Portrait Lighting That’s Good To Know

[@thomasphillips5850]

Martin, I have been taking pictures for 60+ years professionally and personal. That was the best video I have ever heard on portraiture. I really thank you, it was great.

[@acjones225]

It wasn’t useful, it was the education I needed - thank you 👍🏼

[@alextiganas7785]

I know from experience when you are saying something useful :) so i trust you when you are saying something great. I think you are one of the great photography teachers of our time. Very down to earth with gear advice and a lot of wisdom on how to use it best. Keep up the great videos. Greatings from Romania

[@MartinCastein]

thank you so much!!!

[@kenh7459]

Best studio lighting lesson I've yet encountered on KZbin. It made the "light switch on" for me!

[@MartinCastein]

love that, thank you!

[@gregmartin1615]

Thank you for this fantastic video Martin!

[@AdrianaBellani]

This is so valuable! Thanks for sharing.

[@davidsaylors]

This is photography gold! Thank you for sharing this information with us. I for one appreciate it.

[@MartinCastein]

Thanks mate!

[@andrewcroft2570]

Great video Martin, I tell you what I'd like if at all possible, could you do some real-world tutorials with a model and lighting. Maybe with softboxes, and umbrellas to demonstrate different types of lighting effects.

[@MartinCastein]

im trying to put this together, it costs me the best part of £400 every time i do this so i have to have a plan to get all that together to get maximum return out of it. id like to make this though and its in the works right now, ive already been speaking to models for it. I agree it would be good.

[@andrewcroft2570]

@@MartinCastein It's just an idea, I don't know how many people you have that's joined your channel. But it could be put in the member's area and you could charge a one-off fee of say £20 - £30 or on your website, I can't speak for other people but personally, I'd pay a one-off charge of up to £30 and offering benefits like that could up the number of people joining. Just a thought 🤔 I know models and your time isn't cheap.

[@MartinCastein]

I’m working on a general photography workshop that will be close to that price and I will see if I can include this or work something out. A lot of people are asking for this.

[@andrewcroft2570]

@@MartinCastein That sounds great Martin.

[@geraldinebryce594]

This is great, I do practice my lighting on my self and use a remote shutter, my camera hasn’t got eye detect so get a bit disheartened when shots are not in focus. Saying I will still have a go at your suggestions and just look at the light in my photo and not my blurry eyes. ❤

[@Twobarpsi]

Stellar advice!

[@andrewcroft2570]

Great advice Martin.

[@jravell]

Yeah, a couple of these things were explained in a way that I felt like I finally got them. Like how the light “wraps around” the subject when the light source is farther away, and the idea of eliminating ambient light before setting up the flash. But I’m also thinking of how Annie Leibovitz uses lamps and not strobes. Personally I think that would be easier for me.

[@MartinCastein]

Yes it’s easier when you just see what the light is doing. I think the downside is power output though and it gets expensive if you want to power larger softboxes etc

[@phlotographer]

really important to keep extraneous light sources from interfering with LED and daylight balanced LCD lights as exposure will definitely be affected in the direction and color balance of the light being captured.

[@MartinCastein]

@@phlotographer yes this is the harder part of led lights for sure

[@phlotographer]

I assume that for the more heavy looking face, a 2/3 facial view and short lighting would generally be preferred. Good tips.

[@aok6694]

Thank you. This was very helpful and educational. I love taking portraits and want to do more with artificial light. So, your words have inspired me to practice more! Full disclosure - I have three lighting systems, but I do not use either one successfully! Please do not judge me. I will do better now!!! LOL!!!

[@MartinCastein]

Glad it was helpful!

[@L.Spencer]

Is the inverse square law the same as lighting ratio? So the three exercises are: 1) Set yourself up in front of a light in the background, move the light further and closer to you 2) Keep the light same distance from you, move yourself and the light further and closer from the background 3) Leave the light where it is, you move closer to the light and then you move closer to the background.

[@MartinCastein]

Not the same as ratio is power level comparisons for instance let’s say you are outside and using flash,the ratio would be how much flash power are using compared to ambient. You got the exercises listed nicely!

[@ernstyawo]

Danke!

[@MartinCastein]

Thank you so much!

[@damianmidro4500]

I felt you rushed through this. Very valuable and highly technical information which I felt needed more time and examples. It was harder to follow than your usual excellent teaching videos. Many thanks though.

[@MartinCastein]

yeah i was thinking of making this again

[@johnf4659]

If you already havent, can you make a video about taking portraits in natural light, outdoors? Thanks

[@MartinCastein]

working on some of them at the moment

[@johnf4659]

@@MartinCastein Excellent. Thanks

[@stephencifka4629]

I've wondered when bouncing flash in a room, does the inverse square law effect start at the flash source or at the spot where it reflects off the wall before traveling to the subject.

[@MartinCastein]

From the flash itself Stephen

[@stephencifka4629]

Thanks! All of your videos are spot on helpful. Great teaching and great advocacy for focusing on common sense and what matters to make meaningful photos. Your years of practical experience really matter.@@MartinCastein

[@MartinCastein]

Thank you!!!

[@TechnikMeister2]

I thought I would write on this, your latest video with a chance you might read it. So its a bit off topic. For about A$500, I can buy a decent D700, 5D Mk2, and maybe a 6D. A 24-70 f2.8 zoom is about A$900 and a 50 f1.8 is A$200 across all platforms. I am 73 and just celebrated 50 years of photography and now after a long break, I want to concentrate on studio Fashion where its the garment that must be the feature. So colours are very important. Your Portrait presets would be suitable too? Given that the prices of the above choices are much the same, what would you buy in this price range. I seem to be spoiled for choice. Many thanks.

[@MartinCastein]

5d mark iii or d800 with 24-70 2.8. You will benefit from the better focus systems on those cameras and the resolution. Don’t worry about the 50mm unless you really want it. My portrait presets aren’t for fashion. You will be better off learning to edit yourself from scratch. And good for you for following your dreams go for it !

[@TechnikMeister2]

@@MartinCastein Many thanks. It's not too much of s stretch. My dream came from ballet and some of the gorgeous works of some of the Tutu's I have been involved in their creation. My daughter won a place in the Australian Ballet here in Sydney. She wore a pink silk tutu with pearls and mother of pearl flowers. It cost $2000 in 2002. I am looking for a picture of it. She's now in London. Thats what I though I would start doing.

[@L.Spencer]

Thanks for asking that question. I use a rebel t6, but I'd like to upgrade. I thought I wanted a 77D, because it has a screen that tilts out and a lot of features better than my camera, but now I'm thinking I might try a full frame because I want more space oftentimes. @@TechnikMeister2

[@kelseyhicks217]

This was quite "enligntning"!

[@MartinCastein]

🤣

[@geraldinebryce594]

Forgot to add to my comment I also use dummy heads to practice.