OMG!!! Tried this technique out today with actual money-paying clients and it worked amazingly well. Every time I have a question or a problem the first place I look is right here. Thanks again for being so generous with your techniques.
Hi Joe, I just watched your video. I immediately tried to replicate exactly what you did using an octagon umbrella as the backdrop. Within 3 minutes I had a killer shot using my (new) mannequin as a test subject. The background is a beautiful pure white. The 30" shoot-through umbrella created a beautiful light on the face with a beautiful shadow on the opposite side of the mannequin face. A really great shot. Thank you so much for very smart tip. I just love it!
Oh! That's a useful way to get the exposure right. I never thought about using the blinky then turning up a stop. One thing I did in the past was to hang a white bed sheet about a foot or two in front of a white wall and fire two flashes at the wall from either side. You've made me want to experiment with that again. Thanks!
Great video, as always. I did a similar thing just a few weeks ago using a 3ftx2ft soft box behind a 4 ft circular 5in1 reflector to increase the backdrop area. Worked a treat. Your video showed me I was on the right track. Thanks Joe.
Thanks Joe for these wonderful, practical tips. I so much more enjoy these segments than your Live Chat videos. Please consider doing more of these. Cheers.
This is cool. I'm mostly doing video now, and what I use for even lighting for a white background is pair of those homemade LED shop lights you did a video on awhile back. They work great!
Awesome tutorial! Nice to see the last frame back, your schedule has been extremely busy, it's great to get these tips out for the newbies. Have you reach 100k followers yet? Your weekly 3 night live talks are great, wishing you all the best and may you go from strength to strength. All the best Joe! 😎 👍
Thank you Vasiliy Ivanishvili! I really appreciate the kind words and I am thrilled that your daughter is using the channel to learn - 15 is a perfect age to begin shooting.
Like your information sharing thanks ,I painted a wall white color in my studio and use the 7ft patabolic westcott umbrella behind me it gives me also pure white when the modifier far from subject
Hey guys...I am thinking of doing this too. Thank you for the tips Joe & Bilal. I was also contemplating getting a lastolite collapse-able background but they are too expensive. So either in the bedroom studio with a white painted wall or a white muslin backdrop with Stands...both with hopefully the 7ft patabolic westcott umbrella....head so much about it. As always great to see your videos although would love a bit more in depth info regarding the settings on camera and its relation to the lights.....a bit like Gavin Hoey videos he takes meter readings and explains how to go about it to get the exposures right! Joe keep up the great videos...love them.
Yes!!! Love this tutorial, Thnks U. My future DIY project is to recreate an affordable Lastolite HiLite Illuminated White Background (7 x 8') with pvc pipe
You're very welcome Gabi Gonzalez! Good luck with the DIY HiLite. Do it right and you will be able to use it as a big softbox to create window light as well as a background
Hi Joe Thank you for making very helpful tutorials for us. Would you please make a video about speed lights and what does it mean when you say bring down the light for one stop or put on full power. I don't know how I can explain my question, I want to know more about lights and how we can control it especially speed light.
Thanks for the video, Joe! So I "run" an itty-bitty studio out of the spare bedroom at my dad's place. I need to go back and give this a shot, but I figured I could ask first: Do you believe it is possible to emulate the soft box trick by using one of those cheap white muslin backdrops you can find off of Amazon? One of my earliest photography purchases was a stand and some cheap backdrops. If I can inch them forward a bit and place my speedlite behind it to get the diffused white look, that would be absolutely fabulous.
Joe, I have a shoot next Sunday and the subject will be full length shots. I want a pure white background and was wondering if I place 2 speedlights on each side facing the white backdrop at full power would that work? Keep up the videos as they are really informative.
Another great video Joe. I struggle with full length high key shots. I can never get the floor light properly and end up with lot of post work. I use 10x20 vinyl backdrop. Hopefully you can throw some light on it :-). My studio is only 17x17.
It is tough in a small space Sudesh Singh! Your success will probably come by using flags to block the background lights form hitting your subjects. Tune into one of my Wednesday night TOGCHAT LIVE shows and ask that question and I will be able to answer it a bit better.
