After 4 years of Studio Photography- Here is what I learned

[@Fostit]

The voice over part lmao, thanks for sharing Manny. Awesome video!

[@OUTTHEMUDVISUAL]

😂🧠

[@anthonysierra266]

almost choked on my food lmao

[@johnfitzgerald6294]

"One day you feel like a lighting God, the next you feel like an imposter". Nailed it, brother! No truer word was ever spoken.

[@AlKimble]

Manny, I have watched your growth as a photographer and business manager. You' ve come a long way, and I am proud of you !!!!! As a so-called introvert, you've achieved a lot, because you set your mind to do it. Now, show me more of KAYLA. THANKS!!!

[@LunaBelAir]

Studio is always harder to create unique stills or videos. Cityscapes offers so much to play with I raise my hat for doing these super creative photos inside.

[@_Eye_Of_Ry]

I been rocking wit u for years bro. My lessons & style has come from u. Thanks for being my #1 role model 😎

[@yccmo]

LOVE HOW CASUAL AND REAL YOU ARE IN YOUR VIDEOS. SUPER FRESH AND SHOWS THAT YOU'RE HONEST AND KNOW YOUR SH** WELL AND DON'T NEED TO PRETEND TO BE SOMEONE YOU'RE NOT. BIG THANKS AND ALL THE BEST

[@hasenmyer]

this is probably one of my favorite videos that you have done in awhile..what a great look inside. Also your modifier is absolutely fantastic. You can actually feel that is a premium product and will last vs other modifiers. Two things maybe for mark 2..a zipper so you can grab the inside when mounting to the light and a wrap around holder for storage. Other than that perfect.

[@MiguelQuilesJr]

Amen to all of this! Keep on sharing and documenting your journey, your audience is here with you!

[@JoATTech]

I know ppl shooting great studio photos in their garage or living room with APS or m43 cameras and 1 lens. + 1 or 2 cheap flashes. But it's always nice to have such a big space and tons of modifiers to choose from. Nice photos Manny, lately this channel is not recommended to my by YT, so I guess I missed a lot on your studio work.

[@jbslimpcreative]

I watch your stuff all the time and really enjoy your content but this is my favorite video so far because the passion and insight to your journey is so inspiring! Im an aspiring photographer in my 50s. I have a great, successful small business that I love but the creative side of me wants photography to play a major role for my next 30 years! So thanks for doing what you do, I hope to one day have my own studio and wake up each day ready to challenge my creativity thru images! Keep up the amazing work Manny, you are one of a kind! Jb

[@krounds35ify]

He’s not lying, his branded beauty dish is definitely built tough and is by far my favorite for headshots and portraits.

[@JYP1M]

It’s ironic because I live in Fort Lauderdale/Miami. From May until November due to the humidity shooting outdoors isn’t favorable. I have my own studio (luckily) and shooting indoors - you are correct Manny. It will humble you, I’ve come to learn your creativity in studio either becomes a strength or you realize you will need to conjure up creativity. Having a legit original idea is a skill.

[@paulhancock]

You're a phenomenal photographer, Manny, and I can identify your work instantly... Which is the mark of a super talented creative person with real vision. I totally relate to the imposter syndrome. No matter how many people praise me for being good at what I do... It's a daily battle to believe it, believe in myself or give myself any credit. I'm SO jealous of those people who have delusional levels of self-confidence!

[@almirgomes5]

you is one of my inspirations, despite my age (52yo), still passionate about photography and trying to be a pro, even in a particular context of dificulties (Brasil!!!). This is my dream, to become a pro and earn money to live my life doing what I love.

[@dje7917]

I'm in the same spot tgis is what i want to achive too Enjoy the ride

[@ChemaPhoto]

Congrats on all you have achieved! Following you since really long time. IMHO I had at my previous studio an infinity wall... The maintenance was a nightmare and takes so much space. Now instead of paper we use mate vinyl 3x6meters. Super happy you can clean them!!! Hope it works.

[@77dris]

Man, seeing those clips at the beginning brings back so many memories of the earlier days of your channel.

[@DayvidDavis]

My favorite setup is a studio with natural lighting on a gloomy day. It’s something magical.

