Perfect Reception Lighting with Phillip Blume

[@rawshutterimages3506]

This is all i've ever wanted to know. Thank you Phil !!!

[@PhillipEileenBlume]

So happy to hear it! It shouldn't be kept a secret.. glad I was able to help. ;) -Phillip Blume

[@charlesstephens5974]

loved the video and comprehensive explanation, neat trick (Ingenious I mean!) with the "stickies"

[@vimalneha]

Hanging flash is a brilliant idea. I learned that from you. Thanks for sharing.

[@lauriewahlig2819]

Excellent video!!!

[@PhillipEileenBlume]

Thank you, Laurie. So happy I could help! :) -Phillip Blume

[@ear916]

one of the most clear instructions I have seen. Thank you, this will help as I shoot in low light church environments

[@PhillipEileenBlume]

Love it! Thanks for taking the time to comment. Go get it! :) -Phillip Blume

[@MrSIRCOFF]

Excellent!!! Thank you. So cool you have your kids involved. My kids are teenagers now and help my wife and I during our events. They also learn a lot and don’t charge much!!!

[@aceentertainmnt9249]

Lol I love this video. Informative. But I swear no matter how many times I try this, my images never look like this. I have shadows of everything & everyone off the walls and ceilings. Thank God they're just practice right now but I have a reception coming up & im scared. Another shoot in a few days indoors. Indoors is not my thing. Oh well I'll keep practicing.

[@PhillipEileenBlume]

Def keep practicing! You'll get it! Sounds like you may need to simply raise the height of your off-camera flashes + be sure that your off-camera flashes that are *between you and your subjects* are turned off. Remember, off-camera flash should be only used as a backlight in this setup! - Phillip Blume

[@maggyfish]

Thanks for taking the time to share your expertise 👏

[@tal1109]

Read the article in the magazine but watching the video was so helpful. Awesome tip, I can’t wait to try this out.

[@meetsavannah]

light stands are the bane of my existence. thanks for the great tip!

[@wilbmoore]

One of the best set ups ever. Loved it and I will be using it. Just subscribed.

[@magnusrayan498]

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[@alonsobentley3351]

@Magnus Rayan Instablaster :)

[@magnusrayan498]

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[@magnusrayan498]

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[@alonsobentley3351]

@Magnus Rayan no problem :D

[@amorgan1231]

Very enjoyable and informational video. I will be photographing a band in a barn next month and was dreading using light stands.

[@kooroshhaziny8992]

Thank you for the video, I really appreciate that.

[@factsonrwanda]

Very informative video, thank you so much, just if you don't mind try to include your gear in description

[@JackieArmstrong]

this is WELL DONE sir.

[@uuunknown89]

Thank you soooooo much for the informative tutorial! I think this has made more sense than alot of the other lighting videos out there. When you pulled out the 3M strips I was like OK HOLD UP! Question, would this setup work for an outdoor reception as well? Obviously I wouldn't be able to bounce any light (and I'd have to use the dreaded light stands. LOL), could I use the reflector panel on my master flash to obtain similar results?

[@PhillipEileenBlume]

Yes, with a small tweak! But first, forget the "reflector panel/card" on your master flash. (Many photogs falsely assume the reflector card will "soften" the light, but the card is not bigger than your raw light head. So it doesn't help.) In the outdoor scenario, your Master on-camera light has nothing to bounce off. So rather than bouncing it away from the subject, this is the one rare circumstance where you will use it straight-on as a "direct flash." Usually a big no-no, but this is an example of knowing the rules so you can break them. Make sure you on-camera flash is set to TTL (minus) -1.5 to -2 stops. You'll be surprised how well this works! Just be sure to avoid the backlights from being in the background of your photo though, because they will confuse the TTL function on your M flash. Have fun!

[@JuanLopez-oz9kh]

All I can said, is whaooo, beat tips in lighting dark halls.

[@charlesstephens5974]

still conflicted with the use of TTL vs manual for the on camera flash. Though you are bouncing the light from a white ceiling in your video you are maintaining approximately the same distance from your subject so the light intensity should be very consistent. Can you elaborate if and when you would use TTL or do you rely on test shots if you are dealing with changing distances, could you miss a shot?

[@sidknee4975]

Even the best miss shots and they’ll tell you if you ask. They just don’t post them or show them to the customer. When your wife bakes two birthday cakes for Nanna and burns one she’ll only bring out the good cake.

[@PhillipEileenBlume]

There will always be a shot missed here or there.. nothing is perfect. But manual setting is the most consistent setting: I'd say it gives me 90% accuracy to the point that I don't even have to edit images afterward. The remaining 10% imperfect shots, I can simply increase exposure in Lightroom later.

[@gailybird1]

Nice. How would you work with the on camera flash if the ceiling and walls are dark?

[@PhillipEileenBlume]

Two options I prefer: 1. use only a Master trigger on your camera, and hold out an additional off-camera flash in your other hand as your front key light. Or easier, 2. I will often, in this case only, use direct flash into my subjects' faces (being SURE to set my on-camera key light to -1.3 or -1.7 exposure compensation). The flashes in the room's corner will add fill light in unexpected but positive ways to help (especially if you have a natural/available reflector nearby, or interject your own reflector)!

