@@MartinCasteinHi Martin, great videos again. I’m looking at buying another camera and I’m torn between Nikon D7100 or D610 or even making the switch to the 5D MK2. I shot a few (budget) weddings a year and the odd family portrait! I’d love to go mirrorless but I feel with what I can afford to spend the above cameras would be better. Thanks
8 minutes to summarize all the elements to good portraitures. Truly amazing, no fluff and we have more time to apply these principles and get on with our busy lives. Thank you so much.
Great advice, I must watch this again and again. I would like to add that a large amount of the preparation for the shoot is done before I even switch the camera on and that's nothing to do with lighting. For me the mood of the model needs to be cultivated so that the model is eager to do the shoot and wants to give her best to create great results. The location should awe her and she would want to join you in creating something worthwhile and challenge her capabilities. There's nothing worse than a model who looks indifferent, bored or not excited at what she is doing?
Martin. You are definitely becoming my daily "guilty pleasure"... Sat here again (waiting for my kids to finish school) slowly working through all your videos/work each day. You have a gift and talent that has developed so well over the years. Your audience totally appreciates your high quality work. Please dont stop.
Martin you are so good my friend. I absolutely love your work One of the very best out there, with such a refreshing teaching style, your pictures are always so good, no matter if there landscape or portrait or street Love it
Excellent video, thank . I still say your portrait work is just phenomenal. Keep them coming Martin, visiual instruction is always best. Thanks again . .
I think I have learnt more in the first 4 minutes of your video than I have in over 4 months of watching photography videos on YoutTube. Amazing stuff!
Great informative video. I found your channel purely by accident and love the detailed info you're sharing without the fluff. Knowledgeable and efficient advise, so thank you
Good advice well presented. I have a BFA with Honors in Photography from Art Center College of Design, Los Angeles (Ansel Adams was once an instructor there). I worked for years as a commercial/industrial photographer. Your advice is in keeping with what I was taught and practiced. Your sample images are lovely.
Just great. Thanks a lot for sharing all this first level advice with us. I feel at easy with architectural and landscapes framing, but have some difficulty with portraits so, you can't imagine how helpful this is.
Thank you, Its going to be called Pebbles, Gravel, and Dust, The Unabridged History of Rocks Nobody Asked For. I hope you will enjoy it :) but really thanks for the kind comment.
@@MartinCasteinI’d still buy it. Keep up the great work buddy. I appreciate your insights and perspective in photography… see what I did there? Perspective. Photography..
You are a true master of your craft!! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us. You have single handedly inspired me to pick up my camera again after many years. :)
wow, well im glad that I have inspired you, I wonder if you would have done so soon enough and maybe this gave you the push but I wish you all the best and hope you enjoy photography once again. I think its imporant to remember its always about you and expressing yourself even if that feels hard to stick to sometimes.
Wow, fantastic, timeless advice. Surely a benchmark reference for anybody wanting to know how to illuminate a portrait shoot. I learned something new today. Keep it coming buddy 👍
Very interesting indeed. I think I'll try to reproduce some portrait schemes as you describe them. What ratio should I aim for between the key light and the background?
As always, thank you for the effort and sharing. I am an appreciative subscriber. I have a portrait session on Sunday with a college soccer (your football!) coach. Your insights will be helpful. BIG thumbs up.
I’m not a portrait photographer but given the facilities I would love to be. I found your video really, really perfect in so many ways. I would love to put this into practice. Saved for reference. Your presentation skills are 100%. Thank you so much. I look forward to watching many more. Subbed immediately.
thank you very much, i think if you want to be a portrait photographer just go for it. I started off with really basic setup and just got going. dont worry about looking pro, just tell people you are just starting out and go for it, you will be ok and learn more from doing than waiting till everything is perfect.
