This is the second of your video and I'm really amazed of what I've been learning again within minutes. Thank you so much, I'll soon start experimenting on my own now I changed from my old and rather simple Metz gear + OLY flash control (German flash manufacturer which doesn't exist anymore) to Godox and x-remote. But one question: You wanted to avoid sharp catch lights but what would you use if you'd want them? Would an LED light on top of the camera be ok?
His tutorials are few and far between, but they're always great. And his delivery makes me feel like he actually wants to teach you something substantial instead of talking to a toddler.
So many budding photographers sooner or later buy some studio gear, try to get some action going, and end up putting their kit on eBay, for a pittance. Often because they struggled to get a decent image. These tutorials of yours are pure gold, Sean. Accessible, kind and incredibly practical. Wish I'd seen this 10yrs ago when I was struggling to figure it all out! 🙏👍
First, I watched "Shooting portraits with one speed light" which was filmed 5 years ago :) Now, I watched this one. Thank you for being alive and staying in the business.
It's unbelievable how well and at the same time comprehensible you describe the topic. If we were in a school, it would be an honor to be in your class. The contribution to white balance from a few months ago was also extremely valuable. Thank you.
These videos are so important. I'm an absolute kit junkie but these bring me right back to earth - they make me want to sell all the expensive things I've bought over the last few years and focus on what's really important - a few simple things and the light you have. Plus it makes such a difference when travelling to a shoot (or a friend's house!). Bravo, and more tutorials, please!
I thoroughly enjoy these kinds of videos, as I'm on a budget myself. It's nice to see work produced with affordable equipment. Thank you for all that you do Sean.
Sean, I've always liked your channel for your "enlightening & thought provoking" videos, as they are so different to the norm on UA-cam. These educational & and how-to videos are also so helpful, and you impart your knowledge and the skills in such an easy to understand manner. "Thank you so much." I really appreciate the time and effort you put into your channel and I always look forward to a new release. Cheers.
Yes Sean, I would love more of this type of tutorial. I am just starting to get to grips with portrait photography, and do have a rather limited budget. This video has been most helpful.
Its not about the cost of the kit or a fancy modifier, its about knowing how light works and using whats available to get the results you're looking for, thats what I appreciate about your videos Sean, another great message and brilliant portraits, as always
Yes please, more tutorial videos. The way you talk is crystal clear even to someone like me who is from Italy, and the way you explain also which alternatives there are and why you don't use them is super useful.
Thanks so much Sean for this one and the one on using a single speedlight. After triggering remotely i walked round to see what was on the camera screen and wow, I’d cracked it at last. Yep more tutorials please Sean. You have a brilliant natural accesible teaching skill.
I've learned a lot from the first one speedlight video! For my first shoot of a friend back then, I've watched that over an over again. I really love those low key portraits. Maybe I'll scale up with one speedlight set, having seen this video. The extra light at1/16 is my favorite. With just a hint of extra light it does give the image something special. Thanks for all you do!
Sean, the first video that I watched from your channel was the one you reference at the beginning of this video - about taking portraits with an inexpensive speed light. That was about 4-5 years ago if I recall. Have enjoyed every video ever since. Thank you
Ive spent years away from 'proper' photography - so much so that the last time I did a paid photography job, the first EOS system hadn't long been invented and debates were still raging in the magazines as to whether the 'digital' thing might go anywhere. Plus there were dinosaurs. Anyway, having got back to photography over the last few years, on the strength of this video (and some others supporting your approach) Ive just bought much the same set up as the one you're using here to get into portrait shooting, something I only did before using only natural light and reflectors. So it's a huge thanks for me for simplifying an area that can easily become be a gear overload nightmare - and another vote for more tutorials like this. Many thanks again - your work is hugely appreciated!
Thank you for such a good tutorial. I love all your videos, but I do find the ones where you talk about light and retouching super helpful, so I’m always very grateful when you post. Hope you are keeping well!
