How to Photograph Action in Studio: Freeze Motion like a Treat Catching Pro

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

*What do we think? Helpful?!* There is a blog post with a little more on the theory side linked in the description below 🥳

[@pattymattes7124]

Yes, very helpful and you covered some things that I didn't think about. Thanks!!!

[@wendycollins3507]

Thank you so much, brilliantly informative as always! 👍😊

[@JeffCreates]

There's something very calmingly matter of fact about your delivery style. Plus a complete lack of the "i'll tell you at the end" timeline baiting you normally see. Thanks for this.

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Thank you so much 🙏

[@jkcrn1]

Thanks! I've done treat catches twice and your other videos helped me be able to do it with success. It's great to see this video that validates I did it right. My photos turned out great! Thanks so much for all your videos, they have made me a better photographer.

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Great to hear this Jane, amazing news!

[@LeeSanz111]

This is very cool! Your doggos are absolutely adorable! Thank you Jessica!

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

You are very welcome!

[@BruiserFL]

Great tips. I like that you explain why you do what you do throughout the video. It helps me build a foundation to build upon.

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Thank you for your kind words, I am glad you like the video, and it is great that the information is helping you lay the foundations to build on 🤓🙂

[@pattymattes7124]

This is great!!! Thank you for posting this. It's one of the most common questions I see when people start with flash. I knew the concept but had to learn about flash duration the hard way, trial and error. Now when someone asks about this I can link to your video.

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Awesome thanks Patty!

[@mandyajel]

Oh my gosh Alf is gorgeous ❤️ such a good boy.

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

💜

[@judywright2051]

And the dogs will be MORE than happy to help you practice your technique!

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Always willing with the promise of free treats!

[@portraitsofpain]

Very helpful, yet again so thank you!!! Also, +1 to the socks and sliders.

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Hahaha fashion forward!

[@duncanlawler6426]

Thank you very much. Never heard of the T one Value before. Interesting.

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Glad it was helpful!

[@phillipjolly6287]

Alfie is such a pro but the best was baby B who hadn’t worked out the game yet, ‘Back, back’ then biscuit in the face 🤣 That was too funny, thank you 🙏

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

She is so funny, perfecting her biscuit face really well at the moment! 😂

[@shiuantzer]

The border collies are so well-trained :) fascinating

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Most of the time they are well trained! 😂

[@bnkakl]

awesome video with the cutest furry babies!

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Thank you 🤗

[@ayriniemi1154]

Oooh a new challenge for me :) I would need lots of equipment. Thanks for the walk through....brilliant as always

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Defo a fun challenge too - good luck!

[@Researchedthat]

Amazing video! Very detailed!

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Thank you so much 🙏

[@lucydphotography658]

Ooo I have never tried these type of shots before so will defo have a go. I didn't know about the T value. Will look it up on my Interfit strobes. Thankyou for sharing, it's great to have info on something before diving in when not having a clue 😆

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Hope you enjoy shooting, it's so much fun!

[@kimhoogkamp1040]

Enjoyed this!!

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Yay! 💪🏼

[@roxanehugues7837]

Super duper helpful!! This video is full of great tips, thanks both 🙏

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Our pleasure!

[@suerichardson1289]

Thanks for the video! Lots of info, but to be honest I find flash photography very intimidating. I’ll have to watch this a few more times to see if I can put it all together. The only lights I have are a cheap set of continuous lights and I haven’t had much luck using them yet. Guess I’ll have to save up for some good ones once I’m able to figure things out. I love baby B! She’s getting so big ❤️

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

I’m determined to demystify it all for the community :)

[@taraweigum2089]

Thank you for this video! I'm very new and my dog has been my practice model. This helped me alot and especially that I am throwing treats too high and missing the shot or she isn't in focus.

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Keep practising - you'll get there!

[@pamelaparton317]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Thanks for watching!

[@jmewest]

Very very helpful will save this! Thanks

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Glad it was helpful!

[@davevowles8093]

Brill video, explanations and models.

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Thank you 🙂

[@tracyshankland]

So helpful! Thank you!

[@Researchedthat]

Most obedient dogs!

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

They are indeed 🙂 but it doesn't just happen over night

[@Noeline999]

Great video Jess. I'm really interested in learning flash photography even though it is extremely daunting. I've booked myself in for 1:1 with a photographer here in Melbourne to hopefully understand it. Then it will be about buying the lights (already decided on Godox), stand/s and backdrop stand. What sort of backdrop paowr do you use? What is the best for least glare /cleaning etc?