My favourite thing about this video is that I felt like I saw more of your work than usual. There were a few photos I haven't seen you share before, which was refreshing! I'd love to continue seeing updated and recent portrait work from you, maybe BTS? I feel like seeing mostly the same photos in every video doesn't show us nearly enough of your great work
Hi thanks Im mostly keeping it to my chosen portfolio so far. I do plan to do some BTS and add new work but its MUCH harder to get anyone to be on youtube. You probably notice a lot of youtubers shooting the same model or girlfriend/wife all the time because of this. I will work it out though and try to find a way to make this happen. Id like to explain lighting setups and so on. The way around it is to pay a model but the whole shoot could cost me £600 which isnt worth it at all as i would just lose money. The reality of doing these things is always different unfortunately.
Nice, quick, review of a bit of color theory, posing, and short/broad side lighting. When I purchased my first strobe a little less than a year ago, I was surprised by the plethora of lighting setups (i.e. Holywood, Clam shell, top/down, split, short side, loop, Rembrandt, bottom up, cross, etc). I found it very useful to start with a mannequin and try all of them several times over. Lindsey Adler introduced me to an on line color wheel that lets you experiment with complimentary, monochromatic, harmonious variations etc). Having a plan, talking it over with the subject (model), including clothing, location, and concepts behind the shoot (why are you doing it) as you mention are all helpful preparation. I am still learning on the best way to connect with my subject and get the most out of the interaction/collaboration, and your videos (as always) provide valuable suggestions. One day, it would be great if you could give an idea of how to pose and shoot perhaps a more typical subject (or more difficult challenge) - i.e. someone not thin and shapely (as there are very few videos on this topic with examples). I'm sure over the years, you have other issues that come to mind.
Hi yes I will do this as wlel at some point, just putting shoots and things together for youtube is hard because everyone runs away when you mention they will be on video. Thanks for watching another video of mine!
@@MartinCastein Of course. You're very welcome. Every now and then, from a well thought out video, you may find a golden nugget or concept mentioned in a different way. I never thought of "broad side" lighting in the terms of "warm, romantic" so thanks for that. After leaving my last comment I realized there are very few videos on ultra-thin as well. Most feature the very attractive people (of course with good reasons). I understand people running the other way. LOL. Just thought I'd mention it as we all photograph people of all types. Having someone point out useful tips that would help those shoots of your more "typical" subject might get a significant number of views over time.
Wow, I it is so straight forward and good explanation of 1 light set up. Definitely should try them. Tank you Martin. 😀😀 P.S I recognized few pictures taken on APS-C camera with 50mm lens.
In terms of a nervous subject.. is there any value in using a smaller camera to warm people up before pulling out a full frame camera and a bazooka lens? Like starting with a Fuji XT4 and 35 F2 before moving to an R5 and 85mm 1.2
Hi Rob, Ive gone back and forth on this I used to be really sold on this idea that the camera makes a difference but im not convinced. I actually feel its more like our behaviour as photographers changes with the cameras. I mean im not sure but I think that might be the case. I shot 25 weddings with Fuji and when I switched back to the Nikon D3S my behaviour changes that happened with the Fuji stuck with me and I had the same results with subjects. But Im not saying this as fact. Test it for yourself but be open to the idea that its you changing with the camera rather than the camera influencing them. Hope that helps!
@ it definitely makes a lot of sense. I feel like a bit of a W⚓️ with a 70-200 doing portraits and definitely feel more comfortable with a 135 or 85 and that RF 50mm 1.2.
Thank you for this. Very useful to see how to practically use lights. Any resources you'd recommend for posing models? Both male and female, of course.
Very nice and clear presentation that gives an excellent introduction to portrait photography 👍 I am slowly trying to persuade myself to go deeper with portraits. What holds me back is that I am semi colour blind which makes it difficult to work with the post processing. Any tips?
@MartinCastein Thanks Martin. I have developed some tools to extract RGB numbers from the photos but colors are very hard to work with in terms of RGB numbers.. But I'll keep going 🙂
Got to say thank you. Used several of these tips the other day and came out great. Big thank you :-)
Brillaint, really happy to hear that.