Excellent video as usual Joe👍👍. I have one question regarding the light set up you use for your videos. I have to be in the market to buy a practical and portable video light for my self taped auditions. But I guess you are using quality continuous light from your studio. I wasl looking at the yougnuo yn 900led but if you have better option that not brake the bank too much are pretty well accepted (was also thinking at something DIY as showned in your led video, or do something with led strips solds in metres, but make it dimmable it's not impossible but sure complicated...) Thanks very much Andrea
Thank you Andrea! I use these: th-cam.com/video/VvyW2BZzvKo/w-d-xo.html and or these: th-cam.com/video/OBPDSBCoN2c/w-d-xo.html If you want something that is completely portable and battery operated - I would try to find something that is at least 12" square 30cm) - for my taste the Yongnuo is too small a light source. My preference is for bigger - broader light sources.
Hey Joe! So I've got a client that wants a shot of about 12 people on a white background. I was curious how many strobes you think it would require. I've got 2 Einstein and a ABR800 with a modifier. So I was thinking the einstiens could make the background white and then I could use the abr800 for the main light. I was then going to composite all 12 from the photos (2-3 in each). The only issue I think I might have is the feet. I'm not sure if this set up would only blow out the background and not their feet. Any tips?
Glad you enjoyed it Synphony Symone! Be sure to follow me on Instagram - instagram.com/joeedelman - I post a lot of behind the scenes images and clips!
Thanks Kenneth Preston! You would need a pretty big gel for the OctoDome - but if you use heat resistant cine-gels - you could gel the strobe with a much smaller gel and get the same result.
Hey Joe, I watched almost all your videos, thanks a lot for your great tips. I learned a lot from you. In Europe, I am not able to find DigiBee DB800 Flash, any alternative recommendation?
This one was very helpful. While I've been watching a lot of your videos, this one caused me to pull my lights and lightstands out of my closet to give it a try myself. Thanks!
Hi Joe. Need your expert advice. I take shots on pure white with my camera's (7D Mark II) highlight warning turned on. When I shoot, the background is pure white/blown out, but when I put the same image in LR or PS 2018 CC, the bg isn't white, if I turn up the whites, the products' color is effected. Have to use selection/pen tool to separate my product from the bg and pull the whites up all the way. I've recently turned to catalog white product photography but have general photography experience of 6 years almost. Now I have 500-700 products to shoot and this is really hindering my workflow. I use single speedlite setup with octa from top. Any tips please?
You're very welcome Kern Pierre! I am glad you enjoyed it! As for the D810... until Nikon gets their act together - I wouldn't encourage anyone to buy Nikon. I've used them for most of my career, but I am not sure how much longer I will be able to hold out.
Ok, what happens if you have someone who is bald and their ears stick out? Won't the light from the back turn his ears red? Silly question but this has happened to me with using a single background light to hit the background.
Why not use the model light on the OctoDome instead of blasting a strobe directly into your lens? I find it works better and you get the same white background result ? Any Thoughts??????
AWW MAN!!! Now you tell me that I can use a $60 softbox for pure white backgrounds. Silly me went out and dropped over $200 on a Lastolite Hilite... Just kidding. I love my gear, but I'd hang a scrim(that has multiple uses) as a background and shoot through that before wasting money on a one trick pony. I know you showed how to do this without a meter, but how would you do it with a meter? I usually meter for the subject(at their chin) and then adjust the background to meter between equal or 1/2 a stop higher at the back of their head(meter facing the background). It seems to work well using a softbox as the background for tight headshots, or up to a full stop up if I'm lighting a wall as the background(unless the wall is REALLY white) for half length shots.
LOL Jimmy Hill - Actually the Hilite would make a great window sized softbox! Your system for metering is exactly how I would do it - except I would generally go a full stop to a stop and a half brighter - but if you are getting results that you are happy with - no reason to change.
