Chris Knight - Mastering Studio Lighting using a Light Meter for Dramatic Portrait Photography

In this video, Chris Knight dives deep into lighting for dramatic portrait photography. We'll explore key lights, fill lights, rim lights, and background lights, and how to use them to create stunning images using hard light. Join renowned portrait and commercial photographer Chris Knight as he unveils his expert secrets for controlling and shaping light in the studio. This video is perfect for photographers of all levels, from beginners seeking a foundation to seasoned shooters looking to expand their skillset.
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⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 - 00:42 Intro
00:42 - 03:40 Shoot Descriptions, of course
03:40 - 04:27 What are the jobs of light for portraits
04:27 - Key Light / Main Light
08:50 - Key Light / Main Light - Exposing for different skin tones.
11:25 - Key Light / Main Light - Adding a Grid
13:58 - Fill Light - Hard Light
16:50 - Fill Light - Metering your fill light
21:00 - Fill Light -Differences in fill light exposure.
23:41 - Fill Light - Hard Light vs Softlight
26:05 - Fill Light - Going Back to Hard Light Fill
27:09 - Rim Light
30:24 - Background Light
33:19 - Applying Key Light, Fill Light, Rim Light, and Background light to create a Joseph Karsh-inspired portrait.
38:00 - Metering before you take the first shot
41:50 - Adding special effect filters to get to the final shot
44:17 - Portrait 2 inspired by Yousuf Karsh's Portrait of Hemingway
52:18 - Outro
#studiolighting #portraitphotography #studiophotography
[Delve into the world of professional photography with this comprehensive tutorial on studio lighting techniques, perfect for both beginners and enthusiasts alike. Learn the ins and outs of portrait photography, from setting up your lighting equipment to mastering dramatic lighting effects. Discover the importance of key lights, fill lights, and rim lights in creating stunning portraits that capture the essence of your subject. With expert guidance on using popular light meters like the Sekonic L-398A and Sekonic L-308X Flashmate, you'll gain invaluable insights into precise light metering and off-camera flash photography. Join acclaimed photographer Chris Knight as he shares his tips and tricks for achieving optimal lighting setups, inspired by the legendary photographer Yousuf Karsh, and elevating your photography skills to new heights. Whether you're a novice seeking to understand the fundamentals or a seasoned photographer looking to refine your techniques, these tutorials provide the perfect resource for advancing your craft and achieving professional-quality results.]

[@marceloleitejr]

This is a free master class. Amazing job.

[@SekonicGlobal]

We are looking to do more long-form content for sure.

[@Saeedalamriphoto]

Very informative lesson and easy to comprehend Chris is my favorite portrait photographer please don’t leave him alone, I enjoy his lessons so please send him my regards.

[@SekonicGlobal]

Glad you enjoyed it. We love working with Chris Knight.

[@gilltim5711]

This is fantastic. Best explanation I've ever seen on how to use the incident meter relative to fill lights. Brilliant! Thank you for sharing.

[@SekonicGlobal]

Thank you.

[@Elassyahmed]

That's incredible. Chris Knight is a great photographer and teacher

[@SekonicGlobal]

Thank you.

[@gvasquez330]

We need to see more of Chris and his well paced explanations! Well done

[@SekonicGlobal]

Thank you for the feedback. We are looking to do more long-form content.

[@hopsain]

The pacing of this teaching is beautiful. Keep up the great work🖤

[@SekonicGlobal]

Thank you! Will do!

[@SuperEchinacea]

Chris Knight is without a doubt the one I've learned most from on KZbin when it comes to photographic with strobes Thank you so much for another great video!

[@SekonicGlobal]

Thank you for your kind words, we appreciate your support! We love working with Chris.

[@charliegreen1989]

One of the best videos I’ve seen in a while on this topic. More of this would be great, maybe with some of your other ambassadors too.

[@SekonicGlobal]

Thank you for the feedback. It helps us determine what type of content people want to see.

[@DonHuff]

Outstanding! Walking through the process is very instructive.

[@SekonicGlobal]

Thank you. Definitely let us know if you would like to see more long form content.

[@clarkbarrow6750]

Thanks for the extremely useful information and examples of how to set the amount of lighting using the Sekonic meter.

[@SekonicGlobal]

Glad it was helpful!

[@stephenmatthews5437]

Thank you Chris, excellent demonstration

[@SekonicGlobal]

Glad it was helpful! Im sure Chris will be checking in, but let us respond on his behalf. He is s fantastic teacher and an amazing photographer.

[@tfinneman]

This is terrific! I love this long-form content with detailed information. Please share more long-form content like this. Chris is terrific photographer and teacher; his choice of recreating Karsh with flash strobes is terrific. Well done--I feel like I learned a few things here. It was cool to see Chris setting up a photo with just a light meter and no test shots.

[@SekonicGlobal]

We absolutely have more content like this planned for the near future. Keep an eye out and don't forget to subscribe to get upload notifications!

