Wedding & Senior Photography Archives — Westcott University https://westcottu.com/topic/wedding-senior-photography Lighting Education for Photographers and Filmmakers Wed, 08 Jan 2025 15:24:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://westcottu.com/wp-content/uploads/icon-university.png Wedding & Senior Photography Archives — Westcott University https://westcottu.com/topic/wedding-senior-photography 32 32 Emphasizing Details in Bridal Portraits https://westcottu.com/details-in-bridal-portraits Thu, 20 Jun 2019 17:38:45 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=152066 Regardless of your client’s budget, you can be assured that the wedding dress has been meticulously selected. The bride wants to look as beautiful as possible for this extremely special occasion. And as the wedding photographer, it is your job to capture not only the bride, but also the details of her gown. But even in […]

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]]> 152066 How to Perfect Natural Light for Stunning Wedding Portraits https://westcottu.com/perfect-natural-light-for-wedding-portraits Mon, 21 May 2018 15:29:59 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=150941 In this video tutorial, Nikon Ambassador Jerry Ghionis utilizes a collapsible reflector to perfect natural light for stunning wedding portraits outdoors. Jerry 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 on his unique ability to capture […]

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]]> 150941 Run-and-Gun Wedding Lighting https://westcottu.com/run-and-gun-wedding-lighting Thu, 19 Apr 2018 20:12:10 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=150872 While shooting on-location in a beautiful cathedral in Ohio, celebrity photographer Bob Davis knew he wanted to make the venue a part of the story. This meant that he’d need to capture his subjects in various locations and do so quickly to get them back to their party. This is called run-and-gun photography for a […]

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]]> 150872 Creative Lighting for Groom Portraits https://westcottu.com/creative-groom-portraits Fri, 23 Feb 2018 19:18:05 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=150704 Brides are often a major focus at a wedding shoot. The bride is typically the hero of the story on their special day. However, experienced photographers know that groom portraits can be equally as fun to create and an important detail for their clients. With decades of experience in the wedding industry, Chicago-based photographer Bob […]

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]]> 150704 Lighting for Modern Wedding Portraits https://westcottu.com/lighting-for-modern-wedding-portraits Tue, 20 Feb 2018 19:12:13 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=150115 Chicago-based celebrity wedding photographer Bob Davis discusses his take on modern wedding portraits in our new wedding photography tutorial series. Traditional wedding portraits can often be bland. For shots of the wedding party, many photographers default to posing their subjects upright and in order of height. While some clients may want a traditional look, many couples these […]

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]]> 150115 Improving Wedding Prep Photography with Portable Lighting https://westcottu.com/wedding-prep-photography-with-portable-lighting Sun, 17 Dec 2017 20:08:50 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=150177 In this two-part tutorial, professional wedding photographer Bob Davis discusses how to improve wedding preparation shots (for both brides and grooms) with surprisingly portable lighting setups. By adding just a couple of speedlites and compact modifiers to your shoot, photographers can save time on post-production editing and offer clients higher quality images. In Bob’s bridal […]

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]]> 150177 The Importance of Capturing Quality Detail Shots https://westcottu.com/the-importance-of-capturing-quality-detail-shots Wed, 03 May 2017 15:31:32 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=150102 Images courtesy of Toledo-based photographer Brooks Clayton of Swatch Studios. Photographing a wedding is stressful. Photographers are pressured to capture every precious candid moment and still find the time for traditional formal shots. At the end of a long wedding day, detail shots become a secondary task and are often overlooked or rushed. But with […]

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]]> 150102 Wedding Photography on a Budget https://westcottu.com/wedding-photography-on-a-budget Fri, 13 Jan 2017 21:36:51 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=149557 For wedding photographers, nothing is more important than using gear that is both portable and easy to use. Wedding photographers are constantly on the move and always need to be ready to capture those special moments. Unfortunately, a lot of user and travel-friendly gear is pretty expensive. In this video, Scott Kelby captures beautiful wedding photography […]

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]]> 149557 Reflecting Natural Light for Senior Portraits with the Omega Reflector https://westcottu.com/reflecting-natural-light-with-the-omega-reflector Mon, 03 Oct 2016 20:42:31 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=150447 Capturing professional senior portraits doesn’t require expensive lighting equipment, especially when your client wants to shoot on location. In this video, Kentucky-based photographer Matt Hernandez demonstrates how to best use a portable reflector to perfect natural light. All collapsible reflectors are ideal tools for getting professional-quality lighting in location photography. They’re compact, easy to travel […]

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]]> 150447 The Basics of Off-Camera Flash for Portraits https://westcottu.com/off-camera-flash-basics Tue, 30 Aug 2016 16:26:37 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=148813 Oregon-based senior portrait photographer Alycia White created this tutorial to help budding photographers make the transition to off-camera flash. By modifying a single off-camera speedlite, you can open up the door to professional, properly exposed portraits both indoors and outdoors. In this video, Alycia is modifying her off-camera flash with the cost-effective and easy-to-use . Designed by […]