I think the lower power works out for 2 reasons. It's probably due to the way my Fuji renders color and my post processing affecting the final results. My initial RAW images don't have a perfect white background, but after retouching, tweaking white balance, adjusting skin tones, and converting to JPEGs the backgrounds come out white. It certainly doesn't hurt that 99% of my final images are only used online. Everything looks brighter on your average monitor. I've only had a handful of people looking for printed images and none of them were on a white background.
Better yet roberto cordero - why spend the money for ttl when it serves no benefit in a situation like this. It took me 90 seconds without knowing the strobes - now that I have done it - I can set the proper exposure in about 15 seconds - it will take you just as long if not longer to set the exposure compensation on your ttl. TTL in a studio setting is pointless.
OMG!!! Tried this technique out today with actual money-paying clients and it worked amazingly well.
Every time I have a question or a problem the first place I look is right here. Thanks again for being so generous with your techniques.
You're very welcome Mr. Tommy Badger! I am glad you enjoyed it!
Hi Joe, I just watched your video. I immediately tried to replicate exactly what you did using an octagon umbrella as the backdrop. Within 3 minutes I had a killer shot using my (new) mannequin as a test subject. The background is a beautiful pure white. The 30" shoot-through umbrella created a beautiful light on the face with a beautiful shadow on the opposite side of the mannequin face. A really great shot. Thank you so much for very smart tip. I just love it!
Sir you are the BEST resource on youtube.Thank you so much.
You are a genius!!!! I have a 47 inch octabox and this method saved my life! Thanks again Joe! :)
This guy is my LIFE in the photography world. NEVER disappoints! 😙
Joe, you are the man!! I love your TH-cam channel.... absolutely love it!
Thank you so much Darius Dickens! I appreciate the support!
Oh! That's a useful way to get the exposure right. I never thought about using the blinky then turning up a stop. One thing I did in the past was to hang a white bed sheet about a foot or two in front of a white wall and fire two flashes at the wall from either side. You've made me want to experiment with that again. Thanks!
You could also achieve the same effect using a white diffuser. Great video Joe!
Thanks Joe. That was an excellent tutorial. I am always learning something with your videos. Thanks again.
You're very welcome Muhammad Sahl! Thank you so much for the kind words!
Good idea for simple location set up. Thanks for the flash setting tips.
Thanks Joe, great quick lesson! Please keep them coming.
You're very welcome Joe A7Rii! I am glad you enjoyed it!
Great tips .. I like the black and white trick ...
Great video! Really well produced and concise!
Thank you Web Analytics! I appreciate the comment.
Excellent, Joe you have helped me improve my photography tremendously. I'm a big fan!
Glad you enjoyed it Doug Howell! Thanks for the kind words!
Excellent technique. I loved it.
Great video, as always. I did a similar thing just a few weeks ago using a 3ftx2ft soft box behind a 4 ft circular 5in1 reflector to increase the backdrop area. Worked a treat. Your video showed me I was on the right track. Thanks Joe.
Great tutorial! I'll put that "blinky" feature to use when I'm shooting outdoors untethered. Thanks for the tip!
Thanks Joe for these wonderful, practical tips. I so much more enjoy these segments than your Live Chat videos. Please consider doing more of these. Cheers.
Great video. Worked perfectly. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
This is cool. I'm mostly doing video now, and what I use for even lighting for a white background is pair of those homemade LED shop lights you did a video on awhile back. They work great!
Excelent tutorial... excelent work! Congratulations!
Thank you Sorin Mitrea! I really appreciate the kind words!
Great vidéo and explanation Joe. Thanks
Great Tips- Love your problemsolving
Glad you enjoyed it verwandern! I appreciate the comment!
Nice effective gear and best advice! Thanks as always.
Fantastic tips Joe 💪
Thanks +ULTRA MUC ! I appreciate the comment!
Awesome tutorial! Nice to see the last frame back, your schedule has been extremely busy, it's great to get these tips out for the newbies. Have you reach 100k followers yet? Your weekly 3 night live talks are great, wishing you all the best and may you go from strength to strength. All the best Joe! 😎 👍
thank you! I am thrilled to experiment with these tips! again thank you
You're very welcome Sheila Lee! I am glad you enjoyed it!
Such a simple solution. Thank you.
you do so much for education of another photographers! its great work! thank you! my 15y.o. dauther see you chanel and trying to shoot some portraits.
Thank you Vasiliy Ivanishvili! I really appreciate the kind words and I am thrilled that your daughter is using the channel to learn - 15 is a perfect age to begin shooting.
Dude! This is total genius level stuff. Thank You
LOL - thank you very much Tom Kaszuba!
Like your information sharing thanks ,I painted a wall white color in my studio and use the 7ft patabolic westcott umbrella behind me it gives me also pure white when the modifier far from subject
Only a 7 foot umbrella Bilal Izaddin.... can't you find anything bigger??? 😎😎
hahahahaha
Hey guys...I am thinking of doing this too. Thank you for the tips Joe & Bilal. I was also contemplating getting a lastolite collapse-able background but they are too expensive. So either in the bedroom studio with a white painted wall or a white muslin backdrop with Stands...both with hopefully the 7ft patabolic westcott umbrella....head so much about it. As always great to see your videos although would love a bit more in depth info regarding the settings on camera and its relation to the lights.....a bit like Gavin Hoey videos he takes meter readings and explains how to go about it to get the exposures right! Joe keep up the great videos...love them.
Ive actually used this technique for a tight beauty shot, a large soft box makes an awesome alternative esp if your on a budget.
Dude, you're insane! Thanks man!
Indeed I have been referred to as crazy Angel Osorio! 😎 Thanks for commenting!
Great tutorial. Just lovin it.
super awesome .
thanks joe .
Thanks for sharing this great tutorial, Joe! It's very helpful. :-)
Glad you enjoyed it Svein Arne Grønnevik! I appreciate the comment!
Great job. I have actually done that technique before, but you showed me how to look at the camera setting different. Thanks. AFIF
Awesome!
Thank you for such a helpful video
well done, joseph. what about those that only have portable speed lights?
Yes!!! Love this tutorial, Thnks U. My future DIY project is to recreate an affordable Lastolite HiLite Illuminated White Background (7 x 8') with pvc pipe
You're very welcome Gabi Gonzalez! Good luck with the DIY HiLite. Do it right and you will be able to use it as a big softbox to create window light as well as a background
What a great idear! I wonder what kind of effects you could get if you used colored bulbs!?
You could gel your strobes c0pyimitati0n and create all different colored backgrounds.
Oh, yes! Gels on the speedlite for different background color. Great idea. I'll try this.
great tutorial as usual !! thanks
Glad you enjoyed it Zakariae BENKOUDAD! I appreciate the comment!
Another good episode Joe. would be good to see it done if all we have are flashguns.
Hi Joe
Thank you for making very helpful tutorials for us.
Would you please make a video about speed lights and what does it mean when you say bring down the light for one stop or put on full power.
I don't know how I can explain my question, I want to know more about lights and how we can control it especially speed light.
Could this be a good backdrop for video? If so what kind of light would go inside the octagon?
Gracias Joe. Veo con mucho placer e interés tu excelente canal.
I never thought to use the large box behind for bright white background. I have an Apollo orb that would work great for this. Thnx!
You are awesome. Thank you.
Thanks for the video, Joe!
So I "run" an itty-bitty studio out of the spare bedroom at my dad's place. I need to go back and give this a shot, but I figured I could ask first:
Do you believe it is possible to emulate the soft box trick by using one of those cheap white muslin backdrops you can find off of Amazon? One of my earliest photography purchases was a stand and some cheap backdrops. If I can inch them forward a bit and place my speedlite behind it to get the diffused white look, that would be absolutely fabulous.
tu trabajo es extraordinario, felicidades, sobre todo por poner los tutoriales en español, se agradece. saludos
¡Gracias! Raul flores
¡Aprecio las amables palabras!
Excelente!!! Siempre aportando cosas interesantes!
