I'm back - with a cool simple lighting technique using speedlights

[swain99]

Absolutely beautiful photos....thank you for the tips.

I watch a lot of your videos.....all very good.

Of course i don't need to tell you that......execellent.

[golfnstuf]

Toataly bad ass!! Your videos are informative, entertaining and well... the subject mater is just exceptional! You rock Cousin...

[AxelVonGardan]

Really stunning!

[SBVProductions004]

thanx cousin

[Philstepson]

Extremely simple but effective!

[silhouetteangelphoto]

wow that is bad ass i am going to try this soon

[vergarcia0831]

the photog is very inspiring

[kwamepooe]

this works cousin, this works. i am motivated.

[007onlytaller]

2:44 and they say J-Lo's ass is nice!

[MrWickedShots]

WoW thats your Wife???? she is hotter than last model!!!! love your work and way of telling it :o)



[pixelkris]

Simply amazing, I'm learning a lot watching this.

[scubaviper21]

AMAZINGLY GORGEOUS models and photos!! good work! and great video!

[2Devinmay]

I want to know what type of stands your using on your speed lights?

[heartdoc25]

I'm pretty sure I just saw a sybian in the background. You are officially my favourites and I would love to help you sometime with shoots. lol. I can only imagine what you beautiful people get into aside from these tutorials. God bless you all!! Awesome!

[justinedgington]

Great tutorial... Are you doing post editing of the photos ? Or as shot ?

[photographix100]

well done. good series! 

[jbx907]

love your shots

[vhellis]

Bad ass photo-shoot cousin!

[mufasah1]

Yo cuzin shout out from the USA. Just want to give give you big ups and thank you for the fly videos. Keep them coming. peace

[MrThereal3]

man hört das du deutsch bist und das macht es für mich leichter zu verstehen, als wenn jemand so schnell redet

[itsnowman]

thanks for this encouraging video!! Will do it!!!

[rogburg]

Im gonna say bad ass...great tutorial once again, thank you

[risbill1]

As for finding models, for me it is usually ask and ye shall receive but you may not be asking the right way. Be upfront about what you are looking for in a model and what they will get in return. Also make sure all your messages are professional. I have seen many where words are misspelled and the grammar is awful. There are several websites you can look at to find models in your area and many of them are willing to work for prints. I have used ModelMayhem several times with great results.

[CRANKYONE100]

@risbill1 hanks for the tip..Is model Mayhem in every country? - I live in Malaysia.

[risbill1]

Great information as always. @fret2424 removing the softboxes and umbrellas I believe was to show that you do not need all that stuff to get great photos. 6 speedlights would be very expensive if you buy the good ones and I really do not see the need for more than 4. The L lens is all about sharpness and quality of the photo and if you have never used one then you are really missing out.

[fret2424]

•Removing the soft boxes and umbrellas was pointless since those are the least expensive tools involved.

•If one can afford 3 speedlites, 4 to 6 speedlites wouldn't seem to be an issue.

•It's still difficult to get vollenteer models if you're just building a portfolio.

How about you ditch the L lenses and do a shoot with a decent fixed lens camera?

I don't mean to sound too critical, and am happy to see you back, but it is what it is!

[DialFvideos]

@fret2424 - if you have a point and shoot camera and a nice window in shaded side of the building you can do great phtoso, without even using a flash, but just a reflector, you have to manage with what you have. L lens does not make this photo, it is the light you have to see and use.

[DigitalShooting101]

Great work. Your so right on speedlights can do so much.

[VenslandPhotography]

Hey Cousin Michael,

If you are ever in Minneapolis, MN, USA give me a shout. Would love to have you to the studio and share ideas, store, and host a shoot.

:) Dave

[aspia11]

Hallo,es ist ja interessant, Du sprichst in allen Videos über die Nutzung von Spedlite , und man sieht doch die Studio-Blitzkopfe mit SoBo auf dem Boden liegend. (Time 2:02 oder 2:38 min).. Im Übrigend finde deine Arbeiten als interessant und gekonnt. Vor allem deine freundliche Art macht es so sympatisch. Gruß.

[aquaphotoboy]

Your tips are always very good! thanks so much for sharing... btw your wife is really beautiful!

[STEPPHAN7]

@FreePhotographyTips you're welcome at any time :)) Carnival time is of the greatest display of our culture creativity and local cuisine, visit Maracas Beach and then head on over to Tobago to cool down and enjoy their hospitality , beautiful beaches and their famous 'curried crab and dumplings' :)))))

[indigofilmjesper]

wow

[yabbayabbadoooh]

worked perfectly though it took me a while to properly sort it out!! had to allow for exposure ratio in the shot but dang the lighting of the subject was soft and not like i normally have it white wash effect can't wait for more tips!!!!!