Love the dark moody portraits. One light is the way (and sometimes a reflector). Love the simple tutorial videos. Please make more. Id love to see the editing and retouching process too. And also black n white portraits
Hi Sean, many thanks for the video. More tutorials please. Incidentally, the one where you showed how to fold a reflector after use has been most useful. Peter.
I've been following you for a few years. This video really teach me what I can do with the two Speedlights I have on hand. (After switching system from Sony to Fuji, I ended with two lights 865S and 865F.) I was just thinking about getting a trigger to sync the two lights when this video debut. Divine timing!! 🎉
Great video. Thanks for posting. This is very informative and useful content. It is beneficial to learn that there is a use for smaller speed lites in (a bit) larger soft boxes for this intended/desired outcome. To date, I have been hesitant to use some soft boxes with what I have for light, but I have been focussed on the thinking more about the key light considerations. I feel that you could even underline that a combination of light + light modifier that would be underpowered for a key light is actually what is working here - saves money too, if the less powerful speed lite is cheaper. Cheers from Canada
Great video Sean. I rarely take pictures of people, but I have used your tips to good effect, at least I think so, on still life subjects. Thank you for all these ideas.
Nice, You just show my favorite dramatic portrait light setup for painterly portraits. :D Many of my shots were made with small beauty dish and big soft fill light on the same direction of light.
Thank you for the video! At the moment, I don't take a lot of portraits (just some of the family using natural light), but I'm more and more interested in going towards a more "professional" approach. This will definitely help me get started. Personally, at least in this case, I prefer the additional light at 1/64 or perhaps even a stop lighter. It's not as dark as without but still not too light to potentially draw too much attention to the clothing instead of the person.
Yeah, thanks this video did help me a lot because I kind of „forgot“ to use HS and reduce the shutter speed thus not getting the dark background I wanted… Great Job!
Me personally I prefer two speedlights. To lift up the shadows to give me a bit wiggle room with post-processing. For your reference photos, I will choose 1/8 power on the second speedlight. That will be sweet spot. From 1/4 it started becoming too milky for me. However, great video Sean! I always love these informative videos for yours
This has been brilliant 👏, been looking at sony flashes all day. Have been using nikon z6ii up till now and sony a7iv for video but dying to try this kind of photography with the sony 😀. Many thanks for your knowledge and inspiration 😊
Love your videos, I learn so much from them, Your original shooting portraits with one speedlight video, got me to buy an inexpensive kit, and it really elevated my portraits of my kids, and family. So thank you for that. I do also love when you try to recreate a famous portrait. Curious about how far you could take it with more and more lights, when do the you hit the point of diminishing returns? Could be interesting. Thanks again for such great videos, full of knowledge and insight.
Sean, great video. Always enjoy how you help explain with budget gear to get the job done. Would love to see if you have a new technique on your editing process in comparison to your old video with Photoshop. Again, thanks for doing this video.
Hi Sean, thanks a lot for this video. Let me assume something... When adding the second flash, it influences the brightness caused by the first one. It can be seen when comparing the no second flash and second flash at higher power pictures. To maintain the brightness of the "flash 1 areas", it might be useful to decrease the power of the first flash by the amount the second one gets increased. E.g. 1 at 1/2 and 2 at 1/32 - have to change to 1/4 and 1/16. Stumble stones might be, that the directions of light are different and the distance (inverse square law). Greetings, Markus
Hi Sean. Greetings from Albany, NY. This was an extremely helpful video, thank you for sharing your knowledge. I would like to see more video's on this subject. Just picked up your book The meaning in the making, I'm enjoying it very much. Be well sir.
It’s a great approach for photographers looking to elevate their work with simple, cost-effective tools. I am horrible at portraits... maybe I will give them another go.
Your original speedlight video was how I discovered your channel so I vote for more tutorials
The same
+1❤
This is the second of your video and I'm really amazed of what I've been learning again within minutes. Thank you so much, I'll soon start experimenting on my own now I changed from my old and rather simple Metz gear + OLY flash control (German flash manufacturer which doesn't exist anymore) to Godox and x-remote. But one question: You wanted to avoid sharp catch lights but what would you use if you'd want them? Would an LED light on top of the camera be ok?
