With thousands of photography channels out there, it is very hard to find a niche. I really like your presentation style and content. Keep up the good work and thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with us. 🙏🏻
As an experienced wedding and portrait photographer, this discussion of things that matter in portrait work is brilliant. Martin clearly knows his craft and is able to articulate what really matters because of his hard-earned experience. This is a gift to other photographers working to grow their skills. Thank you!
Hi again Martin. What timeless advice you impart here. The brutal simplicity of it, combined with the simple gear and insightful knowledge you've isolated amidst an ocean of high tech equipment and advertising is testement to a true practitioner of the craft! As I refine my technique, getting closer to an honest, resonant image, I realise that within 50hrs of decent work, I may take my first really decent portrait! Thankyou for sowing seeds of wisdom into guys like me, with podcasts like this! Bravo to you! -Greg
Your references are cracking me up😂 . "We're not moths". Started photography about a year ago and only had 1300D. Pushed me to focus on composition and lighting and not rely on pixels and technology to get better. Then I recently got a 6D after watching your videos and see what you're able to produce with yours (on IG). You're quite an inspiration. I'd be glad if you ever decided to sometimes critic a few pictures on videos to show people how they can get better or how you would rather do things. But you're already doing more than enough. Thanks
@@MartinCastein I highly doubt am getting bored anytime soon😂. I like the fact that I can just listen without even watching but still enjoy...that's something very few UA-camrs can do.
Thank you, I feel I wasn't wrong in a picture I took at a family wedding, my Niece and Husband loved, the picture I took of them looking at each other, where the pro there wanted them to look at the light, he said to me my picture was a ok amateur picture, I'm not a wedding photographer or a pro, however they have a large copy of my picture on their wall, all my other pictures in frames around the house.
You are welcome Paul, looking at the light is generally ok for amateur pictures but more professional photographers will get the couple to connect and actually look at each other. See what i did there haha. Well done to you.
@@MartinCastein Haha very good professional me NO, I just like photography, constantly learning all the time, I was at a car museum, with a 50mm on the Canon50d, and a pro- photographer approach me, and said would i like to walkaround with her, she gave me really good compositional idea's ,I learned a heck of a lot that day, I thanked her for her help & time.
super advice Martin. I know nothing about studio portraiture (although it does interest me). I'm new to your channel, have you done a video on a budget studio setup from a gear and setup perspective?
@@MartinCastein Awesome! I love your portraiture lighting - it's smooth, soft and exudes emotion. Do you have a tutorial video (either in channel or available for separate purchase)? Currently busy saving for a bunch of stuff and I'm on a limited income, but down the track, would love to see a detailed setup video and processing video with step by step instructions that are id10t proof lol.
Im planning that at the moment but realistically its going to be next yea Feb probably. Its time consuming and i have other projects im working on too. But its comig!
Great video. I was wondering whether the objective of a portrait session should be an extraction of several "key" mood or feel expressions of the face and body that encompass the personality of the subject person. Perhaps some people would be able to articulate that if approached the right way.
Yea there are different types on portrait photography getting people to do that type is a bit hard these days unfortunately but not impossible of course
Really helpful, thanks! Would you bounce light against the wall, even if the wall isn't white? Some of ours are cream (some yellow), others have some pale pink/orange in them.
the majority of photographer on youtube think that softlight came from diffusion material. in my country? probably 99% photographer including those who have photography school, famous, and photographed many famous people still think that softlight came from the diffusion lol it is just physics. soft or hard light come from 2 things. 1. relative size of the source of the light compares to the subject. the sun is very big, but because it is very far away, it size is small relative to us, so the sun produce hard shadow, its a hard light. 2. diffusion makes the photon became homogenous, because it hit the subject in the same frequencies or ripple so it look softer, wrap around, spread evenly. this is why diffusion cut a little bit of light because it change some of the frequencies of the light and those vibrate in different frequency delayed, it is easier to demonstrate this with stream of water hitting on a filter. too bad many people nowadays treated photography as cool thing to flex of how much they can spend on fancy camera so it attract good looking instagram models going into cheap motel.
I have never really liked a portrait where the subject is looking at something that makes the viewer wonder what exactly are they looking at. The absolute worse thing, and I cannot watch, is a presenter looking at themselves on a monitor while making a video instead of looking at the camera lens. Not that you are, but some do, and I stop the video and move on. Thanks for sharing.
With thousands of photography channels out there, it is very hard to find a niche. I really like your presentation style and content. Keep up the good work and thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with us. 🙏🏻
Thanks so much glad you liked it
As an experienced wedding and portrait photographer, this discussion of things that matter in portrait work is brilliant. Martin clearly knows his craft and is able to articulate what really matters because of his hard-earned experience. This is a gift to other photographers working to grow their skills. