Tony Northrup....the missing link for aspiring and photographers in general who has the innate ability to communicate his vast knowledge without fanfare. The gifted are those who can make the difficult appear ordinary. This man is the gold standard in teaching. He will make you a better photographer period. Bravo....
I searched for this video forever, I saw it as I was searching for a lighting video to watch and shot past it. It's a great video to watch and learn from. At least I found it again, I will be saving it this time. Thanks Tony for all your hard work.
Tony, you and Chelsea are AMAZING! I really appreciate you sharing all of you knowledge. I am a "budding" photographer and your videos have shed so much light on the mysterious world of photography. Thank you!
Well I *do* like this video. I've looked online and in all sorts of books for basic info on studio lighting and in 5 minutes Tony has covered all the basics, how to set up, and importantly what effect each light has on the final shot. It's just what I've been waiting to see. Many thanks Tony.
Yeah, many in fact, we have all three versions of the 5D, a 1V film body, three vintage 35mm cameras, and a couple of medium format cameras. We were filming with the 5D Mark III and 5D Mark II, so I grabbed the 7D for the portraits, but normally I'd use the 5D2 or 5D3 for studio portraits.
Man, I finally figured out after a year of watching your tuts who you remind me of :-D You look like a combination of Timothy Olyphant and Billy Bob Thornton! To the main thing - I totally dig your videos for your calm and educated form of wisdom presentation. You taught many helpful techniques and that I am thankful for. Cheers, Mark
It's the Speedotron beauty dish. For additional advice, check Chapter 6 in Stunning Digital Photography, which has a pretty thorough writeup for building a studio. Links in the description!
Thanks for the amazing demonstration! I feel quite awkward with my flash now and it's awesome to see how pro photographers hanging around with their lights :-D
I normally recommend AlienBees for beginner studio equipment, but at the $500 total range, you might instead start with some YongNuo manual flashes (such as the YN-565EX) and either a wireless trigger system for one flash, and use the optical slaves on the others. You'll also have to budget light stands, umbrellas, backdrops, etc. Also check out my studio tour video.
the most beautiful couple in the Interweb... I am a big fan and have benifited from your tutorials... More power to your family... And again... thank you very very much...
We are working with a couple of distributors to get the book translated, but we haven't had a french publisher approach us yet... If you're comfortable watching videos in English, we'll soon be releasing a complete video training series that covers all the content in the book and more. The first parts will be available in just a couple of weeks, so subscribe to find out more.
"Kicker? You really think that's appropriate?" Ahaha Why your response cracked me up after that is beyond me. The way you came to the camera like, "This is for real" Lol! Keep the videos coming. I read your book everyday and those video links in there are ingenious. You're a true professional.
OK, I'll add that to the list :). If you have the Stunning Digital Photography book, check the Files tab in the private Facebook reader's group and you'll find a draft of my upcoming Flash Buyer's Guide, which might answer your questions.
To some extent, though kicker lights tend to be hard and relatively bright, so you might not get enough output from a reflector. Check out the YongNuo YN560-II--it's $60 shipped from Amazon, and will work exactly the same way as the kicker I used (it has an optical slave that fires automatically with your flash)
Love your videos. i just bought the iPad version of your book. Wow very impressive, it covers just about everything and in an easy to learn format. If anyone is tossing up buying it, I would definitely recommend it and it is great value.
Awesome, glad you like it! Be sure to register by emailing me your receipt or a screenshot of the purchased book (tony@northrup.org) so I can give you the link to download the iBooks file directly. The iTunes version doesn't have all the videos accessible, because of Apple's file size limits. If you bought this directly from the StunningDigitalPhotography website, you already have all the videos, so no worries!
Yeah, I'm using a 7D in the video (a crop camera). But really, in a studio environment, it doesn't make much difference at all. I could have taken the exact same pictures with a $400 Canon T3 kit and the kit lens, and they would look exactly the same. That's why you so often see studio photographers with low-end gear... The higher end gear gets to be more important for outdoor shoots, but studio shoots are easy.
Hi Tony, I am about to set up full time as a studio photographer here in Gosport UK. I found your style easy to follow and will let you know in a few weeks how they turn out.
I'm just getting into portraiture and flash photography, and really appreciate this video. Have enjoyed several of your videos, and kudos to Chelsea as well. Really enjoyed her in your nature photography 'pet peeves' video.