His tutorials are few and far between, but they're always great. And his delivery makes me feel like he actually wants to teach you something substantial instead of talking to a toddler.
Agreed!!
So many budding photographers sooner or later buy some studio gear, try to get some action going, and end up putting their kit on eBay, for a pittance. Often because they struggled to get a decent image.
These tutorials of yours are pure gold, Sean. Accessible, kind and incredibly practical. Wish I'd seen this 10yrs ago when I was struggling to figure it all out! 🙏👍
First, I watched "Shooting portraits with one speed light" which was filmed 5 years ago :) Now, I watched this one. Thank you for being alive and staying in the business.
It's unbelievable how well and at the same time comprehensible you describe the topic. If we were in a school, it would be an honor to be in your class. The contribution to white balance from a few months ago was also extremely valuable. Thank you.
Thanks mate. That's a lovely thing to say.
These videos are so important. I'm an absolute kit junkie but these bring me right back to earth - they make me want to sell all the expensive things I've bought over the last few years and focus on what's really important - a few simple things and the light you have. Plus it makes such a difference when travelling to a shoot (or a friend's house!). Bravo, and more tutorials, please!
Ay ay Sir, fullfully agree - just like me! Very impressive video. Greets
I thoroughly enjoy these kinds of videos, as I'm on a budget myself. It's nice to see work produced with affordable equipment. Thank you for all that you do Sean.
Love these vids. Your first speedlight video got me interested in portrait photography.
That's great to hear.
Sean, I've always liked your channel for your "enlightening & thought provoking" videos, as they are so different to the norm on UA-cam.
These educational & and how-to videos are also so helpful, and you impart your knowledge and the skills in such an easy to understand manner.
"Thank you so much."
I really appreciate the time and effort you put into your channel and I always look forward to a new release. Cheers.
That's very kind, thanks my friend.
Personally I love the single light as it is moody and that’s how I like to see portraits. Another great video Sean. Thank you.
More of thses please Sean, I love the way you explain and blow out the general misconceptions within photography. Thank you.
Yes Sean, I would love more of this type of tutorial. I am just starting to get to grips with portrait photography, and do have a rather limited budget. This video has been most helpful.
Your videos are such a pleasure to watch! Thank you :)
Its not about the cost of the kit or a fancy modifier, its about knowing how light works and using whats available to get the results you're looking for, thats what I appreciate about your videos Sean, another great message and brilliant portraits, as always
Yes, please more of those Tutorials
Please! Your tutorials on street and portraits shaped my style and made me try beyond! So please keep going with this stuff!
Yes please, more tutorial videos. The way you talk is crystal clear even to someone like me who is from Italy, and the way you explain also which alternatives there are and why you don't use them is super useful.
Thanks so much Sean for this one and the one on using a single speedlight. After triggering remotely i walked round to see what was on the camera screen and wow, I’d cracked it at last. Yep more tutorials please Sean. You have a brilliant natural accesible teaching skill.
I just want to say I really appreciate your videos. Learning so much from your tutorials.
Watching this video just gave me a crazy idea on how to set up a studio in my home! Thank you for this amazing content as always!!! ❤
¡Gracias!
Thanks for the support my friend.
I've learned a lot from the first one speedlight video! For my first shoot of a friend back then, I've watched that over an over again. I really love those low key portraits. Maybe I'll scale up with one speedlight set, having seen this video. The extra light at1/16 is my favorite. With just a hint of extra light it does give the image something special. Thanks for all you do!
Always appreciate your content. Keep up the good work Sean👍
a great video on how to light in studio. love the finished work and the edits are beautiful.
Very clear commentary. Many thanks.
