Stories with Light Blog…a growing resource of articles to help level up your understanding of photography and the power to unlock your creative vision.
Quick Tips for Using a Hair Light
This post breaks down why setting your hair light first creates cleaner, more professional portfolio images. By isolating the hair light, you can control exactly where it hits, prevent spill onto the face or background, and build the rest of your lighting with intention instead of correction.
Hotel Room Photography: Make the Most of Small Spaces and Boring Locations
If you’ve ever walked into a hotel room, wedding venue, or event space and thought, “There’s nothing here to work with,” this post is for you. The reality is that once you understand how to shape light and control your composition—especially when using off-camera flash for events—you can create striking, professional images in almost any environment. Even the most challenging locations become opportunities when you know how to use your light intentionally.
Open the Door to OCF Success
Photography is supposed to be FUN, NOT PERFECT.
You are supposed to be enjoying the process. That’s the whole reason you wanted to be a photographer I hope…
BUYING GUIDE: Flashgear.Net Quick Paraboxes
The Flashgear.net Quick Parabox is a go-to modifier for creating soft dramatic, directional light. This buying guide will help you learn more about this amazing tool and how to decide which size is best for your kit.
Rays of Light with the Optical Spot
Using the Optical Spot to create light rays is one of the most amazing (and challenging!) ways to use it...but, I love a challenge!! (Oh, and really don't like photoshop, which is also an option, haha).
Using the Optical Spot: Shapes
How do you think the star shape changes the story? Which would you use, or would you try both? What other shape(s) would you use?
Introduction to Gels
When you light a scene with a gel, some colors are quick to take over the whole scene, like this red gel on the back light (behind the subject) here. That's great when you want someone "on fire"…
Correct Exposure for Gels
For CREATIVE (and practical) purposes, you are normally using gels well, creatively! And eyeballing the power output is perfectly acceptable.