[STEPPHAN7]

Hello form Trinidad and Tobago:))

Bad Ass Tutorial n results!!

[FreePhotographyTips]

@STEPPHAN7 I'd love to visit Trinidad one day

[tomtafola]

bad ass



[faheemkhans]

You are the most awesome and creative photographer I've seen!

[FreePhotographyTips]

@faheemkhans I don't believe that. But thanks anyway :-)

[vjagdhari]

@sKIPper76M 1:8 Ratio means that Group B is 3 stops more than Group A. Remember that 1 stop means either doubling the light or cutting it in half depending on which direction you go, so 1:2 ratio = 1 stop difference, 1:4 = 2 stops difference and 1:8 = 3 stops difference. Since you have 580EXII, 430EX and 300ws strobe, you may want to use the 580 & 430 for background lights and meter them 3 stops brighter than your main light. Hope this helps.

[FreePhotographyTips]

@vjagdhari Excellent explanation. Thanks a ton!

[JeanV1986]

Great advice, as always, and I have to tell your wife is simply gorgeous! Lucky you ;)

[FreePhotographyTips]

@JeanV1986 Thanks for the compliment

[lopezae33]

happy to see you making videos again, very nice!!

[FreePhotographyTips]

@lopezae33 I am glad I have some time for posting videos again

[sKIPper76M]

Sorry, I'm a bit confused. Is the background 8 stops brighter than the light on the subject? From what I have read, it only usually takes 1.5 - 2 stops more to completely blow out the background into pure white. I have a 580EXII, 430EX, 300ws strobe, and a Sekonic flash meter. Want to try this technique but need to know the lighting ratios. Thanks!

[sypher86]

@sKIPper76M I agree...Usually u'll find that the higher the background lights the milkier ur subject will turn out...

for that crisp look, 1/2 - 1 stop and no more should produce that crisp subject and still blow out the background enough.

then again...He is providing a tutorial for just speedlights, trial and error, everyones different, see what works for you and ur setup.

[FreePhotographyTips]

@sKIPper76M While @vjagdhari explained the fundamentals, I'd like to add, that the model is quite a bit underexposed in my example.

[Photographybyjay]

Im so glad you're back. You had me worried. I've learned so much from you and I want to Thank You for sharing with us.

[FreePhotographyTips]

@Photographybyjay I am glad you are still watching

[YouLaToya]

Welcome back! Good work, cuz... ^_^

[FreePhotographyTips]

@YouLaToya Thank you

[mwsi7128]

nice keep up the good work on you tube:)

[FreePhotographyTips]

@mwsi7128 I'll try my best

[onetamer]

I like the warning that "this video might piss you off". It did the opposite for me! :) Keep up the great work! Cheers.

[FreePhotographyTips]

@onetamer Glad you take it that way :-)

[Eli666Ms]

i like when a professional shows and talks simple, thank you

[FreePhotographyTips]

@Eli666Ms Awesome. This motivates me

[mariokluser]

Preparing my studio right now and doing the James Bond jump in a moment. BTW: you got a very beautiful model there and I really like your tips on flashing.

[FreePhotographyTips]

@mariokluser I hope I can add something to your photography. That would make me happy

[mariokluser]

@FreePhotographyTips

You really add something. I work with 3 studio strobes and had to fiddle around a little but got the proper result very fast. You know your stuff!

Maybe you can make a tutorial on how to get some of these beautiful models :-)

[OliverHeuschele]

Thanks Michael for this great Video. I'm jealous about your gorgeous models. I want to shoot more but I have not so beautiful girls like you who want to shoot....bad situation :-/

[FreePhotographyTips]

@OliverHeuschele Hahaha, don't worry. The social networks are full of beautiful potential models. Keep proposing cool shoots to them.

[LightLink1992]

das erste video das ich von dir gesehen habe und 2 sekunden nachdem ich dienen ersten setz gehört hatte hab ih nur gedacht

ist der deutsch?

[FreePhotographyTips]

@LightLink1992 Yes, that's right. And soon I'll even release new videos in German.

[mariokluser]

@FreePhotographyTips

I speak German as well and I guess we have similar accents. I suggest keep it in English to serve all of your audience.

[willpower520]

I love your stuff and your sense of humor...I appreciate the help

[FreePhotographyTips]

@willpower520 Thank you so much for your kind words

[34TR3m]

without looking on your channel I was sure that you are a german "ja" :D

[FreePhotographyTips]

@34TR3m Hahaha, can't hide it

[NEOLiNES]

Great video! Very glad that you're back!

[FreePhotographyTips]

@NEOLiNES I'm quite glad there are still some people who are watching my tutorials

[TingRoger]

I would love to add a light above the model ... may be 1/4 power of the key light or something and probably with a light box.

