How To Create Soft Light | The Creative Process with Emily Teague

Soft light can be flattering, dreamy, dramatic, and the right choice for various types of photos. Join Emily Teague as she explains how to create soft light with the choices of diffusion, modifier size, and also, through bouncing light.
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✘ PRODUCTS USED:
Canon 5D Mark IV:
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Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens
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Apple 27" iMac:
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Capture One 21:
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Elinchrom ELC 125:
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Elinchrom 59" Deep Inverse Octa Hybrid SoftBox:
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Elinchrom 39” Deep Rotalux:
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Elinchrom Skyport:
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Models:
Lisa Stapleton - / lisa.stapleton
The stills: Hannah Mussette - / mussette
Photographer: Emily Teague
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THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!

[@noeygarza64]

Finally someone that shows and not talk technical about just using a light source. What looks good to you. No f stop talk , shutter speed or iso. Just take the shot.

[@nohc4]

I agree! and that's fundamentally what photography is, This lady is a formidable teacher and a great photographer, my dad was a photographer for more than 40 years and I have never heard him over complicating things, he shot judging the focus by meters because auto focus was not a thing at that time, and all my pictures from my childhood are tack sharp, plus the lighting was exquisite both natural and flash, from black and white to color slides and all in between, Photographers used to be truly masters back in the day.

[@lukerabin5079]

Those are the basics of exposure. If you don’t want to deal with them, stay with your mobile phone. No, I’m not being a dick, but those three variables make the image. They establish blur versus sharpness, they define what’s in and what’s out of focus, and they define what conditions can be photographed and what can’t be. You know, the basics.

[@420sigmapower]

I use an indirect umbrella 65 inch/165cm from Godox with a white interior. when i put it overhead it still has a fair bit of contrast and dark background. And when i put it overhead 45 degree angled it will bounce fill in from the white wall and opening up the background as well. it is my favorite modifier.. I rarely use my Elinchrom deep octa 100cm anymore because i have more control with my Godox deep umbrella. I might still use the deep octa with inner diffuser when i need a bit more moody rembrandt stuff.

[@josephchan4198]

I been following her work for a while and she good teacher. Hope to see more from her and others on this channel.

[@EmilyTeague]

Thank you so much, Joseph. I love hearing that :)

[@thesisunatorpodcast6850]

This was the best video I've seen! Thanks very much.. clear and concise and with a true method.

[@gvasquez330]

So glad I stumbled on to your videos. Easy to follow with good explanations and lovely results. Keep them coming as I’m a fan!

[@EmilyTeague]

Thank you Gabriel!!

[@raulakis35]

Great work Emily ! Love the way you teach !!

[@EmilyTeague]

I appreciate that Raul, thanks! :)

[@luissalazar2021]

Nice job! They need to make for group shots too. Thanks for sharing, I still using 2 big umbrella’s for groups.

[@010Portraits]

i feel more skilled after this video , thank you!

[@EmilyTeague]

I love hearing that, thank you!!

[@dlanska]

Nicely presented. Covered a lot in 5 minutes.

[@EmilyTeague]

Thank you!! :)

[@AhmedEmad-cq9iy]

Best photographer

[@EmilyTeague]

Awe thank you Ahmed! :)

[@mmarsbarr]

Great to see another Elinchrom user :)

[@EmilyTeague]

Always makes me happy to find one ^_^

[@johnclay7644]

useful photography content.

[@EmilyTeague]

Thanks so much!

[@tw9535]

Nice video!

[@EmilyTeague]

Thank you!!

[@drewsimonphotography9678]

Do I need a model with. one eye covered in my portfolio? I see this a lot so just wondering.

[@EmilyTeague]

Hi Drew! Trying to see if I showed a shot like this but I'm not immediately finding it if you're referencing one from my video. You definitely don't need one in your portfolio though. Your portfolio is whatever speaks to what you like. So if you like that look, include it! If not- no eyes covered for you ;)

[@drewsimonphotography9678]

@@EmilyTeague Thats great thank you!

[@ericolsen7585]

Does diffusion impact softness of light? My understanding is that diffusion affects specularity, while size, relative to subject, affects softness.

[@jlwilliams]

You don't seem to have gotten an answer yet from Emily, so I'll chip in: I believe your understanding is correct EXCEPT that more diffusion also produces more scatter. If you're shooting in a smallish space with plenty of reflective surfaces, that scattered light can be bounced back into the subject area, where it creates the appearance of more softness by adding more light to the shadow areas. Sound sensible?

[@jlwilliams]

If you're shooting in a small, light-colored environment such as Emily's shooting space shown in the video, diffusion WILL make the effect a bit softer, because it scatters more light out into the room, where it can bounce off ceiling and walls and soften the light by lightening the shadows.

[@Sportserjeff]

Umbrella is my personal favorite. But after a light stand blew over and destroyed the cheap umbrella, I used a nearby wall.

[@EmilyTeague]

Oh dear hahaha

[@eddieteabagify]

I'm working on pulling the fj200 out of its xmas box and putting it on a stand.

[@EmilyTeague]

Yesss!!!

[@dendypramana3341]

still wondering how to create a very soft light with minimum specularity but also high in contrast and still punchy?

[@Zommi]

parabolic modifier maybe?

[@jlwilliams]

Maybe Emily will have a great answer for you, but here's a kibitz: For softness, a larger and/or closer light fills in more of the shadow and makes the light softer. Specularity (mirror-like reflection) depends on the uniformity of the light source, and you can add diffusion to make it more uniform. "Punchy" light is directional, meaning it hits the subject mostly from one direction without bouncing around too much. So, if you use a large, diffused light source that's still directional, you should be able to get the effect you want. For head-and-shoulder shots I use a white beauty dish with a grid on it to produce this effect; works pretty well, but is a tremendous nuisance to carry around because it takes up as much space in the car as a person!

[@moisesgomez1767]

Sorry but diffusing the light makes the light less specular but in no way makes the light softer, if you put more diffusing it might dim the light but that's all.

[@jlwilliams]

If you shoot in a small, light-colored room (like the one shown in the video) putting on more diffusion will scatter the light more, so some of it will bounce off the walls, ceiling, etc., and make the lighting on the subject look softer. But in a large, dark space, or outdoors, you're absolutely right!

[@aznycts]

Stop saying Cm inches Please

[@polosandoval]

The formula is: [number of centimeters] X 0.39 = [number of inches].

[@EmilyTeague]

I try to stick to using centimeters since the metric system is most commonly used around the world, but sometimes go in between saying centimeters or inches. Good reminder to just say both for folks. Thank you for the thought!

[@aznycts]

@@polosandoval yeah genius i m from Europe 😆 i know what Cm is . Adorama mention in" in the us we don't care about Cm 😆 .

[@aznycts]

@@EmilyTeague well i m from Europe Emily. Adorama Mention in" 99% of the time. I v Been Costumer of Adorama for over 35 Years . Well it is what it is . i loved your Video 👍

[@jlwilliams]

Just remember that 5cm is about 2 inches and it's easy to do the arithmetic in your head. I'm fine with her using cm, because a lot of light modifiers are marked that way when you are shopping for them online.