@@MartinCasteinHi Martin, great videos again. I’m looking at buying another camera and I’m torn between Nikon D7100 or D610 or even making the switch to the 5D MK2. I shot a few (budget) weddings a year and the odd family portrait! I’d love to go mirrorless but I feel with what I can afford to spend the above cameras would be better. Thanks
@@scottwesterman221 i would go with the d610 out of those options or d750 even if possible
👏🏼 This shows the artistry of photography. While TH-cam is saturated with gear and specs content, this is genuinely inspiring.
Thanks so much thats very kind of you!
Gear matters, but only to some extent. It is what the artist do with the light and the model that shines at the end.
Thank you for this. I realise you take one for the team from the algorithm, but those of us who are fans like this!
Hahaha thank you glad you liked it
This is all gold! Thank you, Master Castein!
Thank you!!
8 minutes to summarize all the elements to good portraitures. Truly amazing, no fluff and we have more time to apply these principles and get on with our busy lives. Thank you so much.
You are not a photographer.
You're an artist and a good one.
Best portrait tutorial on youtube
thank you!
some photographers would feel being called an artist and not a photgrapher a left handed compliment.
Great advice, I must watch this again and again.
I would like to add that a large amount of the preparation for the shoot is done before I even switch the camera on and that's nothing to do with lighting.
For me the mood of the model needs to be cultivated so that the model is eager to do the shoot and wants to give her best to create great results. The location should awe her and she would want to join you in creating something worthwhile and challenge her capabilities.
There's nothing worse than a model who looks indifferent, bored or not excited at what she is doing?
Yes exactly this it’s about the prep beforehand always and then the shoot should be straight forward for you and them as well
Hands down the best. The photos are beautiful. Need that 5D2 back... Your subjects look very relaxed. Amazing video. You are telling us so much here!
thanks im glad you enjoyed it!
Martin. You are definitely becoming my daily "guilty pleasure"... Sat here again (waiting for my kids to finish school) slowly working through all your videos/work each day. You have a gift and talent that has developed so well over the years. Your audience totally appreciates your high quality work. Please dont stop.
hahaha thanks thats very kind of you and much appreciated too!
Thank you for letting us know
Wowww thanks for this wonderful class!!!!❤❤❤❤ I love it😊
Martin you are so good my friend.
I absolutely love your work
One of the very best out there, with such a refreshing teaching style, your pictures are always so good, no matter if there landscape or portrait or street
Love it
Hi Keith, thank you so much and I hope you are doing ok.
Love your videos, I rewatch them often ❤
thank you!
Hi Martin.
The gorgeous image at 07:30 is an art directors picture, simple as that. Love it. Enjoy the rest of your week.
Thanks Colin, I hope you are well!
all these gems in one video. Thanks
You've answered a few questions that have popped up in my head once in a while.. thank you, again.
Thats great, I hope you are doing ok buddy.
I learned a lot here very quickly . Brilliant video , clear , to the point and so well explained . Thank you .
Glad it was helpful!
8 minutes and no clickbait? And actual good advice? Wow!
hahaha thanks David!
That's why I feel this channel is the best channel for photography
Thank you so much! Great tips and very well explained.
You are welcome 🙏
Thank you very much this tutorial video is all bright as diamonds❤
You're welcome 😊
I appreciate your calm teaching style. Saving so I can come back
Excellent video, thank . I still say your portrait work is just phenomenal. Keep them coming Martin, visiual instruction is always best. Thanks again
.
.
thank you!!!!
As an amateur landscape photographer I found this very interesting and enjoyable!! Thanks
You do amazing work and explain thing very well. Thanks for everything you share!
Wow. I learned so much from your small tips, Sir. Thank you. This is one of the best portrait technique tutorials I've come across in a long time.
I think I have learnt more in the first 4 minutes of your video than I have in over 4 months of watching photography videos on YoutTube. Amazing stuff!
wow thats great, thank you very much, feedback like this motivates me to make more like this so thank you!
thank you!!! i struggle with posing.