Following the very first recommendation in the book, "Take lots of pictures and delete most of them," we took 10 or so shots for every shot you see in the video... just to be sure she wasn't blinking or anything. Then we just picked the best of them.
Hi Tony and Chelsea - another great video. I received your book on Saturday..Wow..only 5 days international postage to the UK! Loving the book and thanks to you both for signing it - it has made it extra special. Look after yourselves and a big congratulations from Julie and myself on getting hitched :) Tony & Jules
your welcome tony. again please keep these great video's coming. you & chelsea make it easy & fun to learn phtotgraphy. thank's again. look forward to your next video.
I'm still in the process of reviewing the 70D (check my latest video) but the 70D would be perfect for that... but the "film look" will require a fast lens, maybe the 50mm f1.8.
You pretty much have to get a beauty dish from your lighting system. I'm using Speedotron lights, so I have the Speedotron beauty dish. The size (diameter) of the beauty dish matters, but the brand doesn't matter a huge amount... As long as they have that beauty dish shape.
Very good. Getting back into this after some lousy health, redoing my former studio, and this is very useful. I have to improvise a bit, using a fairly powerful flash on my cannon pointed to the wall or cieling to activate the slave on my flash umbrella and to bounce flash off the offwhite surfaces to help with fill. I love having this in such a compact useful form.
Fairplay to you Tony you do an absolutely great job of explaining how it all works and your model Chelsea is not to bad either I think you're great together I love your book cant leave it down so much to see and do its the best book ever
Perfect timing Tony. I'm doing some portraits for friends and have the 3 lights to work with. For the key light in traditional portraits, what angle is it pointing down at? 45 degrees? what about for the fill (i.e. face level or below and pointing up a bit)? Thanks.
Tony I have been watching all you videos and have learnt so much from you. Please where do I get your book from again? Please keep the video's coming, You are the best.
Very helpful and simple to understand! Just purchased a super cheap lighting system to start learning with. Are you happy with the 5D Mk III? I'm thinking it's time to replace my 60D and go full frame. Thanks again!
Great video! What is the main light - is it a beauty dish of some sort? Also, you get a lot done in what looks to be a fairly small space. What would you say are the dimensions of the room in which you are shooting? Thanks again for the video!
I really enjoyed the tutorial. I know that you are using the Speedotron Brown Line strobe units; you mentioned it in another video. For your main light, I see this really large reflector. Is it a large reflector attached to the flash-head or is it a beauty dish? I am setting up my home studio with a D402 power supply, two M11 heads, two M90 heads and a MW3R head - all wonderful eBay buys. Any additional advice and guidance would be greatly appreciated.
hi tony.. i bought ur book and i appreciate ur work as i found ur ascent is easy to understand for me and book is really helpful for me learning photography. One question how do i mix ambient light with flash light and how to use light meters means if light meter meters light at subject at f 4 then what settings i must use on camera.
Thanks for the great tutorial, I'm a beginner so this helps greatly, I'm looking to buy lighting equipment, and need some advice as to what kind of lights to buy , May be some kind of kit any advice as to what to look for? Thanks!!!
Another great, to the point, video Tony. One question, is this same effect possible with speed-lights as opposed to strobes? Also Chelsea's eyes look amazing in those shots.
Yeah, you can use speed lights, but strobes are generally less expensive, more powerful, and easier to use. I have separate chapters dedicated to speedlights and strobes in my Photography Buying Guide (links in the description) that explain the advantages of each and provide specific recommendations for different scenarios. Good luck!
I've looked around for help with my lighting skills. Some are not too bad they just don't meet my needs. Your explanation of how to is really easy to understand most if not all my work is has come from following you. My studio is set up just like yours for this portrait session. Keep it coming I'm taking in all that you say and do like a sponge. Thanks, by the way, what were the settings for this shoot?
can you described what fstop power used for each of these lights if you don't mind? Looks to be easy setup but controlling those lights to make it looks right is a challenge.
📷Portrait Gear Recommendations:📷
Beginner ($950 at Amazon): Canon T6i help.tc/t6i & Canon 50mm f/1.8 help.tc/c50
Better ($3,000 at Amazon): Nikon D610 help.tc/d610 & Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 help.tc/t200
Best ($5,300) at Amazon: Nikon D810 help.tc/d810 & Nikon 70-200 f/2.8E help.tc/n200e
you used 5 lights for just a very simple result
In ONLY 5 mins you've taught me more about lighting than I learned in the scores of other videos I have looked at. Great job!