[@MrClarkeGaber]

Your portfolio is crazy. Amazing work... question for you. What do you do with all these portraits? I'm just a hobbyist so I don't quite understand, how do you actually make money from these portraits of models that you hire? Or do people come to your studio that want to have portraits taken?

[@davidlouw1225]

I want to thank you for your lessons, I'm bi-polar2 so completely understand comfort zones and how hard it is to get out, there's no comprehensible reason, it just is but you are doing great, I'm happy for you.

[@JosephPatterson-rr3vs]

Man, thanks for the insightful video(s). Your life advice for the hobby/career has enlightened me and paved the way for me learning each and every day. I am still learning, especially since I consider myself a beginner and it is awesome that you give to the community knowledge. That knowledge is powerful and always will be powerful to my understanding. Thanks once again Manny!

[@yahmanml]

Thanks for sharing this experience. Great looking studio by the way.

[@kevinrichards1667]

your studio and your shots are wonderful

[@Sp1keSama]

I love how raw this video felt. Thanks for the insight Manny

[@prizepictures1]

You have been at the top of the game for a long time and it’s inspiring!

[@Julius_S]

Great video about the reality of owning a studio, thank you for sharing your experience! Just want to throw this out there that there is almost certainly a tenants' union in your area - it's always good to share information about unresponsive landlords with them, there may be other tenants having trouble and collective action can help get things moving.

[@ChristopherKeels]

your work is well crafted and I enjoyed the share.

[@hqmh48]

You work harder, but it's worth it and you deserve it thank you for sharing your experience

[@DocShotsPhotography]

This is how I’ve felt with the in home studio. Scared to get and invest on certain things but my work has grown leaps and bounds. I hope to get to where you are

[@donwhite332]

You put out some really nice content that sounds like it is from the heart. Inspiring work as well.

[@sfphoto1726]

The ease of shooting outdoors is so much more relaxed and simple than studio shooting. So glad you touched on the lighting because that is the major reason why I am so much more inclined to shoot outside of the studio, and I moved from Chicago to the west coast happily for that reason! Still working on the studio lighting, but your videos help more than you'd believe so thanks for the honesty and truthful videos and of course the gems💎💎. Keep it up! Also, the voice over content and sponsor call out @ the end.....classic🤣

[@DPCTechnology]

I love all ur work but that Green shoot is still ur GOAT Imho, it all came togehter that day, hair, makeup, lighting, model, colors.. those pics just POP like crazy...

[@castieldiallo2945]

You have come a long way, Ortiz. well done.

[@bkcampb]

You were the first pro I ran across 2 years ago when I started. Thank you man. The thumb… I’m a nurse had to ask

[@dela-legend]

I'm really motivated by the lesson and the growth story

[@inaflashnetworkinaflashpro918]

I just signed a lease on a 500sq ft studio space in the beginningofthemonth. I'm done relying on weather or other colleagues space. No more chains to hold me down. It's $1000.00 a month includes all accept wifi. With access to a conference room. I'll also be producing podcasts and making my own.

[@parkertechsavvy]

Your studio is awesome man

[@chrisburnard5157]

Thank you for your ongoing work and inspiration.

[@nagual2335]

A very very happy Evoto user here! Tip: use it as a layer in photoshop. Otherwise it can be too much. Don’t think it’s expansive it’s actually super cheap when you start using it

[@cristirenault]

Good job, Manny, as always!

[@smalltalk.productions9977]

thanks for the effort and sharing. i have seen you and your work grow and grow. i am a fan. BIG thumbs up.

[@p.VAZ.]

dedication! Keep kicking ass

[@PhreestyleNYC]

I really enjoyed the realness behind this of going straight to the point of what you dealt with as a photographer with the expenses including having your own studio. Hope you’re doing well fam ✌🏽

[@NileSWPhotography]

That’s the thing about studios. When you go in there you really think you know everything but it’ll humble you so fast 😂 but spend enough time in there and you’ll learn! Love your videos manny they’ve helped me so much.