[FreePhotographyTips]

@TingRoger I'm sure that would be looking cool. In the original sandwich lighting setup it was all about underexposing the model. Thus such a light would have decreased the crispy contrast. But nethertheless. Try it out. I'm quite confident it will work fine.

[TingRoger]

@FreePhotographyTips Oh! I did not see the other video. Will check those out too with under exposures .... I do like the contrast.

[leo140485]

you wife's bottom is amazing

[artifical007]

@leo140485 Was about to post this very same thing. Boy she got ass!!! But the technique in this vid is great as well. Best of both worlds really. Well done!

[FreePhotographyTips]

@artifical007 Thanks a ton, cousin!

[slykool]

i really like your videos, keep up the good work, subscribed!!!! 2 thumbs up :D

[FreePhotographyTips]

@slykool Yes, there's more stuff to come

[TightImages]

Awesome vid and work. I love this keep up the great work

[FreePhotographyTips]

@TightImages I am glad you like it

[1974dutchess]

your work is awesome 

[FreePhotographyTips]

@1974dutchess I don't think so. But I like your compliment.

[1974dutchess]

bad ass :)

[FreePhotographyTips]

@1974dutchess Hahaha, hers you mean?

[trinniboy68]

keep doing what you are doing .like i tell my friends its not the equipment but the artist using it.

[FreePhotographyTips]

@trinniboy68 Exactly!

[n3m3s1srulz]

I have to try this. Thanks!

[FreePhotographyTips]

@n3m3s1srulz Yes, please try it. And post some results on my blog if you like!

[rezjrprod]

again...just awesome...love youre stuff MZ!



[FreePhotographyTips]

@rezjrprod Thank you, cousin!

[jerryhers]

Finally! Thanks for the video.

[FreePhotographyTips]

@jerryhers Yes, sorry, it took me a while...

[SeeMyPixels]

Great video and just the kick I needed to get moving.

[FreePhotographyTips]

@SeeMyPixels Awesome! Then let's get cracking!

[PotheGura]

Good one.thanks!

[FreePhotographyTips]

@PotheGura Thank you for watching!

[InFrameProduction]

Your a funny man and your accent rocks. Keep up the good work.

[FreePhotographyTips]

@InFrameProduction Thanks for bearing with my accent :-)

[OpticHunter93]

i like your wife :D

[FreePhotographyTips]

@OpticHunter93 Then I guess the photos aren't bad :-)

[chrisliehmann]

This is great! Going to try this asap

[FreePhotographyTips]

@chrisliehmann Yes, please give it a shoot

[youmantube2009]

Excellent Video as always! Thanks for sharing! :)

[FreePhotographyTips]

@youmantube2009 Thank you for watching!

[yabbayabbadoooh]

great imformative gonna try this set up next sat !!!!

[FreePhotographyTips]

@yabbayabbadoooh Had a chance to try it out already? How did it work for you?

[PhotographyPrimer]

Welcome back cousin, great stuff as usual.

[FreePhotographyTips]

@PhotographyPrimer Thanks for watching!

[chavarotti19]

simple great, thanks for posting



[FreePhotographyTips]

@chavarotti19 Thank you, cousin!

[garyingram1]

...nice and simple. Great job!!

[FreePhotographyTips]

@garyingram1 I would not say great, but it's good that you like it

[ThePoacher1969]

great photographer thanks 

[FreePhotographyTips]

@ThePoacher1969 Hahah, no, I am really not a great photographer. I am lucky to have such a nice audience

[PierrePieroh]

Awesome! Thumbs Up!

[FreePhotographyTips]

@PierrePieroh Thank you, Pierre!

[AndyBJ]

I need a kick up the photography ass! Great video, thanks!

[FreePhotographyTips]

@AndyBJ Sure, schedule a shoot at the weekend! Thank you for watching!

[remyramml]

Gimme more 1 light setups!!!!!! :)

[FreePhotographyTips]

@remyramml Alright, I'll post some one light setups in the coming weeks

[MrRagesh3]

Welcome back Micheal and thanks for your video's.

[FreePhotographyTips]

@MrRagesh3 Thank you for watchint, cousin!

[dxjackson]

welcome back great videos as usual! Btw can you make a video regarding the "zoom" feature of the speed lights? Still puzzled by how much diff does it make. Thanks!

[FreePhotographyTips]

@dxjackson Awesome idea! It's actually quite some difference. If you zoom to 105, then the beam is much more narrow. Less light scattering around, making the light a bit more contrasty and harder. When you use umbrellas, then give it a try and make a big, frontal photo of your umbrella. Then you see if you zoomed out enough in order to make use of your complete umbrella, or if you are too tight and you only light a portion of it.

[moviecrazy808]

Welcome Back,,,,Great video once again....