[@udaypamphilos]

Your hair is beautiful !

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

that's really kind, thank you 😊

[@jonhermannsson9231]

Nice video. Allie is so cute

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Thank you 😊

[@dominiqueprin7616]

Bonjour. Merci pour le la vidéo. Portez vous bien !!!

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Thank you!

[@patricianadarajah6833]

I am saving this for later.. love Alf, he’s my favourite ❤️... could be because I have 2 male BCs too ☺️

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

💙

[@Jude2408]

Perfect timing - now have two Elinchrom lights and just about to try this out. Been training my dog to catch treats. Can’t seem to find the blog with more info. Brilliant as usual.

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Good luck!

[@dayknowltonjr]

So fun!! Gonna try this soon!

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Good luck!

[@PodgeeWheaverPhotography]

Glad you’ve done an in depth video on this! I’v taught myself this through trial and error! Using a single ad200 light 😃😃

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

I hope the video helped!

[@ebonylavell3090]

Did you use HSS or was the light from a single ad200 enough? I would have thought that to be at a fast enough flash duration a single 200w strobe wouldn't be bright enough!

[@PodgeeWheaverPhotography]

@@ebonylavell3090 was more than enough, however was very close to subject and was in a small white room, so I guess the light bounced around more 😂

[@royottaway9434]

Brilliant ...love pup

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Thank you!

[@jer3006]

Fun video and very helpful. Those are very quick dogs and your comment about getting your timing on clicking the shutter is clearly critical. My Beagle-Basset is so slow, he waits until the treat bounces off his nose, then looks around the floor to find it, then decides to waddle after it. 🤣 I could get that action with a flashlight (oops, torch?). Many good setup, settings, and shooting tips in this video. Thanks for sharing this. I do need to re-watch the ambient light setting as I don't understand yet what the smartphone was showing during the testing (the flashing white screen).

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Hahahaha waddle after it, that sounds like a great photo in itself!

[@laudenclear123]

Awesome video! Thanks again :)

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

No problem at all - I hope it is useful!

[@martinstrivens2047]

Very good.

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Thanks!

[@sjphoto9167]

Awww love them I may be partial though :) and the information was very helpful. Thanks!!

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Also very partial over here 🫣 so glad you found the information helpful!

[@Herkulez1981]

Wow didnt even knew you could se the strobe duration time on my godox ad600, that info Will def come in handy

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Glad you found this useful and left with something you didn't know before watching this 🤓

[@leto_len]

That was really interesting, thanks.

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@clairehowes8341]

You got to ad600pros! I've just ordered the 400s but these are still very much on my radar. Can't wait to get using them!

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Good choice!

[@MDMiller60]

Great timing.

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Have to be fast 😊😂

[@fredacaccavale242]

I have the Sony A7ii. Should my phase detection be on for this and other situations for dog photography? That for the info. I have a Flashpoint expor600 and thought it was impossible to to get that action shot. Now thanks to you I know it’s possible. I wish I had animal eye focus though.

[@ashleeromer7412]

Baby Brytt is getting so big 🥺

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

I know, time is flying by, she gets bigger by the second!

[@janh6639]

Brilliant thank you 🙏

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

No problem 👍

[@roxanehugues7837]

hi Jess, hope you're well. Do you have a blog post/video on how to de-sensitise a dog to flashes? thanks!

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

No we don't, but add it to the request box! www.thattogspot.com/the-request-box/

[@Gramie112]

This was a very helpfull video! Thank you

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MrTommyboy11]

I'm using a Nikon D850 and was curious about tracking my subject for highspeed sync?

[@Mark-ix8uv]

I've looked absolutely all over and I can't seem to find the T value of my lights! I've just got a beginner setup with 2xLumi200 ii. I have a feeling I may need to spend a little more to grab these shots!

[@georgiealtham4338]

Awesome video! Thank you! I definitely need to try this out. I don’t have the lights that you have, but would you be able to recommend anywhere I could rent some from to test them out please?

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

I'm not sure Georgie, it depends where abouts you are really. It's worth speaking to a large retailer to see if they can recommend someone though!

[@adrianhydephotography]

Loved this video. Thanks for uploading 💐💐💐

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

thank you so much 😊

[@sallymassonphotography2013]

Great video as they all are! I had a go at treat throwing with a friends dog yesterday, I had a couple well focused but most of them the focus is off, shooting at F10, 1/200 sec, Elinchrom D-lite One's, what could I change to improve?

