The Flambient Method Made Super Simple and FAST!!!

Looking to master the flambient method for your real estate photography but find it confusing or overwhelming? Look no further! In this video, I break down the flambient method into super simple steps that anyone can follow.
Next, I walk you through the shooting process step by step, showing you how to capture both ambient and flash exposures and merge them together seamlessly in post-processing. I even provide some tips and tricks along the way to help you get the best results possible.
www.joegustafson.com
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Remote Shutter release I use: amzn.to/3kAf9el
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[@roxikoko3744]

Beautiful explanation. Thank you. I was so confused watching Nathan's tutorials. No disrespect to him but you are a brilliant teacher who knows how to break things down. You explain the questions in my head before I ask them where most tutorials don't explain the missing piece that ties it all together

[@joefoto]

Thank you. I'm glad I'm helping. Thank you for the comment!

[@somguynco]

Just wanted to say great video. Every time you post a video I'm like 'he posted another video?' and then am impressed at how you always have something new to show to make this whole process easier. I like that you are quick to educate everyone else when you find new tricks, like the lighten mode with multiple flash shots in this one. And what you mentioned about the other youtubers getting way too technical on every edit is what kept me stuck on HDR and never seriously considering flambient. You have changed my perspective on the whole flambient process. Thank you for continuing to put out great informative content. Your content is worthy of more subscribers for sure!

[@joefoto]

Thank you so much for your comment! I appreciate that! This is one main reason why I wanted to jump on youtube and start showing a simple method is because it was so frustrating for me when I got started. I will continue to create content and do my best to explain it in the simplest way possible. Thanks again for watching!

[@fullbars]

I’ve been doing all flash shoots recently and I just skip the ambient/above camera shot entirely, it kills all the pleasing shadows and falloff in the scene. Thanks for the tut!

[@bluelid]

WOW! the BEST flambient tutorial yet. Lighten mode is my new friend. and the gradient tool to mask yourself out is key - great video!

[@joefoto]

Good to hear! Thank you!

[@19Pixel]

Very interesting!

[@joefoto]

Thanyou. Hope it was helpful.

[@drakne1]

Great!!! Thanks

[@michelelzo8583]

Wow i love this tutorial! Thanks so much!

[@joefoto]

And thank you!

[@vrodxvrodx]

You keep getting better and better!👌

[@joefoto]

Thank you. Just practicing more and more revelation is coming. If I get nothing more out of youtube, this is enough. Lol. I appreciate your comments.

[@nataranja3030]

Nice! Thanks for the tutorial. This is helpful as a beginner trying to start a photography business

[@joefoto]

Good to hear!

[@thetremmeltribe]

Love the select all lighten step. Definitely gonna try it on my next shoot

[@joefoto]

It won't work in every situation but most times it does, and it's a huge time savor!

[@LoneskyImagingLLC]

Life saver huh .. my man Joe 💯💯

[@joefoto]

Yes it is!

[@lindaralston8548]

Love your message on your computer!

[@joefoto]

It's the truth :)

[@martymusselwhite7423]

Wow! Great video. Very easy to follow. My instructors are too technical for the market that I'm trying to capture. I will use this method on my next job for sure.

[@joefoto]

Thank you! Let me know how it goes!

[@kingali6041]

Watched hundreds complex of videos…but this is so easy…thanks joe

[@joefoto]

Glad it helped! You're welcome!

[@half-bakedblondie9728]

This video was super helpful and to the point, thank you! Also just a little shortcut that may help is "option-click on new layer mask" and you instantly get a black mask without having to convert it!

[@joefoto]

Glad it helped! I'd be rich if I had a dollar for every time someone pointed that out but for some reason I'm stuck in my old habits. Lol.

[@dallasroberts3206]

I’m really loving lighten mode!

[@joefoto]

It's awesome!

[@liliannavarro5182]

Thank you. Probably the most well explained video for flambient post processing. I’ve read others apply Luminosity (40-50%) on the ambient layer. Any thoughts on this?

[@joefoto]

Thank you. Yes. I do that but not on the ambient layer anymore. There is a new method I've found. Go watch my 2 latest videos. It's way easier.

[@judeschlesselman]

Great video. Yes, this is real estate, not architectural. 100% agree with this method.

[@joefoto]

Thank you! Yep. Not worth going crazy unless you are making the money to justify the extra time and effort.

[@travelbags979]

Great video! If you can remember, I was curious what your camera settings were for this shot/tutorial? Thanks :)

[@joefoto]

I'm sorry, I really don't remember. Don't get caught up in camera settings. This will vary depending on what camera, the room light situation and what focal length you are at. Just remember this: expose right of center for ambient, and expose for brightest part in room for flash. Your flash should be bright enough to give you a similar exposure to your ambient shot.

[@travelbags979]

@@joefoto Thanks a lot for this info! Makes sense. I got into practicing more flash since I was seeing my background shots blur without good depth of field on my Panasonic Lumix G7. I know MFT cams aren't ideal for shooting RE but seeing how flash can compensate. If you have any other quick tips on keeping the whole frame sharper keep me posted! Cheers!

[@mariomorales6992]

Hi Joe. Can I use Luminar Neo for Flambient? Thanks.

[@joefoto]

I don't think you can because you can't bring 2 images into neo at the same time from what I have tried. I may be wrong but I don't think you can.

[@roxikoko3744]

If you are doing architectural photography, could you still use this technique and workflow as a base image and then go in and perfect it?

[@joefoto]

I don't see why you can't do it this way. It would come down to the customer and if they are happy with the results.