[@johnbivins]

As an event photographer, I mostly work on location. Your Manny Ortiz beauty dish has proven to be incredibly durable and has become a go-to piece of equipment for me, along with my Westcott Eyelighter 3. It has been through a lot and is impressively well-built and extremely solid!

[@stupendously_creative]

Great video. Studio is definitely a different ball game.

[@shaheedhampton9425]

Needed this good stuff moving into my 3rd studio June 1st I felt wanted that new fresh feeling

[@aaronm5149]

Really appreciate the honestly of this video

[@Youyouber1]

Thanks for giving us the tour!

[@m11kan]

Subscribed! Hope you get better studio someday that you have dreamed of.

[@blubravery]

Not only that, studio will teach you to prep before your shoot which gives you the art of set building and storyboarding.

[@TheMandingoClub]

Bro a real one for showing us how he shoot voice overs 😭💪🏽💪🏽

[@vincentroy5093]

15:46 lol! Is this video sponsored by Evoto? That's a shame we can't edit videos once they are uploaded! Reminds me of Tony Northrup's unfinished video he had uploaded by mistake.

[@MrChriskriss]

You are amazing!

[@ScottJWaldron]

A nice look at your studio! 📷👍

[@BankonJovan]

Thanks for posting this video...The main Goal is to have my own studio instead of the short apt I am currently...btw you are the best thx for all your videos, they help in more ways than you realize!

[@Mirandagodd]

Love your videos bro 🙌🏽 Very informative & educational

[@DrWasim]

Amazing video!

[@nelomesquita158]

I loved the video as always, but changing the subject, but I would like to know what these things are in your computer?

[@thomclhn4591]

Manny do you ever do workshops or anything like that? Your work is brilliant

[@5foto5]

Great video, fun to see your studio with your equipment. I’ve been in my studio for 20 years, also in a city which is in Sweden. Here though people hardly take any photos of themselves anymore. I would love to know how you market yourself in your city. Do you sell wall portraits or is it only portraits for the internet? Thanks for engaging yourself and sharing your knowledge.

[@asonjayyajn]

I recently invested in a studio myself and all the things you said about the fear, I’m experiencing at this very moment! 🤣 It’s a very large space so I supplement the cost by renting it out to other photographers. So far so good, but we know how flimsy the photography industry can be. 🤞🏾

[@jeremeyedward7086]

That studio is so dope.

[@stephen4347]

I can’t imagine someone like you who have shown us a great work of photography have bad days in the studio with hot looking models.

[@CoCoPhotoCG]

I am getting me a Canon R5 & 70-200 f2.8 with 24-70 . I have an Canon 135 mm f/2L I love that lens. I learn a lot from your videos.

[@JoshLuciano]

Great vid, bro! Stay awesome.

[@krisb853]

I think that the most true thing that you said in this video is “I am always hard on myself.”

[@mverick160]

Now take your studio lighting outside and use what you learned in studio. People always tell me one light is fine. Then they get in the studio and realize what lighting can do for an image. 1 light gets you by outside. But 4 lights outside make a world of difference. You can use the sun for one. Projector with different Gobos. Hair light. Fill light. Back edge light. It can make the image other worldly.

[@rickierecardophotography]

Great informative video!

[@TheCultureCallout]

Great video bruh 🔥

[@alexbarron7227]

I tried the studio thing for a year of financial struggles, Manny have you ever thought of teaching classes or doing seminars you've taught and inspired so many and so much on KZbin.

[@blubravery]

I would say for your number 3, more lights will give you creativity. Understand, one light works because it is natural because we are uses to 1 light in real life. The more lights you add, the less natural it looks but opens the door to more creative. Some people probably is gonna get hung up on the term natural. Natural in this case is mimicking what happens naturally in real life. But dynamic is based on how you control the light, not necessarily the number of lights.

[@ijovy3]

Manny!!! that voice over shot!!! pleaasssseeee give us a whole video like that (make it a short idc)🤣🤣🤣

[@spanishprisoner]

Great content!

[@rb3537]

Who is the photographer “peter” at the 14:00 mark your are referring to?

[@StarLightDotPhotos]

You're handsome AF already Mr. Ortiz!

[@MartinV.]

Great Video!!