Joe, I have a shoot next Sunday and the subject will be full length shots. I want a pure white background and was wondering if I place 2 speedlights on each side facing the white backdrop at full power would that work? Keep up the videos as they are really informative.
WOW..! Amazing tip thanks.
You're very welcome PhotoZen! I am glad you enjoyed it!
Another great video Joe. I struggle with full length high key shots. I can never get the floor light properly and end up with lot of post work. I use 10x20 vinyl backdrop. Hopefully you can throw some light on it :-). My studio is only 17x17.
It is tough in a small space Sudesh Singh! Your success will probably come by using flags to block the background lights form hitting your subjects. Tune into one of my Wednesday night TOGCHAT LIVE shows and ask that question and I will be able to answer it a bit better.
Thank you for the video. If you have a light meter, what ratio would you use for the back and fore lights?
Excellent video as usual Joe👍👍. I have one question regarding the light set up you use for your videos.
I have to be in the market to buy a practical and portable video light for my self taped auditions. But I guess you are using quality continuous light from your studio.
I wasl looking at the yougnuo yn 900led but if you have better option that not brake the bank too much are pretty well accepted (was also thinking at something DIY as showned in your led video, or do something with led strips solds in metres, but make it dimmable it's not impossible but sure complicated...)
Thanks very much
Andrea
Thank you Andrea! I use these: th-cam.com/video/VvyW2BZzvKo/w-d-xo.html and or these: th-cam.com/video/OBPDSBCoN2c/w-d-xo.html If you want something that is completely portable and battery operated - I would try to find something that is at least 12" square 30cm) - for my taste the Yongnuo is too small a light source. My preference is for bigger - broader light sources.
Thank you very much Joe!👍
Thanks for sharing this videos there asome
Great video thanks for sharing
You are THE boss!
Hey Joe! So I've got a client that wants a shot of about 12 people on a white background. I was curious how many strobes you think it would require. I've got 2 Einstein and a ABR800 with a modifier. So I was thinking the einstiens could make the background white and then I could use the abr800 for the main light. I was then going to composite all 12 from the photos (2-3 in each). The only issue I think I might have is the feet. I'm not sure if this set up would only blow out the background and not their feet. Any tips?
love your videos your my number one fan😎 but i cant seem to find those db800 strobes🤔
Thank you GHOST FACE! Here they are: paulcbuff.com/db800.php
Very nice tutorial. Why the red tape around the lenses?
Thank you Wahab Dilawar! Here is the answer to your question about the red tape: th-cam.com/video/XdqIZaw--O0/w-d-xo.html
Amazing information! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it Synphony Symone! Be sure to follow me on Instagram - instagram.com/joeedelman - I post a lot of behind the scenes images and clips!
Can you use the light meter? Like a seconic light meter. Nice video btw.
Great tips as always Joe :-D
Thanks dunnymonster!
Joe, great tips! I assume you can also gel the octo for a color bg.
Thanks Kenneth Preston! You would need a pretty big gel for the OctoDome - but if you use heat resistant cine-gels - you could gel the strobe with a much smaller gel and get the same result.
Hey Joe, I watched almost all your videos, thanks a lot for your great tips. I learned a lot from you. In Europe, I am not able to find DigiBee DB800 Flash, any alternative recommendation?
You're very welcome DundarPixels! I am glad you enjoyed them! Check out the Interfit HOney Badgers: th-cam.com/video/UM875oPyyz4/w-d-xo.html
This one was very helpful. While I've been watching a lot of your videos, this one caused me to pull my lights and lightstands out of my closet to give it a try myself. Thanks!
Thanks, Joe! Very helpful! ~ Peg Heron Heidel
Hi Joe. Need your expert advice. I take shots on pure white with my camera's (7D Mark II) highlight warning turned on. When I shoot, the background is pure white/blown out, but when I put the same image in LR or PS 2018 CC, the bg isn't white, if I turn up the whites, the products' color is effected. Have to use selection/pen tool to separate my product from the bg and pull the whites up all the way. I've recently turned to catalog white product photography but have general photography experience of 6 years almost. Now I have 500-700 products to shoot and this is really hindering my workflow. I use single speedlite setup with octa from top. Any tips please?