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]]> 148813 Real Deal Review: The Rapid Box Beauty Dish https://westcottu.com/real-deal-review-the-rapid-box-beauty-dish Thu, 28 Jul 2016 20:24:29 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=148666 This Real Deal Review of the Rapid Box Beauty Dish is courtesy of Jamie Boler of Red Elephant Studios in Scottsville, Kentucky. World­-renowned photographer Joel Grimes designed the new Rapid Box Beauty Dish. The 24″ Rapid Box Beauty Dish is a collapsible, travel­-friendly softbox for beauty, fashion, and commercial photography. This ultra­-portable beauty dish directs […]

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]]> 148666 How to Photograph Day for Night with Speedlights https://westcottu.com/how-to-photograph-day-for-night-with-speedlights Thu, 21 Jul 2016 15:22:18 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=148652 Westcott Top Pro portrait photographer Kevin Kubota demonstrates how to shoot with an ND filter to gain the effect of high speed sync, allowing you to shoot day for night with speed lights. In this video, Kevin modifies his speedlight with a warm gel and the . Designed by the internationally-acclaimed photographer, the LunaGrip is a […]

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]]> 148652 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 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 Balancing Sunlight with the LunaGrip https://westcottu.com/balancing-sunlight-with-the-lunagrip Wed, 06 Apr 2016 17:01:44 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=148308 In the lesson above, photographer and educator Kevin Kubota uses the new  to capture beautiful senior portraits outdoors. When shooting outside on bright days, artificial lighting is necessary to properly expose your subject and background. By utilizing a speedlight as your key light source you can then utilize the sun as a hair light. Although this may be […]

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]]> 148308 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 Environmental Portraiture vs. Location Portraiture https://westcottu.com/environmental-portraiture-vs-location-portraiture Thu, 05 Nov 2015 17:23:08 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=147985 In this informative article and video, New York environmental photographer Benny Migs discusses the differences between environmental portraits and location portraits. Environmental Portraiture I get this question a lot: “What is an environmental portrait”? Environmental portraits are taken of people in an environment that they live, work, rest, or play in. The environment helps tell […]

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]]> 147985 Maximize Your Senior Portrait Session https://westcottu.com/maximize-your-senior-portrait-session Wed, 14 Oct 2015 16:05:16 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=147937 As part of Summit Online‘s team of photography instructors, Westcott Top Pro Matt Hernandez takes a senior portrait session outdoors to offer tips on capturing professional images for your clients. A key to a successful senior portrait session is to maximize your time in each location. By taking a variety of images in each spot, you can […]

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]]> 147937 Inspiringly Easy High School Senior Portraits https://westcottu.com/easy-high-school-senior-portraits Thu, 08 Oct 2015 20:26:46 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=147915 Westcott Top Pro photographer Kevin Kubota heads to a park near Westcott HQ to capture effortless high school senior portraits with the speedlite modifier. Designed by Kubota, the LunaGrip is a unique grip that allows photographers to pair their speedlite and favorite diffusion disc. The LunaGrip creates beautiful but manageable lighting. This handheld bracket features an adjustable shoe-mount, […]

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]]> 147915 Capturing Memorable Wedding Cinemagraphs with the Ice Light https://westcottu.com/capturing-memorable-wedding-cinemagraphs-with-the-ice-light Mon, 13 Jul 2015 19:46:48 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=147732 Westcott Top Pro photographer Jim Schmelzer utilizes multiple Westcott Ice Lights to capture beautiful wedding cinemagraphs in this video tutorial. Cinemagraphs, often called “living photos”, are a contemporary cross between still images and video. These unique images feature a still image with moving components. Any video file can be easily turned into a cinemagraph with Flixel’s […]

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]]> 147732 Real Deal Review: Andrew Foord and the Eyelighter https://westcottu.com/real-deal-review-andrew-foord-eyelighter Tue, 07 Oct 2014 19:29:43 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=141745 New Jersey portrait photographer Andrew Foord shot with the innovative Eyelighter reflector in this latest Real Deal Review. The Westcott Eyelighter is the first curved reflector available for portrait photographers. Featuring a durable frame and highly-reflective silver surface, the Eyelighter produces a clamshell reflection with a beautiful catchlight. This arc-shaped reflector was inspired by the unique curved shaped of […]

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]]> 141745 Senior Sports Portraits with Matt Hernandez https://westcottu.com/amazing-senior-portraits-with-matt-hernandez Wed, 10 Sep 2014 19:43:21 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=141642 This really sets the bar for senior sports portraits. To bring his creative vision to life for this shoot, talented photographer Matt Hernandez needed to completely  control his lighting. Photographing this young swimmer in the center of a high school pool, Matt decided to modify his strobe with the softbox. This large modifier features a […]

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]]> 141642 Improving your Portraits using the Westcott Eyelighter https://westcottu.com/improving-portraits-eyelighter Tue, 01 Jul 2014 13:31:57 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=141282 Top Pro Elite Photographer Dave Cross has been photographing and educating photographers for over 25 years.  In this video, Dave covers how to improve portrait photography with the simple addition of the Westcott Eyelighter.  The Eyelighter is a curved reflector that sits on a stand in front of your model.  This self supporting reflector allows […]