[@gailybird1]

@@PhillipEileenBlume WHOA! I never would have though of this. Thank you so much. I'll give it a try :-)

[@babatundeomoniyi2377]

Superb tutorial👏🏾 thank you! My question is do you zoom the two speedlights across the room so the lights don't spill about??

[@PhillipEileenBlume]

I leave them at the standard zoom, around 35mm, to light the whole space whatever my framing. The center of a small flash will always remain slightly more intense anyway.

[@Brianized]

Those sticky things don't damage walls when you remove them?

[@PhillipEileenBlume]

Just be sure to use them correctly. Like in "mission impossible," the strips have a RED side and a GREEN side (or black, depending on the brand). The RED side goes toward the plastic hook, the green/black side toward the wall -- then it won't cause damage. ;)

[@stanmah1588]

Would you use more flashes if you had them? If so, where would you place them? What is the maximum distance can you place the flashes if they were at the farthest corners of the room?

[@PhillipEileenBlume]

I actually have an arsenal of flashes, and I used to use the "triangle of light" setup during receptions, with three light stands erected. But, no, I've found this setup creates the same results and -- more importantly -- allows me to work faster without all the added troubleshooting required of more flashes!

[@diazvideophotographyllc1008]

Does your flash battery last all night

[@PhillipEileenBlume]

Yes, in dimly lit situations my camera is already set to me more sensitive to light -- so the flash can be set at a very low setting... usually just 1/16 or 1/32 or event 1/64 power in this scenario. I can shoot that all day without losing battery. So happy this tutorial was helpful for you! Visit our Blume channel anytime!

[@jkahn923]

Do you add grids to the lights during bride groom dance to avoid excess spill?

[@danilorossini8178]

Nicely done! In what situation do you add grids to those magnetic holders? What height do you usually place the flashes? Thanks for helpful info.

[@PhillipEileenBlume]

The height is just 12-18" above the heads of people, to avoid moving bodies from blocking them. Easy, because I can just stand on a nearby chair, reach my spot easily without a ladder, and place these above head height. -Phillip Blume

[@heather2702]

Best explained video thank u

[@cojophoto]

Great vid! What do you generally set your zoom at on the flashes when you've got them set like that?

[@joes2828]

If ur positioning at a far distance, you'd have to set the zoom at 200 to avoid unnecessary spills. And if they are that far away, 200 zoom would be wide enough to illuminate the subjects.

[@PhillipEileenBlume]

Thanks! I'm happy I could help! Go get it!! -Phillip Blume

[@joelkuhn5704]

What kind of rubber bands are those?

[@Mateosphotography2014]

While watching your video, I was so afraid that a flash might fall into somebody's head. Say though the dance floor is in the middle of the room, do you place the flashes on the left and right of the dj? Also, what's that rubber thing that's holding the flashes? Nice work and great tip

[@PhillipEileenBlume]

Thanks! The thingy holding the flash is a "ball bungie." You can get a bag full of them from Wal-Mart or Amazon for a couple dollars. Also, you can really place the flashes in any two opposing corners. But I usually place my 3M strips ("sticky hooks") in corners where a little natural light is already coming in -- near a window, for example, if there is one; so the results look natural and not contrived.

[@MyMomentsMedia]

Which flashes did you use? Thank you

[@joes2828]

They're the godox v860

[@PhillipEileenBlume]

I use Godox and/or Flashpoint, generic options you can purchase that made for your camera brand

[@jameskorin6963]

Awesome video! I use the same set up. However do you find that you need to use a mag grid or is zooming in just as effective. Also, do you gel your lights especially the on camera one? Thxs!

[@hopeforthefuturesg]

I would like to know that too!

[@PhillipEileenBlume]

I do't zoom flashes nor use grids. I want the light to spread out naturally throughout the space. In this case, my camera is set for correct White Balance to the flashes.. and barely any ambient is coming in. So I don't even have to gel. That's the beauty of the simplicity and speed of this setup when you're running and gunning for weddings too! So happy this helped! -Phillip Blume

[@hitmancontract01]

would have been more interesting if you had posted the photos you have taken in your video so we see them in full screen not from the back screen of your camera.

[@PhillipEileenBlume]

I hear that! Good feedback, I'll try to do that next time. Thanks. Meanwhile, go try this out for yourself.. then you can look at your awesome images and won't even care about ours anymore. ;) Go get it!!

[@sidknee4975]

Great kids, mine would have whinged and carried on like porks chops.

[@PhillipEileenBlume]

LOL!

[@ryanhamilton7008]

in 12 years ive never been allowed to put tape on walls or on the floor of a venue, even seen a DJ get scolded and sued for his tape ruining the floor's finish

[@PhillipEileenBlume]

What I'm using is not tape. But if you were scolded for 3m strips, that's too bad. :( I haven't experienced any real confrontation for it in 17 years, besides one very cranky lady and I simply adapted to find another way (or use a small stand in this situation if you have to)