait photographer Sid Ceaser of Ceaser Photography in Nashua, New Hampshire. The Apollo, for those who have never seen one, is a softbox lighting modifier for your off-camera strobes.  They come in two sizes: a 28″, which is great for 1 or 2 subjects, and the […]

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]]> 139879 Safe Lighting for Newborn Portraits https://westcottu.com/lighting-newborn-portraits https://westcottu.com/lighting-newborn-portraits#comments Wed, 18 Dec 2013 14:12:14 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=139864 This article is courtesy of premier newborn photographer Amber Scruggs of Little Moon Photography in Leesburg, Virginia.  I spent 3 years only shooting natural light, studio lights scared me. Once I got my studio as much as I love the natural light it gets, I do get nervous about really dark winter days around here […]

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]]> https://westcottu.com/lighting-newborn-portraits/feed 1 139864 Behind-the-Scenes of Rick Nunn’s Goodbye Gravity Series https://westcottu.com/lighting-creative-portrait-apollo Tue, 17 Dec 2013 19:16:08 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=139845 This article on using the Apollo for creative lighting in a portrait is courtesy of photographer and designer Rick Nunn of Lincoln, England.  Photographer and designer Rick Nunn of Lincoln, England discusses his use of the Westcott 28″ Medium Recessed Apollo within a tight space for this image in his Goodbye Gravity series. It had […]

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]]> 139845 Halloween Portraiture by Tim Breaseale https://westcottu.com/halloween-portraiture-tim-breaseale Fri, 06 Dec 2013 15:37:21 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=139550 This photography blog post was originally written by photographer Tim Breaseale of Tim Breaseale Photography located in South Florida. “The past few weeks have been my photographer’s paradise for portraiture.  I thought the subjects of zombies, the undead, and the Day of the Dead characters would be ideal subject matter for my review of the Westcott Rapid Box 26″ Octa.” The Rapid […]

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]]> 139550 Using Flour and Speedlites for a Warehouse Photo Shoot https://westcottu.com/warehouse-photo-shoot-using-the-apollo-orb Tue, 27 Aug 2013 16:26:12 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=139156 The following lighting diagram and blog is courtesy of  photographer Taryn Truese of Art Factory Studios in Paterson, New Jersey. One of my favorite hobbies in photography is to “test” with new faces from agencies. I love being able to practice my skill and also contribute portraits to models with budding careers. I had just signed […]

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]]> 139156 Painting with Light Using the Ice Light https://westcottu.com/painting-with-light-using-the-ice-light Tue, 23 Oct 2012 17:55:15 +0000 http://fjwestcott.com/?p=123779 This article is courtesy of  photographer and software designer Andrew Funderburg of Fundy Software. Light painting with the is a lot of fun, and gives you a look you can’t get anywhere else. It’s a simple process. Set your camera to manual, under expose your subject and make sure your shutter is set to at least 10 seconds […]

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]]> 123779 The Art of the Portrait Photography: Part 1 https://westcottu.com/michael-corsentino-the-art-of-the-portrait-photography Fri, 07 Sep 2012 13:48:52 +0000 http://fjwestcott.com/?p=123080 Portraits were some of the first images to grab my attention and draw me into my lifelong love affair with photography. The portrait work of Richard Avedon, with their stark black and white imagery, many shot on simple white seamless backgrounds, reduced all the elements down to their simplest forms and taught me valuable and […]

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]]> 123080 How I Captured This Image at Boot Hill Cemetery https://westcottu.com/how-i-captured-this-image-at-boot-hill-cemetery Thu, 06 Sep 2012 09:47:29 +0000 http://fjwestcott.com/?p=123126 This image was taken in Tombstone at Boothill Cemetery following the Tombstone Trolley Ghost and Murder Tour with Parson George and Lee. The cemetery is one of the stops during the tour. At the time this image was taken the sun was setting and the cemetery was about to close. The trolley driver, Lee, who […]

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]]> 123126 Composite Photography Lit by the Spiderlite TD6 https://westcottu.com/composite-photography-td6 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 13:16:25 +0000 http://fjwestcott.com/?p=122798 In this composite of a mountain biker in Boulder, Colorado, Mark S. Johnson’s goal was to capture the feeling of hopping off the bike after an epic (and muddy) ride. To accomplish the effect, he employed his standard composite photography light setup. This includes three . A  (with no diffusion internal or external diffusion) served […]

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]]> 122798 Black-and-White Action Shot Lighting Setup https://westcottu.com/action-shot-using-scrim-jim Mon, 30 Jul 2012 13:53:25 +0000 http://fjwestcott.com/?p=122707 Black-and-White Action shot by photographer João Carlos using a The Medium Scrim Jim Kit is a useful photography tool that allows photographers to diffuse, reflect, cut down, or completely block light.  With the variety of available fabrics, the Scrim Jim is one of the most diverse tools in the photography industry.  In this action shot […]