[@afromalone]

Great vid.

[@SSChrisAnthony]

Hey Manny! What light stand do you recommend to hold your beauty dish/lighting setup?

[@yanky_olabode3349]

Can you make a video on how to open your own studio including costs,insurance,etc?

[@mroblige1018]

If you want it you'll figure it out

[@JerryC25]

00:30 hey man what light stand is that? It’s wide at the base

[@Ishimuro]

The Humbling part really hit hard

[@AdrianBacon]

I rarely shoot outside of my studio and regularly shoot with 4 or more lights. It's not uncommon to have 5-6 (or more) lights going at a time for me. Do I use less lights? When I can, yes, but the reality of the situation is as soon as I want to actually make things look interesting, I inevitably start putting lights in place. For me, it's boiled down to "How do I get this look while reducing the number of lights I'm using?" Just a basic plain vanilla headshot is 2-3 lights: Main light, and a hair/separation light with a reflector to act as a fill. You want more fine control over the fill? OK, add a third light instead of a reflector. Want to light the background? Fourth light. We haven't even started to get interesting yet and we're at 4 lights just for basic contrast control of the visible scene. This is just to deliver a fairly generic, well executed headshot. Wanna do a creative portrait? Usually, more lights.

[@photophilsteingard8374]

Adding more lights can be fun and helps to create more depth in a photograph. Just like you I also use two 1x4 strip lights that have grids. To add rim lighting. Takes some time to understand how to use more lights, but worth it in the end :)

[@LosPastrana]

So how do you pay for the studio? Does all comes from your youtube and sponsorship? Or do you actually use the studio to shoot for clients from your city?

[@Kumofan]

0:27 nahhh that timing

[@mijoru]

Yo, what are those attachments on your laptop lid? 5:35

[@CraftArtisinal]

Hey great vid man, I’m looking at acquiring my own space. What’s the size of this space?

[@kevin-haggerty]

Coming from the same thing. I drink fluids all day and always have to pee lol. Always learning from you dude. Thanks Manny

[@hassanwashington460]

Facts the city is hard work

[@Bozphoto]

Nice video bro. Photographer from Los Angeles here... For the first time in the history of KZbin, I am actually trying to click on an advertiser's link and I don't seem to see it lol. Want to get you paid, please update the description and I'll try back later.

[@MannyOrtiz]

Appreciate you! It must’ve been a glitch when I uploaded, should be there now.

[@northseeker]

I have a question, about the color correcting you did for the Sony A6500, do you have a video showing similar work or could you explain how you went from that washed out image to an image similar to the A1? Thanks!

[@Pcbdude82]

My problem is strobes. I have an Alien Bee 800. The model lamp stopped working. Still flashes. But sometimes you want a consistent light. Then my flashpoint the arm or whatever you want to call it got stuck. It's I can't move the strobe up or down now when on the stand. My only option is pointing directly at the model. Which is frustrating. I've had multiple strobes just stop working and shit. And unfortunately I can't afford 2k plus gear

[@stevemadrid6522]

I don't buy cheap stuff. My light modifiers are not Westcott, but the Glow brand. Solid stuff. I do use Westcott strobes and speedlights.

[@longwinded3871]

Nah that voice over set up got me crying😂😂

[@pejmanvayezi2452]

Top guy

[@CJImages]

7:30 I saw what you did there....sneaky sneaky!!

[@stewartmunrovideo]

I like your outside work better !

[@kingsolomon9928]

Hi , I am trying to find 1 good editing software, especially for a quick skin retouch. What's your recommendations luminar neo or evoto. Or any other better options

[@jaimeduncan6167]

Also in the studio, unless you are doing jumping dancers or something similar, any goodish AF will do great. You are closing the aperture, and you have time to check that everything is in place. (OK I am an old dude, I can get the eyes in focus with an old system, but just like I can't build a dinner table set like my old grampa could, someone that grows with modern AF will be less likely to be able to live without it, no shame)

[@the_craftsman_pnw]

I’d take “On Location” any day. The world is my backdrop. Dre Barnes Multimedia

[@mydowntime6850]

When you bring your flash out in public, could you get the same results with a cob light?