Photography Tips | How to Take an EPIC Low Key Selfie Portrait in 2023.

#lowkeyportrait #blackandwhite #photography
In this video, I am showing you how to take a low key portrait of yourself without anyone's help. You can use this portrait as your social media profile picture and it will impress a lot of people.
I am using a Nikon D750 with a 50mm 1.8G lens to snap the portrait and I'm using a Nikon Z50 with a 20mm 1.8G lens to film this video.
I am also using one of the cheapest softboxes you can find - Neewer, to show you, you don't always have to spend top dollars on equipment to take a great photo. The lightbulb I am using for continuing lighting is also pretty cheap, but you can use any lightbulb that you feel is powerful enough.
Nikon D750 is a 5 year old model that I think is still an amazing camera and probably best bang for the buck.
Nikon Z50 is, in my opinion, an underrated camera that is great for video (and photo). This video was filmed in 4K (UHD) and downsized in post to 1080 (Full HD).
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[@visualsbyst]

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[@gamalinkatv]

Thank you for the video! What did you use for the constant light. My flash didn't have this feature and I would like to upgrade to the one that does.

[@visualsbyst]

Thanks for watching. Flashes don’t have this feature. For continuous light, you’d have to use some kind of video lighting. In this video, I’m using cheap Amazon lights with a softbox. You could also use Rotolight. Rotolight has a strobe option and acts as a flash, but the flash feature isn’t as powerful as a real flash. What kind of a flash do you have?

[@camilobonilla6097]

Nice video man for a newbie like me. I have a question: Do you need flash for low key pictures?

[@visualsbyst]

Thank you. You need some kind of light, yes. Either flash or continuous light. You’ll also need to diffuse it as much as possible. For example, with a softbox. OR… if you have work lights at home, you can start with those. You can get a cheap (frosty) shower curtain liner and diffuse work lights. The reason you diffuse the light is to get soft light and no harsh shadows. Harsh shadows scream AMATEUR!

[@russellallan8564]

how does your camera focus on you while you are facing it - does the remote app on your phone allow resetting the focus point or are you using auto eye focus tracking? I tried this with my leica dlux 7 and the results were hopeless trying to get focusing

[@visualsbyst]

The Nikon app allows to tap on the phone screen and focus. That’s how I did it. On some cameras, you may be able to use tracking and it’ll refocus even in the stills mode. I’m not sure if that’s possible on your Leica, though. If all else fails, you can always try to manually focus. Place some object, manually focus on it and then replace the object with your head. If you’re triggering the shutter remotely, take many shots and each time move your head very slightly forward or backward and one of the shots will most likely be in focus. Good luck.

[@russellallan8564]

@@visualsbyst thanks for the detailed reply. I am thinking that the dlux7 isn't the best for portraits. Would love a proper eye focusing monster like a Z7, Ar7iii or Canon R5/6 but budget doesn't allow just now.

[@visualsbyst]

@@russellallan8564 Z50/Z5, A6400 or RP would all do the trick just fine.

[@russellallan8564]

@@visualsbyst I will take a look at those. Thanks for the tips.

[@russellallan8564]

@@visualsbyst well I went and bought the nikon - ended up getting an ok deal with a bag and card and card reader etc thrown in. Appreciate your help - a couple of very quick snaps taken with it so far and straight out the box pin sharp eyes. Really dont know what the issue was with the Leica but I'm happy now. Just thought I would let you know :)

[@richardgill2863]

Which app did you use ?

[@visualsbyst]

I used Lightroom.

[@richardgill2863]

@@visualsbyst sorry the spot to connect to the smart phone ? I would like to explore the Nikon app

[@visualsbyst]

Oh that. Yes, the Nikon app is what I used.