Tony Northrup....the missing link for aspiring and photographers in general who has the innate ability to communicate his vast knowledge without fanfare. The gifted are those who can make the difficult appear ordinary. This man is the gold standard in teaching. He will make you a better photographer period. Bravo....
Dan C Wow, thanks, Dan!!
Love the layering examples of main, fill, ... Beginners can really see the benefit of these lights. Thank you, Tony and Chelsea!!!
I searched for this video forever, I saw it as I was searching for a lighting video to watch and shot past it. It's a great video to watch and learn from. At least I found it again, I will be saving it this time. Thanks Tony for all your hard work.
Tony, you and Chelsea are AMAZING! I really appreciate you sharing all of you knowledge. I am a "budding" photographer and your videos have shed so much light on the mysterious world of photography. Thank you!
shawna b Thanks, Shawna!
I just love the well-educated tone you speak, Tony!
You teach better than some university professors
Well I *do* like this video. I've looked online and in all sorts of books for basic info on studio lighting and in 5 minutes Tony has covered all the basics, how to set up, and importantly what effect each light has on the final shot. It's just what I've been waiting to see. Many thanks Tony.
Yeah, many in fact, we have all three versions of the 5D, a 1V film body, three vintage 35mm cameras, and a couple of medium format cameras. We were filming with the 5D Mark III and 5D Mark II, so I grabbed the 7D for the portraits, but normally I'd use the 5D2 or 5D3 for studio portraits.
why can’t we have teachers like him in schools. Thanks man , u r great!
Simple and informative. Detailed and easy to absorb for people who are just new to lighting like me.
Great Job Tony and Chelsea !!
Man, I finally figured out after a year of watching your tuts who you remind me of :-D
You look like a combination of Timothy Olyphant and Billy Bob Thornton!
To the main thing - I totally dig your videos for your calm and educated form of wisdom presentation. You taught many helpful techniques and that I am thankful for.
Cheers, Mark
You have the best elocution skills that I've ever seen in the internet. I wish my speech was so flawless. Really well done.
Tamron has two awesome 70-200 f2.8 lenses; I would choose whichever one fits your budget.
It's the Speedotron beauty dish. For additional advice, check Chapter 6 in Stunning Digital Photography, which has a pretty thorough writeup for building a studio. Links in the description!
Nice, simple, very informative tutorial. You guys have a sweet, positive vibe.
Just wanted to say I've learned a lot by watching your tutorials. They've helped me a lot. Just wanted to say thanks. Keep up the good work.
i really like the way tony and chelsea doing tutorials like they are our next door neighbours
Thanks for the amazing demonstration! I feel quite awkward with my flash now and it's awesome to see how pro photographers hanging around with their lights :-D
Will do--we have a video featuring reflectors planned for the next couple of weeks. Be sure to subscribe to see it.
I normally recommend AlienBees for beginner studio equipment, but at the $500 total range, you might instead start with some YongNuo manual flashes (such as the YN-565EX) and either a wireless trigger system for one flash, and use the optical slaves on the others. You'll also have to budget light stands, umbrellas, backdrops, etc.
Also check out my studio tour video.
Soft boxes are better, but umbrellas are easier to travel with. So, use a soft box in a fixed studio, and use soft boxes when you're on location.
Mr. Tony you are a professional and I am from your fans and followers, I'm from Iraq
nice work ...
The 7D and your experience makes real nice pictures, why need more?
Great tutorial sir!
Dramatic improvement with 5 lights. Thanks very much for sharing!
Thank you very much, and so nice to listen to a well modulated voice speaking at a good rate
Thanks! Glad you like the videos!
the most beautiful couple in the Interweb...
I am a big fan and have benifited from your tutorials...
More power to your family...
And again... thank you very very much...
We are working with a couple of distributors to get the book translated, but we haven't had a french publisher approach us yet... If you're comfortable watching videos in English, we'll soon be releasing a complete video training series that covers all the content in the book and more. The first parts will be available in just a couple of weeks, so subscribe to find out more.
"Kicker? You really think that's appropriate?" Ahaha Why your response cracked me up after that is beyond me. The way you came to the camera like, "This is for real" Lol! Keep the videos coming. I read your book everyday and those video links in there are ingenious. You're a true professional.
OK, I'll add that to the list :).
If you have the Stunning Digital Photography book, check the Files tab in the private Facebook reader's group and you'll find a draft of my upcoming Flash Buyer's Guide, which might answer your questions.