Great tips, beautiful shots - Im especially drawn to the Union Jack one, and the one with makeup dresser.
These are amazing tips! Posing isn't only about the subject's lines and shape but makes a huge difference in lighting.
Great informative video. I found your channel purely by accident and love the detailed info you're sharing without the fluff. Knowledgeable and efficient advise, so thank you
thanks very much, thats a very kind comment
@@MartinCastein You're welcome
Good advice well presented. I have a BFA with Honors in Photography from Art Center College of Design, Los Angeles (Ansel Adams was once an instructor there). I worked for years as a commercial/industrial photographer. Your advice is in keeping with what I was taught and practiced. Your sample images are lovely.
Wspaniale to pokzuje ze to fotograf robi zdjęcia doświadczenie wiedzą intuicja apatat jest narzędziem
Awesome video! added it to my favorites
That’s great! Thank you
I realy love photograph of the short haired lady along side the wall!
The leading line is giving all the attention to her!
Thanks! That was the idea 🙂
That was a great video. Beautiful. Thank you.
Interesting video! I really enjoyed how you broke down the color wheel ... I never heard of it put that way.
thanks, glad it was useful
Im so glad I found your channel, Martin! Thank you for sharing your knowledge! I subscribed about 30 seconds into this video.
Oh wow that was very fast! Well im glad I said enough to get a subecriber that quickly!
Absolutely! I look forward to learning from you Martin! Have a great night!
Great advice as always - thank you!
My pleasure!
An excellent presentation.
Glad you liked it
A lot of thanks for making and sharing your video!!
Just great. Thanks a lot for sharing all this first level advice with us. I feel at easy with architectural and landscapes framing, but have some difficulty with portraits so, you can't imagine how helpful this is.
thats great to hear thank you
Well Martin there is no way not to like your vids, great thanks. Roland from good old Germany
Many thanks!
This is top stuff! Many thanks for putting it together
You are welcome and thanks for the comment!
What a gorgeous instructional video! Succinct without feeling rushed.
Thank you very much im glad you liked it!
Thanks, these were very helpful ❤❤❤
Glad it was helpful!
Seriously, thank you sir for offering so much of your accrued wisdom!
you are welcome!
If you wrote a book, I’d be first in line to buy it👍
Thank you, Its going to be called Pebbles, Gravel, and Dust, The Unabridged History of Rocks Nobody Asked For. I hope you will enjoy it :) but really thanks for the kind comment.
@@MartinCasteinI’d still buy it. Keep up the great work buddy. I appreciate your insights and perspective in photography… see what I did there? Perspective. Photography..
hahahaha thank you!!!!!
You are a true master of your craft!! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us. You have single handedly inspired me to pick up my camera again after many years. :)
wow, well im glad that I have inspired you, I wonder if you would have done so soon enough and maybe this gave you the push but I wish you all the best and hope you enjoy photography once again. I think its imporant to remember its always about you and expressing yourself even if that feels hard to stick to sometimes.
Wow, fantastic, timeless advice. Surely a benchmark reference for anybody wanting to know how to illuminate a portrait shoot. I learned something new today. Keep it coming buddy 👍
Hi mate, thank you! Hope you are well.
Great breakdown! Thanks for this. Clear, concise, and to the point I found this very valuable. I appreciate it!
Thanks you are welcome
Very interesting indeed. I think I'll try to reproduce some portrait schemes as you describe them. What ratio should I aim for between the key light and the background?
Hi, glad you found it interesting, I look at about a 3:1 and darken if needed in post but somewhere around that or 4:1
Fantastic video. Thanks for sharing.
thank you!
Thank you sir! 🙏
As always, thank you for the effort and sharing. I am an appreciative subscriber. I have a portrait session on Sunday with a college soccer (your football!) coach. Your insights will be helpful. BIG thumbs up.
You are welcome im glad it was useful for you!