[@Jude2408]

I’ve been practicing with a variety of dogs and win some, lose some. Getting the dogs to sit and stay is a bit of an issue and of course, timing. I have been using hi sync and shooting at 1/1000sec but will try normal flash setting. Using Elinchrom lights and cannot find the T value. Going through a lot of treats! Thanks so much for this video but weren’t we in a barn the first time around

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Practise makes perfect 🥰

[@blazejzalesinskiart]

What kind of Elinchrom do you own ?

[@blazejzalesinskiart]

Flash duration t0.1 max. power 1/625 s 1/250 s Flash duration t0.1 min. power 1/7750 s 1/9430 s for ELC 125, 500

[@moorereplacements9983]

Thank you

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

You're welcome!

[@kimhoogkamp1040]

Hey Jess!! Rewatched this video again. Question please....if you have time. My T1 on my Godox AD600BM was 1/352 at 1/2 power? My settings on the camera were ISO 200, f/9, SS 1/160. I realize that at T1 of 1/352, it is not enough to freeze action (which is why my photos have motion blur). In your video, you eluded to high speed sync, can I assume that that is when your SS will help freeze the action as opposed to all flash power? Thank you so much!!

[@kimhoogkamp1040]

Think I figured this out Jess....I will have to bump my ISO up and I can get much more flash duration at a lower flash output (up to 1/10000 at 1/256 power). Would this be your suggestion?

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

I would use HSS in this situation Kim! Sorry for the delay in my reply!

[@kimhoogkamp1040]

@@ThatPhotographySpot No problem at all. Thanks for taking the time to answer!! I appreciate it!

[@wildpatagoniafilms16]

great video as always!!!! do you have any videos on how to edit the backdrop when working in the post..? thanks! ;)

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

thank you so much 🙏 we do have a number of videos however they are within our premium membership offering

[@tajgula1108]

Thanks you very much for this tutorial 💕

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

You're welcome 😊

[@pictureperfectimageretouch8447]

Ok just tried this one 🙈 yikes it's hard! Darcy is rapid, so was quite hard to catch her quick enough. Max is more dopey at catching bless him, so he was easier...however...I have a dlite 1, and the T value is pants! So they're nowhere near as sharp as I'd like! But we love them all the same just for the walls in our home 🥰 Thanks again!!! xx

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Glad you enjoyed trying this out 🙂 Our dogs and us find this so fun.

[@pictureperfectimageretouch8447]

@@ThatPhotographySpot yes they always want to be in the studio now! 🤣

[@13hubi13]

I have the Sony a7iii with the sigma 24-70mm f2.8 and I would love to start a dog photography business, but for now I have only shot outdoor landscapes and such stuff and no experience indoor with flashes. Can u roughly tell me what kind of money I have to invest for the lights and background paper and so on? Are the lights expensive or cheap i really have no clue 😅

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

All of our kit is here, check it out! That should help you cost it up - www.thattogspot.com/kit-bag/

[@mzdiplo]

Hi. I have a question. Well I can not figure out the balance between shutter speed and ambient light (because of finding focus). When I switch off the ambient light my camera (canon r6 II) can't find the focus point. When switch on the light I have , as you explain, motion blur....And now?

[@theotheeurasier9893]

Hi! Love your videos! My histogram is just black, not white at all and i dont know what to do😢

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Not quite sure what the situation is with this one, maybe try joining our free facebook group where others will be happy to help 😊

[@barrieharwood5645]

Hi Jess. I'm just getting into studio work so your videos are ace! Having nearly killed myself trying to assemble an Octabox I'm now left with the question - how do you dissemble one easily. Surely when you go to a client, you don't have to start from scratch?

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

This may vary with the brand of Octobox but to ‘dissemble’ the Octobox is like putting away and umbrella with the little button you press and then the brolly would fold inwards, it is very similar with an Octobox. You wouldn’t fully dissemble the Octobox just in essence fold it away so that it an go in its travel bag if you have one with it. Hope that helps 😊

[@barrieharwood5645]

@@ThatPhotographySpot Thanks for the prompt reply. That's what I'm not sure about - the only way to dissemble that I can see is to pop out the rods from either the mount end or the brolly edge. What do you recommend?

