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Black and white two light portrait setup featuring model Lizzie on dark background

How I Build a Studio Portrait From Scratch

Two lights, a roll of black paper and a portrait built from scratch: here's how I light a moody studio ...
Black and white two light portrait setup featuring model Lizzie on dark background

Two Lights And A Kiss – A Moody Portrait On Black Paper

Pattern: Short side lighting from a big soft source, with a gridded kiss light coming back from behind. Mood: Dark ...
Lizzie in black lace dress beside glowing bare bulb portrait photography

A Single Bulb and a Seventeenth Century Mood

Pattern: Short-lit loop that tips towards Rembrandt, from a high, close, bare point source (an everyday LED light bulb!), with ...
Six year old Jess in red coat poses with Halloween pumpkin

How Jess Became Red Riding Hood | Halloween Portrait Photography Ideas

Some of the best halloween portrait photography ideas aren't planned at all. They just happen when the right person walks ...
Photographer demonstrating understanding continuous light techniques in a studio setting

Seeing Light Differently: An Evening Exploring Continuous Light

There’s a common misconception in portrait photography that better photographs come from buying better lights. Spend enough money on the ...
Woman with curly hair surrounded by dramatic smoke effect portrait studio

Using The PMI Smoke Ninja Dry Ice Nozzle For Portraits

I love the dry ice nozzle for the PMI Smoke Ninja. What it does, essentially, is cool the smoke as ...
Dramatic black and white single light portrait setup with moody side lighting

Five Portrait Looks with One Light

Want to know how many lights I typically use? Well, that's simple: just one. It's always been that way, as ...
Woman with long hair posing on stool in natural movement portrait photography

Photographing Natural Movement – Play With Hair

Photographing Natural Movement As a portrait photographer, I'm always looking for moments that look great but are also really natural ...
Teenage boy seated on wooden stool, dramatic studio portrait with dark background

The Softbox Is Just A Window (How to make lighting easy!)

When I first started learning photography, particularly studio photography, I found the way people taught it really tricky. It was ...
Young male model portrait with dramatic lighting against dark grey background

Angle Of The Light Part 1

When we talk about lighting patterns, it can feel like there's a myriad of variables at play. And of course, ...

Paul