[@LeoDodier]

Nice job, Joe, that was a simple, easy blend! If you don’t mind, when you do your flash pops, (and I know that every shoot is different) , but if you could tell the flash power settings just for reference, and also with your using the speed light flash or the AD200, thank you. You’re doing a great job, you’ll have 100,000 subscribers before you know it :-)

[@joefoto]

Yes, I do need to show flash power settings and in my next on-site tutorial, I will do that for sure! And when I get my 100,000 subs, I'll fly out to met you and shoot any of your listings for free :) lol. Thanks again for always commenting. It helps me produce better content.

[@LeoDodier]

You are welcome…I know how the algorithm works and I am trying to help you on every one of your videos:)

[@joefoto]

@@LeoDodier Well you are awesome for doing that!

[@Matthew-zy3yb]

Hi there, I have an issue. After straightening the verticals in Lightroom and opening the photos in Photoshop as layers I notice a huge distortion at the the left and right sides of the photos. It looks more distorted than how they were straight out of the camera. Any idea why? Thank you

[@joefoto]

Not sure why but you can always wait and correct verticals after you are done in photoshop. That's what I do.

[@AerialLensVideo]

Really well done - Thanks! BUT, here is a dumb question... HOW did you trigger your camera when you popped your flash from a distance? What device "pressed the shutter button" on your camera when you were several feet away in the first place? Like I said, dumb question, but that most basic part is a show stopper for me. Do you cover this in another of your videos?

[@joefoto]

Yes. I do have other videos on this. Its just a wireless shutter release. I think I have a link to my Amazon in description. If not this video, it's in a lot of my videos. Hope this helps.

[@AerialLensVideo]

@@joefoto Thank you. Watching real estate photographers on YT for example, with their camera alone on a tripod, they may walk to a far corner of a room and activate a speedlight or other flash. Are you saying they are also pressing a remote trigger button, or the flash they are "popping" contains a remote trigger? As you can see, I need the simple fundamentals of what is really happening/how things are actually connected. To be clear, I have used a remote flash for years BUT I'm pressing the camera's shutter button and the remote flash is not held by anyone; my on-camera flash is triggering the remote one. Now, I am trying to understand the reverse of that scenario.

[@joefoto]

I use a witless shutter release that plugs into my camera. I have a remote for that. The flash on my camera acts as a trigger to fire my other flash. I'll do a video soon

[@AerialLensVideo]

@@joefoto Ha! It looks like I actually already have everything needed except a cable that goes from the trans/receiver built into my camera flash to a plug inlet on the camera side of the camera (Olympus E-M5 MkII). Just ordered that little cable. Thanks for your help!

[@victorkimura1]

Hi Joe, Nice sticker. :) May Jesus bless you and your family. Just wondering if you use the OLYMPUS OM-D E-M1 Mark II Camera for all your real estate photography and video shoots.

[@joefoto]

Thank you. Yes. I use the em1 mark in for all my photos, but I use the panasonic s5ii with the 20-60mm for my videos. My older real estate videos were shot with em1 mark iii. Very capable cameras if you are looking for an all in one solution. Or go with the new om1.

[@Matthew-zy3yb]

How do you trigger the shutter when you're in another room flashing the light? Does the flash itself trigger the shutter or do you use some remote? If it's a remote, could you please tell me which one? I heard those cheap ones on Amazon only work if they "see" the camera. Thanks. (Ps. I have a A7ii)

[@joefoto]

Yes. I use a remote. I think I have a link to the one I use in description. If not, just search: "wireless remote shutter release" I use the one called Pixel.

[@joefoto]

This is the one I use. Get the right cable for your camera. I've had this one going on 3 years and no issues. Works through walls and from far away too. amzn.to/43c1k8e

[@Matthew-zy3yb]

@@joefoto thanks a lot 🙂

[@OmidLooking]

Do you remember at what power your flash was on ?

[@OmidLooking]

And was it at the same power for all of your shots ?

[@joefoto]

Somewhere between 1/4th and 1/2 power. Just remember, flash power needed will literally vary from house to house and from camera settings to camera settings. My advice, start out taking a flash pop at 1/2 power and then making adjustments from there. You will soon get to know your exposure and your flash ad be able to guess your needed flash power faster and faster. Just keep practicing.

[@joefoto]

Once I got my flash power set, yes, it was the same for all the shots, but that's why I encourage, use an app, so you can quickly review your flash shots and determine if it's enough or not enough flash power. You will become very efficient in guessing correct power output the more you practice.

[@OmidLooking]

@@joefoto Great, will do. Very much appreciated 🙏

[@travelbags979]

Great info! What App do yo use for determining proper flash amounts? Thanks :) @@joefoto

[@Xxyyzz123]

How do you get the bump presents for Lightroom?

[@joefoto]

Just make my own adjustments and then save it as a preset. Just make adjustments then click the + symbol and add preset.

[@criticaltinker]

too much flash. that scene can be done with 2 flash IMO. i try to minimize flash shots. most of the time 1 flash is enough for me.

[@joefoto]

You may be right, but I'm teaching a proccess, and many times what I show is over kill, but the method is what I'm teaching, not so much what has to be done. Yes, most of my shots I use one or maybe 2 flash pops, but this viedeo was an example of how you can use multiple flash pops and easily blending thenm together using Lighten mode.

[@criticaltinker]

@@joefoto but your title is Made Super Simple and Fast. shooting too many flash will kill your time bought in shooting and editing.

[@joefoto]

@@criticaltinker running around doing flash pops takes less than 1 minute. I've timed it

[@FedoskinYuriy]

Хрень полная. Кадр совершенно не естественный. Вспышка убила всю красоту интерьера. Лучше бы включил источники света, которые есть в доме.

[@joefoto]

Just showing a method.

[@julesselmes]

‘“Jesus loves the hell out of me?” I’m getting the hell out of here…bye

[@joefoto]

Thank you for the comment. I need more of them!