Nice 😀
awesome! thanks Joe.....wish I had a D810😆
You're very welcome Kern Pierre! I am glad you enjoyed it! As for the D810... until Nikon gets their act together - I wouldn't encourage anyone to buy Nikon. I've used them for most of my career, but I am not sure how much longer I will be able to hold out.
I really like Nikon😯😧......any recommendations?
Joe Edelman hi Joe, what do you meen about nikon?
Great advise for tight use of space in travel headshots. Question. Is there a medium softbox that uses dimmable LED lights?
Excellent video
Thank you Adetv1616! I really appreciate the kind words!
Ok, what happens if you have someone who is bald and their ears stick out? Won't the light from the back turn his ears red? Silly question but this has happened to me with using a single background light to hit the background.
Why not use the model light on the OctoDome instead of blasting a strobe directly into your lens? I find it works better and you get the same white background result ? Any Thoughts??????
Not sponsered by Seconic. Nice work.
How does the catch light look with that foam board?
Thank you!
hi Joe can I ask question in the facebook group it is it mainly for reviews of photos
AWW MAN!!! Now you tell me that I can use a $60 softbox for pure white backgrounds. Silly me went out and dropped over $200 on a Lastolite Hilite... Just kidding. I love my gear, but I'd hang a scrim(that has multiple uses) as a background and shoot through that before wasting money on a one trick pony.
I know you showed how to do this without a meter, but how would you do it with a meter? I usually meter for the subject(at their chin) and then adjust the background to meter between equal or 1/2 a stop higher at the back of their head(meter facing the background). It seems to work well using a softbox as the background for tight headshots, or up to a full stop up if I'm lighting a wall as the background(unless the wall is REALLY white) for half length shots.
LOL Jimmy Hill - Actually the Hilite would make a great window sized softbox! Your system for metering is exactly how I would do it - except I would generally go a full stop to a stop and a half brighter - but if you are getting results that you are happy with - no reason to change.
I think the lower power works out for 2 reasons. It's probably due to the way my Fuji renders color and my post processing affecting the final results. My initial RAW images don't have a perfect white background, but after retouching, tweaking white balance, adjusting skin tones, and converting to JPEGs the backgrounds come out white. It certainly doesn't hurt that 99% of my final images are only used online. Everything looks brighter on your average monitor. I've only had a handful of people looking for printed images and none of them were on a white background.
Awesome!
Thanks for commenting April Heckemeyer!
Thank you!!!!
You're welcome Deon Casey I appreciate the comment!
nice tutorial,,thnxz
You're very welcome mizu goru! I am glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks!
You're welcome Coaching Grit! I appreciate the comment!
can I use octoDome as background light in video shooting?
Sure Kunal Bhardwaj - as long as you are using a video light in it or a strobe like the Interfit Honey Badger with a strong LED modeling lamp.
thanks joe
Why not use ttl then work from since this will cut your time significantly as far as getting the right light power?
Better yet roberto cordero - why spend the money for ttl when it serves no benefit in a situation like this. It took me 90 seconds without knowing the strobes - now that I have done it - I can set the proper exposure in about 15 seconds - it will take you just as long if not longer to set the exposure compensation on your ttl. TTL in a studio setting is pointless.
Its surprising but on d3200 blinky does not show pure white. It was really strange for me. Im talking about r255 g255 b255
Hmmm - not sure what to tell you Justas49
Thanks.
nice
👏👍👌🌸
👍 Zinab Mahmoud!
Blinky on d5200 doesnt show pure white
the pure white background just doesnt look good to me.. it looks weird and photoshopped.
So having you want most of the background “blinking”?? Or dial it back until it not blinking???
Stay toooned... very retro!
Thanks for the feedback Johnny F Media!
Imagine using his technique to get proper exposure with film 🎞 test shot go develop see if exposure right oh damn one stop down all over again 😂
remember what your mama taught you, sukhumskie .... FILM is a four letter word. Don't use four letter words!