[@RobNicholasFilms]

Can this be done with just one light? 😊

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Yes 👍

[@MazTina]

Great video, lighting sounds complicated! Do you need a flash or can you just have a flood light on? I don’t have a flash, but do have a flood light I could maybe use. Thank you I have subscribed great channel will be gradually watching more and more of your vids 👍

[@FenderBoyCP]

I love these, but need to improve throwing with my left hand. 😂

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

🤣 I know the feeling, my throwing is awful with my non dominant hand 🙈

[@diegoteran3812]

What’s the difference between using a flash and just having the lights on all the time?

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Very few continuous lights are powerful enough to allow you to use a low ISO and high shutter speed indoors 👌🏼

[@REVELATIONSIXEIGHT]

What camera you shooting with?

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

This was maybe the a7riii from Sony I think.

[@straycaatstrut]

How many ad600 lights do I need to pull this off? ❤

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

1, really. 2 is helpful

[@lukapotocnik5017]

Awesome video! One quick question. How do you photoshop the backround? (Before you edited pictures, your "room" space was seen. After the edit, you covered it with full white backround). Thanks for the answer!

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

There are a few different ways to do it to be honest, either the content aware scale or content aware fill works best though!

[@daemon1143]

Does anybody happen to know if Canon bodies have shadow clipping?

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Not that I can find! 😞

[@daemon1143]

@@ThatPhotographySpot Cheers; I couldn't find it either, which is a sod since I just bought an R6. Should be able to do a reasonable job using the histogram, just not perfect.

[@saranicole6528]

When I try to black out the scene, I can never achieve total blockage of the ambient light 🤔 I've even gone as high as f22. I set my shutter at 250 ( I believe that's why my lights are synced for) and my ISO at 100. Is there a secret I'm missing 😅 Great video as always!

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Are you in full sunlight/is there harsh or direct light in the scene?

[@saranicole6528]

No, I try to block it all out (inside, and drawing blinds etc). Must be something I'm doing, I will keep at it :)

[@Jude2408]

I worked on this today and think I have to use hy-sync but do you think I can get my new and expensive Elinchrom Pro transmitter will play ball. Plus there is no KZbin video which actually shows you how to set it. My dog wasn’t that interested either and my new mirror less camera wasn’t much help as it just showed the black screen and I couldn’t get focus. Plus I can’t hold the camera in one hand a throw the treats with the other. My dog was disgusted.

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Oh Jude! Let's break this down: *Transmitter:* Ensure they (the light and the transmitter) are on the same channel, set to M and the hotshoe is connected firmly. Use the test fire button from the trigger to check if the two are talking - are they? *Mirrorless* (I can't help with the dog, sadly, but can you use a ball or other object?): That just means your settings preview is on the EVF, no worries, you just need to find the bit in the menu/manual to turn the setting effect preview off on the viewfinder. *Focus:* Iffy to help with not being there, but this really does get easier with practice, I promise! *One-handed shooting:* This too takes a whole load of practice - rope in a helper (when covid restrictions allow) to practice with if one-handed is a no-go.

[@russellallan8564]

my dog is very sneaky - she will get it wrong on purpose to get extra treats

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

😂 not quite remote controlled but he's a bit of a pro for sure! your dog sounds pretty savvy 🤓

[@bf4778]

How much you pay your assistant lol. Thanks I will keep trying! I have an AD400.

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Hahahah he does it out of the kindness of his heart! 😂

[@shiramischmid7572]

I wonder whats the advantage of freezing the action with the lights instead of the camera? I mean woulf this also be possible with non flash lights und a high shutter speed?

[@daemon1143]

You might struggle to get a high enough shutter speed under any type of affordable artificial continuous light, even with a very fast lens. They tend to be very much less bright than strobes. You can do it with natural light and shutter speed.

[@shiramischmid7572]

@@daemon1143 Oh yes that makes sense! Thanks for the explanation! 😊

[@daemon1143]

@@shiramischmid7572 You're welcome :)

[@aljo.antony]

How do you photograph untrained animals especially dogs ?

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

You can photo them on a lead if it not your dog, or check out Bryt diaries if its your dog which has got really useful training tips 🐾

[@sinetwo]

"strong footwear choice" 😂

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

😉

[@Tommy.voodoo]

Step 1: have a dog that will try to catch treats. 😂 only one of mine will. The others will just sit and stare lol

[@ThatPhotographySpot]

Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do here, some dogs will eventually get the idea of catching the treats if it doesn't come naturally 🙂