[FreePhotographyTips]

@moviecrazy808 Great that you are watching

[topqsl]

This is a great school for me. Thanks

[FreePhotographyTips]

@topqsl cool! I hope you can make good use of it

[carlbertossi]

u have great looking wife ! Great job Thanks for sharing

[FreePhotographyTips]

@carlbertossi She's lovely, isn't she

[carlbertossi]

@carlbertossi

[vincylikes]

Totally Gorgeous ! Just started to shoot with a bunch of speedies :P

Keep updating new vids :P

[FreePhotographyTips]

@vincylikes Awesome. But even though in this video I don't use umbrellas... it's a good idea to get some of those as well

[OzBudgetBeauty]

Awesome job, Michael. GREAT video. I have a question about specificity that I think would be a great followup video...

Could you literally walk us through the placement: how far are the speedlights from each other. At what relative angles are the speedlight's pointing. Was the model on the midpoint of the hypotenuse as you sketched, or somewhere else..? Awesome awesome video. *high five*

[FreePhotographyTips]

@OzBudgetBeauty 9 feet was the magic distance in this case :-) Have a look at SmokingStrobes . com/SimpleLighting . There I posted the lighting diagram and I think that shows pretty exactly how this was setup. Note how the two back speedlites are pointing at EACHOTHER and not at the model

[OzBudgetBeauty]

@FreePhotographyTips Thanks so much, Michael, for getting back to me. Keep up the amazing work.

[richylovesmovies]

Beautiful! Bad-ass. I love your videos.

[FreePhotographyTips]

@richylovesmovies Thanks for your kind words

[avar66nl]

great to see you back!!!

[samuelotumante]

hello mike can i do this shots wih my Nikon D700/70-200 (2.8) SB 600 and SB 900? this are the only stuffs that i have.

[FreePhotographyTips]

@samuelotumante Sure. However, if you replace the front speedlight by the D700 build in flash, then it's probably not quite the same. Do you have a large reflector? You can try replacing the front speedlight by a large reflector.

[kbudiarto]

Hello, I subscribed to your channel because I saw that one amazing photo in another video of yours. This video is amazing, and the photos continue to amaze me. I will recreate a photoshoot like this once I get my hands on 2 more flashguns (I only have one at the moment.) Keep up the good work.

[FreePhotographyTips]

@kbudiarto Awesome! And if you are on a budget, then 2 good Yongnuos 560's will do

[kwaky2005]

Oooh stick figures!! LOVE IT

[FreePhotographyTips]

@kwaky2005 Thank you!

[Schnitzer17]

Bad Ass

[FreePhotographyTips]

@Schnitzer17 Thanks a lot

[mssissyphancypants]

You are Bad Azz!! :D

[FreePhotographyTips]

@mssissyphancypants Thank you so much!

[mrmaltvinegar]

Love the videos man!

[FreePhotographyTips]

@mrmaltvinegar That makes me happy!

[djsaian6]

awesome vids man, congrats!

[FreePhotographyTips]

@djsaian6 I am glad you like it

[nikonone2000]

very cool, awesome video, your technique is amazing and yet so simple. i need more speedlights to perform this type of photo shoot. can't wait for the next one.

[FreePhotographyTips]

@nikonone2000 Can you ebay yourself some Yongnuo 560's?

[underweightHater]

"are the photos bad? or are they bad ass?"

this guy is the king.

[rob781]

Really nice video! Thanks for taking the time to make it.

At the end of the day his 100% right, good photos wont just

happen, its up to us to make effort to make something happen.

thanks

[ephoto09]

So I love to have 70 - 200mm (saving up for it) so what could you do with 100-300 or 28-135?

[ephoto09]

WOW, its like Christmas!!!!

So glad to have you back, never leave again!!

[trich8206]

I love Ur instructions and Technic. I have missed Ur videos for a while and I am glade you are still here, Thank you for a come back!

[spikyhead180]

YAY more new vids :D

[mikemarin106]

Glad you're back, mate!

[loungekingfilms]

Thank you!!! It has been a looooong time man.

[peely64]

Thanks keep them coming.

[DLag81290]

does your wife have a twin or a sister? =D

[toin9898]

YES! I've been anticipating your return!

[clayguy1]

I photograph my bronzes.. I'll try this set up for them next time I have one to photograph... thank you so much

[nda42831]

It's about time. Welcome back Michael.

[cherrydeath]

Glad you are back, always find your videos incredibly informative and inspirational :D

[Racerdew]

dog that's yo wife? daayyum

[spontanp]

it resonates with me as hell :) I'm super thankful for your precious tutorials. awesome

[GsusMachiaveliko]

THIS IS YOUR WIFE= YOU ARE THE MAN!!!!!!!!