Martin-your YT vids have been VERY helpful from the moment you started posting. BIG thumbs up 👍🏼
@@smalltalk.productions9977 thank you!
Truly exceptional advice, I'll be trying some tomorrow! Thank you so much
thank you very much hope that went well for you!
Thank you for this and the lighting techniques!
You are welcome!
Nice, simple and concise. Good advice. Thank you.
thanks!
Wonderful. Thank you.
thanks!
Thank you for making that video.
You are welcome!
Thx Martin, this is gold.
instantlyt subscribed, thank you Martin youre a legend!
Thank you and welcome aboard!
Really inspiring video, more useful content in the first few minutes than most videos out there. Thank you!
Thats good to hear thank you
Great advice Martin!
You are welcome
Great video thanks for your insight
Beautiful shots and wonderful techniques. Thanks.
thank you so much.
Beautifully explained, so clear. Thank you.
You're very welcome!
You always provide great content. Thank you 🎉
Thank you! I do try.
I’m not a portrait photographer but given the facilities I would love to be. I found your video really, really perfect in so many ways. I would love to put this into practice. Saved for reference. Your presentation skills are 100%. Thank you so much. I look forward to watching many more. Subbed immediately.
thank you very much, i think if you want to be a portrait photographer just go for it. I started off with really basic setup and just got going. dont worry about looking pro, just tell people you are just starting out and go for it, you will be ok and learn more from doing than waiting till everything is perfect.
Your work is simply superb and outstanding! I watch a lot of tutorials but yours have left a mark I could only hope to emulate😁 Brilliant mate!😇
thank you very much! thats really a great comment thank you
Absolute gold in this video 👏
Thanks Dan!!!
@MartinCastein you should think about doing a studio course like the outdoor editing one 😊
My favourite thing about this video is that I felt like I saw more of your work than usual. There were a few photos I haven't seen you share before, which was refreshing! I'd love to continue seeing updated and recent portrait work from you, maybe BTS? I feel like seeing mostly the same photos in every video doesn't show us nearly enough of your great work
Hi thanks Im mostly keeping it to my chosen portfolio so far. I do plan to do some BTS and add new work but its MUCH harder to get anyone to be on youtube. You probably notice a lot of youtubers shooting the same model or girlfriend/wife all the time because of this. I will work it out though and try to find a way to make this happen. Id like to explain lighting setups and so on. The way around it is to pay a model but the whole shoot could cost me £600 which isnt worth it at all as i would just lose money. The reality of doing these things is always different unfortunately.
@@MartinCastein Totally get that, I guess thats why my partner is in like 70% of my videos 😅
First video of yours that I've watched. Really like your delivery and hopefully I can learn something from you!
Thanks for watching and glad you liked it!
Another great, very helpful video. Beautifully presented. Thanks Martin!
Thank you!
Excellent advice Martin! The lighting diagrams really helped. I am definitely going to make some notes of them. Cheers!
Thanks buddy
Very informative video. Please more of that compressed knowledge pills. Added to my "Diamonds" playlist to keep it forever.
For sure, I will do more and thanks for letting me know you liked it, it helps!
Thanks!
Thank you very much!
Nice, quick, review of a bit of color theory, posing, and short/broad side lighting. When I purchased my first strobe a little less than a year ago, I was surprised by the plethora of lighting setups (i.e. Holywood, Clam shell, top/down, split, short side, loop, Rembrandt, bottom up, cross, etc). I found it very useful to start with a mannequin and try all of them several times over. Lindsey Adler introduced me to an on line color wheel that lets you experiment with complimentary, monochromatic, harmonious variations etc). Having a plan, talking it over with the subject (model), including clothing, location, and concepts behind the shoot (why are you doing it) as you mention are all helpful preparation. I am still learning on the best way to connect with my subject and get the most out of the interaction/collaboration, and your videos (as always) provide valuable suggestions. One day, it would be great if you could give an idea of how to pose and shoot perhaps a more typical subject (or more difficult challenge) - i.e. someone not thin and shapely (as there are very few videos on this topic with examples). I'm sure over the years, you have other issues that come to mind.