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]]> 122707 Shooting Outdoors: Headshots in the park https://westcottu.com/shooting-outdoors-erik-valind-on-headshots-park Tue, 24 Jul 2012 13:38:09 +0000 http://fjwestcott.com/?p=121888 Shooting Outdoors Rocks When given the choice between shooting in a studio or shooting outdoors in the world, I’ll drag my camera gear and subject out that door any day of the week. The sheer volume of different backgrounds and locations can be overwhelming if you’re just starting out though. Thankfully every city out there […]

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]]> 121888 Directing Speedlites for Portraiture https://westcottu.com/portrait-shoot-with-apollo-strip Wed, 18 Jul 2012 13:41:19 +0000 http://fjwestcott.com/?p=121697 For this portrait shoot, Bob Davis had two speedlites in Group B manual mode 1/8th power with the flash heads manually zoomed to 200mm. One camera left and one camera right. The main speedlite was in Group A with the flash head manually zoomed to 200mm. The Apollo Strip is a light modifier used in […]

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]]> 121697 Using Apollo Orb to Control Light with Speedlites https://westcottu.com/jayce-clarke-using-apollo-orb-to-control-light-with-speedlites Mon, 16 Jul 2012 18:49:04 +0000 http://fjwestcott.com/?p=122394 Levels Aimed At: Simple lighting setup with a little practice. One light source (Key light), setup. Controlling background exposure to render your creative results. Anything I should know? Radio triggers that allow for AutoFP/High Speed Sync are needed. IR setups tend not to work At least 2 or 3 strobes. In Brief In this article […]

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]]> 122394 Portrait Shoot using an Apollo and Stripbanks https://westcottu.com/portrait-shoot-using-an-apollo Tue, 19 Jun 2012 13:43:50 +0000 http://fjwestcott.com/?p=121620 This portrait shoot by photographer Erik Valind is set up with a Westcott 50-inch Apollo as the main light source, and two 12″ x 36″ Pro Stripbanks acting as rim lights, coming in from the side. The 50″ Mega Apollo featured in this post is built on an umbrella frame making it very easy to […]

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]]> 121620 Outdoor Portrait Shoot using a Scrim Jim https://westcottu.com/outdoor-portrait-shoot-using-a-scrim-jim Mon, 11 Jun 2012 19:30:07 +0000 http://fjwestcott.com/?p=121438 Outdoor Portrait shoot by photographer Erik Valind using a Westcott Large Scrim Jim. The Large Scrim Jim Kit is a useful photography tool that allows photographers to diffuse light, reflect light, cut down light, or completely block light.  With the variety of available fabrics, the Scrim Jim is one of the most diverse tools in […]

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]]> 121438 Outdoor Football Portrait using a Scrim Jim https://westcottu.com/outdoor-football-portrait Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:56:36 +0000 http://fjwestcott.com/?p=121379 This lighting setup and final image was provided by photographer Jim Schmelzer.  Jim used the Westcott Medium Scrim Jim overhead his subject so that there were no shadows on the football player, and that he could completely control the light that reached his subjects.  Jim then used a 50″ Mega Apollo to fully light the […]

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]]> 121379 Product Shoot: Super Bowl Ring Shot with Strobelite Plus https://westcottu.com/strobelite-plus-product-shoot Thu, 07 Jun 2012 16:09:00 +0000 http://fjwestcott.com/?p=120953 Take a look behind the scenes at this product shoot of a Super Bowl ring shot by photographer Hernan Rodriguez using two Westcott Strobelite Plus units, two Westcott Scrim Jims with 1-1/4 Stop Diffusion Fabric and two 42″ Silver/White Illuminator Reflectors. The Westcott Strobelite Plus allows photographers to preview light patterns with an adjustable modeling […]

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]]> 120953 Behind the Portrait with Strobist Rick Nunn https://westcottu.com/behind-the-portrait-with-strobist-rick-nunn Fri, 25 May 2012 15:52:36 +0000 http://fjwestcott.com/?p=120051 This behind the portrait blog is courtesy of strobist photographer and design Rick Nunn. Last Saturday I headed to Tokyo to do a shoot for a friend. This first set up needed to be super dramatic so I had two on the left, one high one low, and a light behind on to some very […]

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]]> 120051 Behind the Scenes: Strobist Portraits in a Warehouse https://westcottu.com/rick-nunn-portrait-shoot-using-apollos Tue, 15 May 2012 14:06:59 +0000 http://fjwestcott.com/?p=119871 This article is courtesy of designer and strobist photographer Rick Nunn of Lincoln, England. It’s been a few weeks since I’ve done a lit portrait, so I text my friend Leah &  arranged something for today. I’ve had this location in mind for a while but hadn’t had the chance to use it. It was a […]

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]]> 119871 Using Natural Light Outdoors for a Romantic Concept Shoot https://westcottu.com/outdoor-fashion-setup-using-westcott-reflector Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:21:44 +0000 http://fjwestcott.com/?p=116782 In these works, Portugal-based fashion photographer Joâo Carlos pairs the literature of love tragedies through the ages with these stunning outdoor fashion portraits. These images have a composition and balance inspired by the masters of painting. Centuries-old castles and palaces in Portugal create a fairy tale setting for the characters to play out their doomed […]

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