Sean, the first video that I watched from your channel was the one you reference at the beginning of this video - about taking portraits with an inexpensive speed light. That was about 4-5 years ago if I recall. Have enjoyed every video ever since. Thank you
I also love the dark, moody, chiaroscuro look. The eye is instantly drawn to the subject and stays there.
Great tutorial, as usual. Very clear.
Really liked this little tutorial, Sean. Would like to see more, please!
Sean tuckersvideos are always well informed. I appreciate what sean puts out in these videos.
Ive spent years away from 'proper' photography - so much so that the last time I did a paid photography job, the first EOS system hadn't long been invented and debates were still raging in the magazines as to whether the 'digital' thing might go anywhere. Plus there were dinosaurs. Anyway, having got back to photography over the last few years, on the strength of this video (and some others supporting your approach) Ive just bought much the same set up as the one you're using here to get into portrait shooting, something I only did before using only natural light and reflectors. So it's a huge thanks for me for simplifying an area that can easily become be a gear overload nightmare - and another vote for more tutorials like this. Many thanks again - your work is hugely appreciated!
Thank you for such a good tutorial. I love all your videos, but I do find the ones where you talk about light and retouching super helpful, so I’m always very grateful when you post. Hope you are keeping well!
Love the dark moody portraits. One light is the way (and sometimes a reflector).
Love the simple tutorial videos. Please make more. Id love to see the editing and retouching process too. And also black n white portraits
I have a whole series on retouching on my channel, including skin, eyes, dodge and burn, backgrounds and BW conversions.
@seantuck I'll look them up. 👍 Thank you
Sean, you have the vision of an artist--it comes through.. Keep it.
I really like the rich shadow look, that you have in your images.
Yes, always enjoy tutorials 👍
Love these tutorials. Definitely reduces flash-stress and makes it feel achievable. Huge thanks.
This videos are peaces of art. Thank you Sean for your sharing your work ❤
Hi Sean, many thanks for the video. More tutorials please. Incidentally, the one where you showed how to fold a reflector after use has been most useful. Peter.
I've been following you for a few years. This video really teach me what I can do with the two Speedlights I have on hand. (After switching system from Sony to Fuji, I ended with two lights 865S and 865F.) I was just thinking about getting a trigger to sync the two lights when this video debut. Divine timing!! 🎉
Love your tutorials as much as your more philosophical videos so please keep them both coming!
Thank you for the tutorial. I like that it is straight to the point. More please!
I loved the first speedlight video. It was how I discovered you, actually 😁 Still reference it every now and then.
Fantastic video, Sean! Thanks for the detailed breakdown. \o/
Always a pleasure to learn from you. I’m trying dark moody shots a lot I think I might have found my style
Thank you Sean. Like all your videos this is brilliant and inspiring.
another grear video, those portraits is the exact style I am going for
Great video. Thanks for posting. This is very informative and useful content. It is beneficial to learn that there is a use for smaller speed lites in (a bit) larger soft boxes for this intended/desired outcome. To date, I have been hesitant to use some soft boxes with what I have for light, but I have been focussed on the thinking more about the key light considerations. I feel that you could even underline that a combination of light + light modifier that would be underpowered for a key light is actually what is working here - saves money too, if the less powerful speed lite is cheaper. Cheers from Canada
Great video, as normal! I found your channel due to your original speedlight video, thank you.
More please! Thank you for a helpful and well produced video.
Thanks a lot for this great video. Easy structured and good to understand. 👍👍
You’ve answered so many of my questions in this video - thank you!
Thank you Sean, grateful always....
Great video Sean. I rarely take pictures of people, but I have used your tips to good effect, at least I think so, on still life subjects. Thank you for all these ideas.
Nicely done, Sean. Keep up the good and inspirational work...
Yes, please. More of these videos!
Great video Sean I did find it helpful.
Very well thought out and presented.
Thank you very much
One speedlight my favorite, lovely model.
Hugely useful video, Sean. Thank you for creating and sharing it.
I really appreciate you teaching this stuff! Thx a lot
Thanks for this video, it was very clear and I picked up a few things I hadn’t thought about before. And yes, more please !
