Lowkey Portraits With One LED Light

Join me for a live studio session where I’ll demonstrate how to create dramatic low-key portraits using just one LED light! Perfect for photographers working in small spaces or with minimal gear, this session will showcase how to turn limitations into creative opportunities.
Here’s what I’ll be covering:
✅ How to make your LED light brighter than the ambient light (essential for low-key photography).
✅ Using light modifiers like reflectors, grids, and small softboxes to shape light and enhance shadows.
✅ Tips for creating stunning portraits with a single light source.
✅ Live Q&A-bring your questions to the chat!
With Polly (our ever-patient polystyrene model) in the spotlight and me jumping in front of the camera from time to time, it’s going to be a fun and interactive session. Sam will be on hand to handle your questions, and Freya will work her magic on the super switcher.
Whether you’re new to low-key photography or want to see how LED lights perform in this setting, this is a session you won’t want to miss!
Instagram: / thegavinhoey
Website: www.gavtrain.com/
LinkedIn / gavin-hoey-810853ba
Also Watch me on: / @adorama
📸 Gear Used:
ZHIYUN MOLUS G200 geni.us/gYMgz
ZHIYUN Parabolic Softbox 60cm amzn.to/3OHewM1
OM SYSTEM OM-1 amzn.to/4e6aLd0
OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro II amzn.to/40jlkX2
PIXAPRO 100x150cm Portable 5 in 1 Reflector amzn.to/3ORQ36L
Full Disclosure: The Molus G200 light and Softbox used in this live demo were supplied free of charge by ‪@ZhiyunTechGlobal‬ However no money was paid by Zhiyun, no commission is made from any link clicks to Zhiyun and the opinions expressed are my own with Zhiyun having no input into the content.
#zhiyun #molusg200 #zhiyunlight

[@jacephotos]

You are looking so dapper today! I belong to an on line photography thing and it's a one photo per week thing. A few ago there was a high key challenge and then a low key challenge the next week. I failed on both weeks so I I realy appreciate this video! Next year I will feel more confident. Thank you and the family!

[@GavinHoey]

Glad I could be of help. "Failed" is a strong word, especially if you entered something. In my opinion low key is easier to create but harder to define. High key is much harder to get right in camera but you know one when you see it 👍

[@juliobarkan9529]

Interesting as always. Love the new look!

[@GavinHoey]

The "new look" was for the photos but thank you all the same 😁

[@back2lay]

Hello from a slightly chilly but bright central Portugal 🇵🇹

[@LightTheShadows]

I loved this 25% rule. Just got started with serious LED lighting. What immediately annoys me is the additional ballast with the more powerful lights. With flashes you either have the flash with battery only or just simply a cable from the Monobloc to the power supply - professional power packs (Broncolor Sato/Scoro, Profoto Pro-11,...) aside. I struggle to handle all the cables and I feel the ballast is always in the wrong place to hang somewhere at the stand. On the other hand it is handy to immediately see what you get...

[@GavinHoey]

@@LightTheShadows Glad to hear the 25% rule resonates with you too. Going back to cables from battery flashes feels like a backwards step (and it is) as does pack and head designs. I can see why they do it but just like flash, I hope we'll see monoblock designs more and more as time goes on.

[@MunchyToy]

Hi from Sunshine Coast, Australia.

[@captaincook6283]

At 1 hour the foto has pretty heavy banding a problem with led in electronic shutter mode. How is it possible that there is no sponsor - you are one of the best educators on KZbin in photography that’s a shame

[@GavinHoey]

It's the old tethering software I'm using which occasionally renders moiré much more than normal. The world of sponsored (paid for) content comes with many strings, some of which are not for me. Zhiyan were great to work with.

[@TheSunnySuttons]

Always a joy to watch! ❤

[@the_rat_run]

Low key, high Key - so must be Manky... Missed you again, I blame my friend, again, she is obviously guilty! 🤣

[@mtrider780]

Can I have some info on the pop up background please thank you

[@GavinHoey]

@@mtrider780 It cames from. a UK company called Essential Photo Video and was from their Oldbury range of collapsible backgrounds. I think they might be discontinued but you'd need to inquire with them to be sure.

[@mmoore25]

Hello from Atlanta, GA

[@GavinHoey]

@@mmoore25 Hello 👋

[@siegfriedstrzys7734]

Hello from Aachen, Germany

[@GavinHoey]

@@siegfriedstrzys7734 Hallo 👋

[@kennethnielsen3864]

😲😲😲😲😲NO SANDBAG, YOU REBEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@GavinHoey]

Danger is my middle name. Off screen I was running with scissors ✂️

[@patricksmyth2023]

SoCal USA watching with Joy.

[@GavinHoey]

Hello Patrick 👋

[@DAFOCUS]

Your C-Stand knuckle should be on the right side. If not, the weight of the deported light will loosen it.

[@GavinHoey]

How heavy do you think that little light is 😉

[@JodiByles]

Oh did I miss Gavin saying wether or not he recommends these lights?

[@GavinHoey]

@@JodiByles Good question. On this first look experience I'd be very happy to recommend the Molus G200. There are a few minor niggles but its performance and build quality so far have exceeded my expectations.

[@JodiByles]

@@GavinHoey Thank you :)

[@lesboucher542]

Greetings from beautiful sunny Australia

[@CNCTurboStep]

You say one of the advantages of video lights is you see what you get. However, what we see on the video is not what you get on the stills! For example, towards the end you stand against the wall and we see under the brim of your cap. On the photos this area is just black. Adjusting lights visually (not looking through the camera) as you demonstrated earlier will show the borders of light and shadow but it's not a good way of judging the density of the shadows. Adjusting a reflector would be difficult visually. This would be obvious in real life as the dynamic range of the eye far exceeds that of the camera, but here we're viewing the video also as recorded on a camera! Have you increased the contrast on your stills camera jpgs significantly compared to the video cameras?

[@GavinHoey]

I can see what you mean. Like so many terms in photography "get what you see" isn't an exact truth, it's more if a generalisation of what might occur 😉

[@02ajax02]

NOT REM MOR5E BENNY HILL

[@GavinHoey]

Ouch but also. . yeah 🤣