To some extent, though kicker lights tend to be hard and relatively bright, so you might not get enough output from a reflector.
Check out the YongNuo YN560-II--it's $60 shipped from Amazon, and will work exactly the same way as the kicker I used (it has an optical slave that fires automatically with your flash)
Finally a lighting explanation that makes sense. Well done.
this is the best tutorial ive seen on here of lighting. thanks so much for making it fast, simple and easy!
Love your videos. i just bought the iPad version of your book. Wow very impressive, it covers just about everything and in an easy to learn format. If anyone is tossing up buying it, I would definitely recommend it and it is great value.
Awesome, glad you like it! Be sure to register by emailing me your receipt or a screenshot of the purchased book (tony@northrup.org) so I can give you the link to download the iBooks file directly. The iTunes version doesn't have all the videos accessible, because of Apple's file size limits.
If you bought this directly from the StunningDigitalPhotography website, you already have all the videos, so no worries!
Yeah, I'm using a 7D in the video (a crop camera). But really, in a studio environment, it doesn't make much difference at all. I could have taken the exact same pictures with a $400 Canon T3 kit and the kit lens, and they would look exactly the same. That's why you so often see studio photographers with low-end gear...
The higher end gear gets to be more important for outdoor shoots, but studio shoots are easy.
They support high speed sync, so any shutter speed should work. It's never been a problem.
வீடியோ மிகவும் பயனுள்ளதாக இருந்தது மிக்க நன்றி
இரா.மனோகர் சென்னை .
Very useful This video sir, , big thank you sir R.MANOHAR ,Chennai.India
Tony you are the best. I am learning so much from your videos and your book. Thank you
That was an incredible amount of information in only 5 minutes. Thanks!
Hi Tony, I am about to set up full time as a studio photographer here in Gosport UK. I found your style easy to follow and will let you know in a few weeks how they turn out.
JIMBO5444 Great! Good luck!
Hi Tony, thanks for explaining everything so well and all the different types of effect lighting...she looks awesome...
I learn something from every video you guys make. Kudos & thanks!
Informative yet down-to-earth as always. Great work!
I love my 5D3, but the 6D is also an awesome full-frame camera, at like half the price. Check the video I did comparing all the Canon bodies.
I'm just getting into portraiture and flash photography, and really appreciate this video. Have enjoyed several of your videos, and kudos to Chelsea as well. Really enjoyed her in your nature photography 'pet peeves' video.
Best photography teachers ever!
Great lighting setup! That last shot was amazing!
Following the very first recommendation in the book, "Take lots of pictures and delete most of them," we took 10 or so shots for every shot you see in the video... just to be sure she wasn't blinking or anything. Then we just picked the best of them.
Hi Tony and Chelsea - another great video.
I received your book on Saturday..Wow..only 5 days international postage to the UK!
Loving the book and thanks to you both for signing it - it has made it extra special.
Look after yourselves and a big congratulations from Julie and myself on getting hitched :) Tony & Jules
your welcome tony. again please keep these great video's coming. you & chelsea make it easy & fun to learn phtotgraphy. thank's again. look forward to your next video.
I'm still in the process of reviewing the 70D (check my latest video) but the 70D would be perfect for that... but the "film look" will require a fast lens, maybe the 50mm f1.8.
You pretty much have to get a beauty dish from your lighting system. I'm using Speedotron lights, so I have the Speedotron beauty dish.
The size (diameter) of the beauty dish matters, but the brand doesn't matter a huge amount... As long as they have that beauty dish shape.
Very good. Getting back into this after some lousy health, redoing my former studio, and this is very useful. I have to improvise a bit, using a fairly powerful flash on my cannon pointed to the wall or cieling to activate the slave on my flash umbrella and to bounce flash off the offwhite surfaces to help with fill. I love having this in such a compact useful form.
Thanks! and I have a yongnuo so i would like to enter the studio flash, I'll take your suggestion into consideration to evaluate the options available
Fairplay to you Tony you do an absolutely great job of explaining how it all works and your model Chelsea is not to bad either I think you're great together I love your book cant leave it down so much to see and do its the best book ever
Brian...from NY?
Thanks!
Love that 5 lighting technique. Beautiful Photo.
Great job on explaining the use of the different lights..