Hi yes I will do this as wlel at some point, just putting shoots and things together for youtube is hard because everyone runs away when you mention they will be on video. Thanks for watching another video of mine!
@@MartinCastein Of course. You're very welcome. Every now and then, from a well thought out video, you may find a golden nugget or concept mentioned in a different way. I never thought of "broad side" lighting in the terms of "warm, romantic" so thanks for that. After leaving my last comment I realized there are very few videos on ultra-thin as well. Most feature the very attractive people (of course with good reasons). I understand people running the other way. LOL. Just thought I'd mention it as we all photograph people of all types. Having someone point out useful tips that would help those shoots of your more "typical" subject might get a significant number of views over time.
Really great advice and tips
Glad it was helpful!
Brilliant, thank you.
You're very welcome!
@@MartinCastein by the way, I just sent you a message about your editing course.
Super interesting video, learned many more new things today🎉
thats good to hear!
I purchased a 4k monitor and watched this video again and the photos look even better.
Thanks 🎉
love the info in this video!
Glad you liked it!!
Very beautiful work. Thank you for sharing your ideas.
you are welcome
Wow, I it is so straight forward and good explanation of 1 light set up. Definitely should try them. Tank you Martin. 😀😀 P.S I recognized few pictures taken on APS-C camera with 50mm lens.
Haha well spotted! From the 50mm video I believe
I like your portraits, they look very beautiful 👏🏻👍🏻
Really helpful, thanks!
you are welcome
Thank you!
You're welcome!
Very nice, Kudos
Thanks!
Martin I'm playing around with Aperty. It's not perfect but the special effect lighting is really nice.
I havent tried that before sounds good though.
Thank you so much. Excellent work ❤
thanks!
subscribed because of this video!
Thank you and welcome aboard!
Great video. Thank you Martin, it was very helpful!
you are welcome thank you!
Quite helpful for me, thanks Martin!
thank you!
I’m subscribed this is true education sir!
Thank you!
In terms of a nervous subject.. is there any value in using a smaller camera to warm people up before pulling out a full frame camera and a bazooka lens?
Like starting with a Fuji XT4 and 35 F2 before moving to an R5 and 85mm 1.2
Hi Rob, Ive gone back and forth on this I used to be really sold on this idea that the camera makes a difference but im not convinced. I actually feel its more like our behaviour as photographers changes with the cameras. I mean im not sure but I think that might be the case. I shot 25 weddings with Fuji and when I switched back to the Nikon D3S my behaviour changes that happened with the Fuji stuck with me and I had the same results with subjects. But Im not saying this as fact. Test it for yourself but be open to the idea that its you changing with the camera rather than the camera influencing them. Hope that helps!
@ it definitely makes a lot of sense. I feel like a bit of a W⚓️ with a 70-200 doing portraits and definitely feel more comfortable with a 135 or 85 and that RF 50mm 1.2.
Thank you for this. Very useful to see how to practically use lights.
Any resources you'd recommend for posing models? Both male and female, of course.
Yes go on to pinterest and make a board of poses you like and memorise 10 of them
How do you change the background colour
It’s easy in Photoshop. Just Google it!
👌👍🔝💯 Wow! So useful tips, all in less than 9 minutes! Thanks a lot!
🙏
Very nice and clear presentation that gives an excellent introduction to portrait photography 👍 I am slowly trying to persuade myself to go deeper with portraits. What holds me back is that I am semi colour blind which makes it difficult to work with the post processing. Any tips?
Oh I wish I could help with that but I can’t I would search TH-cam heavily and google but I can’t give advice wish I could
@MartinCastein Thanks Martin. I have developed some tools to extract RGB numbers from the photos but colors are very hard to work with in terms of RGB numbers.. But I'll keep going 🙂