[@omidincarnation4723]

thank you, Chris, you are an excellent teacher.

[@SekonicGlobal]

You're very welcome! We love working with Chris.

[@suzibrown8965]

So well done! Thank you!

[@SekonicGlobal]

Your welcome we are looking to do more long form educational content.

[@waynecoles6041]

Its a great instrucional video, I'm not sure what the "too much talking" comment is about, the talking/explanation is more important to understanding than simply firing off shots. Explaining the what/why/how is far more useful imho, and Chris explains it really well. Thanks! I already have (and use) a 308X, but do want to upgrade to the L858 at some point :)

[@SekonicGlobal]

Thank you so much for the feedback. We are looking to do more long-form content to really show more in real-time. The L-858 really is a great meter.

[@ChrisKluepfel]

Wow! More of those please!

[@SekonicGlobal]

We are looking to start producing more long form content for sure.

[@chefkachi2770]

Straight to the point, I love it!

[@SekonicGlobal]

Thank. Look out for more content from us.

[@dinceror]

Thank you Sekonic

[@SekonicGlobal]

Your welcome and more to come.

[@MojoPapiFPV]

Nicely done and well explained.

[@SekonicGlobal]

Glad it was helpful!

[@IAMWILLBROWN]

Awesome teacher!

[@SekonicGlobal]

Thank you! 😃

[@Maz-2393]

Awesome well paced non-TikTok’ish :) detailed and informative video Chris. Thank you…

[@SekonicGlobal]

Glad you liked it! We love creating content with Chris!

[@manilamartin1001]

Thank you

[@SekonicGlobal]

Your welcome. Thank you for watching.

[@pasarbunul4149]

Is this tutorial applicable for sekonic L308?

[@movementmatters.]

48:36 Correct me if I'm being wrong, but putting a sock on a modifier does not make the light from it softer, it makes it diffused (instead of being direct without the sock). With all due respect to Chris!

[@SekonicGlobal]

Correct, the sock diffuses the light. Therefore it will take on more qualities of softer light, but depending on the relative distance and relative size compared to the subject will dictate how much of a softening effect it has.

[@jameslewisphotography431]

I just wish this company would sponsor me 😂 would save me so much time setting up lighting in my studio I have been wanting a light meter for years

[@SekonicGlobal]

We understand. But we are happy to share free content with you.

[@luissalazar2021]

You always teaching well, thank you for sharing your art, .

[@SekonicGlobal]

So nice of you, Im sure Chris will love to hear this.

[@Javier.Elias.]

Great content! I'd love to know what filter did Chris use?! Anyone any idea?

[@SekonicGlobal]

He was using a Black Pro Mist or Hollywood filter.

[@iamwhatiam6281]

hi! great video! as profoto user, to use L-858D we have to trigger like him with a second remote (like him, the one in his left hand)?

[@SekonicGlobal]

Yes, correct. There currently isn't an internal module to remotely fire the lights. You have to use cordless flash mode.

[@iamwhatiam6281]

@@SekonicGlobal so..like we can see in the 2 videos by chris knight, with profoto system, he is using 2 profoto connect pro? (one in his hand one mounted on the camera?) it will work also with one profoto connect pro and one older profoto air remote ttl? thanks so much for the info.. and.. great content 👍🏻

[@SekonicGlobal]

Thank you.

[@DrRussell]

How is this free? Glad I am a Sekonic customer.

[@SekonicGlobal]

We are working to create more long-form content. Glad you like it.

[@shreeramjadye7474]

Sir you mentioned Joseph Karsh. Did you mean Yusuf Karsh?

[@SekonicGlobal]

Correct, we are talking about the photographer Yusuf Karsh.

[@stephanzobeley9443]

so which filter where you actually using Chris ?

[@SekonicGlobal]

He was using a Black Pro Mist or Hollywood filter.

[@shiralikerim1781]

👍

[@SekonicGlobal]

Thank you.

[@IMDABROWN]

Be cautious my antivirus blocked an attack after trying to open the link to the light meter.

[@SekonicGlobal]

Thank you for the feedback we will check it out.

[@jacovanlith5082]

Too much talking.

[@SekonicGlobal]

We have a lot of feedback from customer for wanting more long form content. We will be mixing it up so please check back.

[@BrianMorrisPhoto]

f11 is a commercial zone of focus ........required to reach a usable zone of focus. FOR PRINT WORK..... Where do these teachers come from?

[@SekonicGlobal]

We work with some of the best commercial portrait photographers in the world, and they often choose the aperture based on the look they are going for, what they want in focus, and the lighting. One aperture definitely doesn't fit every shoot. - Ab Sesay

[@RYOkEkEN]

?

[@richschmitt100]

You talk to much.

[@SekonicGlobal]

We love Chris and his words are not wasted on us.

[@wendystumbaugh695]

*too