Great video. Just wanted to add that you do look like Billy Bob Thornton though. Keep up the good work, i watch all of these
Perfect timing Tony. I'm doing some portraits for friends and have the 3 lights to work with. For the key light in traditional portraits, what angle is it pointing down at? 45 degrees? what about for the fill (i.e. face level or below and pointing up a bit)? Thanks.
very helpful and understandable nice explanation.. short video but very informative than other who give a tut in very long and boring explanation..
Great demonstration. Do you need different exposures for darker vs lighter skintones or is it about getting enough light into your subject?
What about it, John? I do my best, and I'm open to suggestions.
Great video, Tony. Loved this tutorials!. If I don't have an extra kicker light would a modifier light, like reflector can do the same job? Thanks
Thank you for the video,
I just wish you mentioned which type of lighting is each one, like soft box, beauty dish... etc.
I love this set up I use a combination of these lights all the time and get great results...
These are great shots straight out of camera. Thanks!
Tony I have been watching all you videos and have learnt so much from you. Please where do I get your book from again?
Please keep the video's coming, You are the best.
Great video and was very helpful, Thanks Tony and Chelsea.
What a fantastic, focused video. Thanks!
Could you advise on when it is best to use an umbrella and when it's best to use a soft box?
One of my favorite videos by you two!
Very helpful and simple to understand! Just purchased a super cheap lighting system to start learning with. Are you happy with the 5D Mk III? I'm thinking it's time to replace my 60D and go full frame. Thanks again!
I like this tutorial. Can you make a video how to take an indoor glossy painting picture, including the light setup? Thank you..
explanation about light in beUTIFUL WaY!!1!!great job done guys
Excellent tutorial - thank you Tony
Great video! What is the main light - is it a beauty dish of some sort? Also, you get a lot done in what looks to be a fairly small space. What would you say are the dimensions of the room in which you are shooting? Thanks again for the video!
Thank you Tony and Chelsea! Just the video i was looking for.
I really enjoyed the tutorial. I know that you are using the Speedotron Brown Line strobe units; you mentioned it in another video. For your main light, I see this really large reflector. Is it a large reflector attached to the flash-head or is it a beauty dish? I am setting up my home studio with a D402 power supply, two M11 heads, two M90 heads and a MW3R head - all wonderful eBay buys. Any additional advice and guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Super Awesome ,Smart quick tutorial with real gorgeous result ,love it
Khalil Burno Thanks!
I was going to ask how does this woman keep growing younger but I can see the video was from 7 years ago.
What can I say? Happy New Year. 😃😃
I can not tell you how much I loveeee your videossss!!
Chelsea looks amazing:D
Great videos from you guys!
Amazing tutorial, very educational tony!
Your tutorials are bang on target.thank you
Hello Tony. Great tutorial. I am wanting to know what brand and model were you using for hair light and background light. Thanks you very much.
Right to the point. I wish i could buy your book.
hi tony.. i bought ur book and i appreciate ur work as i found ur ascent is easy to understand for me and book is really helpful for me learning photography. One question how do i mix ambient light with flash light and how to use light meters means if light meter meters light at subject at f 4 then what settings i must use on camera.
Helpful as always, thank you Tony and Chelsea.
Thanks for the great tutorial, I'm a beginner so this helps greatly, I'm looking to buy lighting equipment, and need some advice as to what kind of lights to buy , May be some kind of kit any advice as to what to look for? Thanks!!!
She is the best
Great tutorial
Thank you
Arigato from Japan
Thanks for sharing guys, i always learn a lot from your videos!
very nice video, in all your videos you give us the important informations in minimal time
Another great, to the point, video Tony. One question, is this same effect possible with speed-lights as opposed to strobes? Also Chelsea's eyes look amazing in those shots.
Yeah, you can use speed lights, but strobes are generally less expensive, more powerful, and easier to use. I have separate chapters dedicated to speedlights and strobes in my Photography Buying Guide (links in the description) that explain the advantages of each and provide specific recommendations for different scenarios. Good luck!
I've looked around for help with my lighting skills. Some are not too bad they just don't meet my needs. Your explanation of how to is really easy to understand most if not all my work is has come from following you. My studio is set up just like yours for this portrait session. Keep it coming I'm taking in all that you say and do like a sponge. Thanks, by the way, what were the settings for this shoot?
can you described what fstop power used for each of these lights if you don't mind? Looks to be easy setup but controlling those lights to make it looks right is a challenge.
This video is awesome! What is your main light?
Thanks for the vidoe ,could u also share the light power for each light was set?