Nice, You just show my favorite dramatic portrait light setup for painterly portraits. :D Many of my shots were made with small beauty dish and big soft fill light on the same direction of light.
Great content as usual ❤
Super demo, Sean! Bravo.
Many thanks for your sharing. Really like your works and insight of photography.
Thank you for this video. I'm going to try this.
Thank you very much Sean.
A vote from me for this invaluable info and insight Sean 👍
Loved your series on how to replicate famous portraits, I wish you would do more of those.
Always educational!❤
Good video, Sean. Thanks!
Another master class !! Thank you
This was so insightful! Thank you, so much!
Great video, thanks for the tutorial.
yes please, more tutorials, also in natural light for that cinematic look.
Always great Sean thanks
Thank you for the video! At the moment, I don't take a lot of portraits (just some of the family using natural light), but I'm more and more interested in going towards a more "professional" approach. This will definitely help me get started. Personally, at least in this case, I prefer the additional light at 1/64 or perhaps even a stop lighter. It's not as dark as without but still not too light to potentially draw too much attention to the clothing instead of the person.
I appreciate the videos done in the small space. Gives me hope. I don't have a lot of space to work in.
Loved it. Give us more.
Excellent presentation (as always), but, yes please, more please :)
Yeah, thanks this video did help me a lot because I kind of „forgot“ to use HS and reduce the shutter speed thus not getting the dark background I wanted… Great Job!
Wonderful explanation thanks
Thanks for your video, as usual. Personnaly, I like very much the 1/16 photo, where we begin to appreciate the hairs but too much. Chris
Me personally I prefer two speedlights. To lift up the shadows to give me a bit wiggle room with post-processing. For your reference photos, I will choose 1/8 power on the second speedlight. That will be sweet spot. From 1/4 it started becoming too milky for me. However, great video Sean! I always love these informative videos for yours
This has been brilliant 👏, been looking at sony flashes all day. Have been using nikon z6ii up till now and sony a7iv for video but dying to try this kind of photography with the sony 😀. Many thanks for your knowledge and inspiration 😊
Love your videos, I learn so much from them, Your original shooting portraits with one speedlight video, got me to buy an inexpensive kit, and it really elevated my portraits of my kids, and family. So thank you for that. I do also love when you try to recreate a famous portrait. Curious about how far you could take it with more and more lights, when do the you hit the point of diminishing returns? Could be interesting.
Thanks again for such great videos, full of knowledge and insight.
This was a brilliant vid.
Thank you
Wonderful tutorial!
Well explained 👏👏👏
Thank you, most enlightening (pardon the pun). Please continue portrait speed light videos. Your techniques are valuable to a beginner like myself.
Yes please.
Sean, great video. Always enjoy how you help explain with budget gear to get the job done. Would love to see if you have a new technique on your editing process in comparison to your old video with Photoshop. Again, thanks for doing this video.
Very helpful, thanks!❤
Hi Sean,
thanks a lot for this video. Let me assume something... When adding the second flash, it influences the brightness caused by the first one. It can be seen when comparing the no second flash and second flash at higher power pictures.
To maintain the brightness of the "flash 1 areas", it might be useful to decrease the power of the first flash by the amount the second one gets increased. E.g. 1 at 1/2 and 2 at 1/32 - have to change to 1/4 and 1/16.
Stumble stones might be, that the directions of light are different and the distance (inverse square law).
Greetings,
Markus
Hi Sean. Greetings from Albany, NY. This was an extremely helpful video, thank you for sharing your knowledge. I would like to see more video's on this subject. Just picked up your book The meaning in the making, I'm enjoying it very much. Be well sir.
Wonderful, Thank you!
Thanks for the great share 📸
Not really interested in using flash myself. But appreciate the tutorial. Which was really easy to follow. Thanks
Yes please to more tutorials.
It’s a great approach for photographers looking to elevate their work with simple, cost-effective tools. I am horrible at portraits... maybe I will give them another go.