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]]> 141282 Capturing Impressive Senior Portraits https://westcottu.com/senior-portraits-rapid-box-xxl Mon, 28 Apr 2014 17:38:02 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=140403 Westcott Top Pro photographer Matt Hernandez discusses the features and benefits of the Rapid Box XXL while shooting sports-themed senior portraits in this latest review. With quick set-up and a lightweight frame, Matt is easily able to use this large modifier throughout his on-location shoots. The Rapid Box XL and XXL offer two removable diffusion […]

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]]> 140403 Wedding Portraits with Jerry Ghionis https://westcottu.com/ice-light-wedding-portraits-jerry-ghionis Tue, 14 Jan 2014 16:20:03 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=140038 Jerry Ghionis demonstrates both his talent and his ingenuity during this wedding portrait session. Shooting a beautiful couple in a hall of exquisite mirrors, Jerry needed to properly angle himself to avoid his appearance in the frame and precisely place his subjects to capture their reflected image. Throughout the shoot, Jerry’s creative gears are running […]

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]]> 140038 Photo Booth Wedding Portraits using Green Screen https://westcottu.com/wedding-photo-booth Fri, 11 Oct 2013 22:40:43 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=133275 Watch how Westcott Top Pro Elite Photographer Dave Cross creates fun photo booth portraits at a wedding using Westcott Green Screen and PhotoKey Pro Software. Dave Cross uses the Westcott Ice Light to light the background and the subjects during the shoot. Dave begins this video on photo booth wedding portraits with general tips on […]

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]]> 133275 Ice Light Review by Marc Mikhail https://westcottu.com/ice-light-review-by-marc-mikhail Fri, 23 Aug 2013 15:13:14 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=139091 This Ice Light Review was provided by Marc Mikhail, Wedding photographer from Toronto, Canada. I love gadgets and cool stuff.  I’m a very tech-savvy guy, I love everything that has extra bells and whistles because when I want to use them, there they are.  When I encountered the ice light for the first time at […]

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]]> 139091 Green Screen for Senior Portraits https://westcottu.com/dave-cross-uses-green-screen-for-senior-portraits Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:04:50 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=133300 Westcott Top Pro Elite photographer Dave Cross explains how to make high school seniors more interesting with the Power of Green Screen. He used the Westcott Illusions background, along with images from Fotolia, and PhotoKey software to create stunning Senior Pictures. He then goes the extra distance in Photoshop to make the image really pop! […]

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]]> 133300 Wedding Photography Lighting Tips: Part 2 https://westcottu.com/photo-lighting-for-a-wedding-part-2 https://westcottu.com/photo-lighting-for-a-wedding-part-2#comments Fri, 07 Jun 2013 02:35:26 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=133252 Westcott Top Pro Jim Schmelzer continues his wedding photography lighting tips from Part 1 at the church. Here, Jim will bring in his bride and groom to start shooting beautiful images. Jim was using the in this lighting setup. Along with using an umbrella for the main source of light, Jim also uses a on […]

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]]> https://westcottu.com/photo-lighting-for-a-wedding-part-2/feed 1 133252 Senior Portrait Photography with the Ice Light https://westcottu.com/senior-portrait-photography Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:36:50 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=31 Top Pro Jim Schmelzer uses Westcott Ice Lights to create beautiful a beautiful Senior Portrait with ease. Using the portable Ice Light, Jim is in and out of a shoot in minutes. The Ice light is a portable handheld daylight light source that is fully dimmable.  The Ice Light allows photographers a portable option if […]

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]]> 31 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 Bruce Dorn: Portraits with Speedlites (Part 5) https://westcottu.com/bruce-dorn-on-speedlites-5 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 09:05:16 +0000 http://fjwestcott.com/?p=123669 Explorer of Light and Westcott Top Pro Elite Bruce Dorn has been teaching Speedlite techniques around the country for years through Canon Live Learning and his own workshops. With the Canon Digital Learning Center’s exclusive tutorials series on Environmental Portraits with Speedlites, now an even larger amount of photographers can watch and learn. The series was designed […]

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]]> 123669 Bruce Dorn: Portraits with Speedlites (Part 3) https://westcottu.com/bruce-dorn-on-speedlites-3 Fri, 19 Oct 2012 08:57:15 +0000 http://fjwestcott.com/?p=123654 Explorer of Light and Westcott Top Pro Elite Bruce Dorn has been teaching techniques for speedlites around the country for years through Canon Live Learning and his own workshops. With the Canon Digital Learning Center’s exclusive tutorials series on environmental portraits with speedlites, now an even larger amount of photographers can watch and learn. The series was designed […]

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]]> 123654 Bruce Dorn: Portraits with Speedlites https://westcottu.com/bruce-dorn-on-speedlites Mon, 15 Oct 2012 08:38:20 +0000 http://fjwestcott.com/?p=123641 Explorer of Light and Westcott Top Pro Elite Bruce Dorn has been teaching techniques for speedlites around the country for years through Canon Live Learning and his own workshops. With the Canon Digital Learning Center’s exclusive tutorials series on environmental portraits with speedlites, now an even larger amount of photographers can watch and learn. The series was designed […]

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]]> 123641 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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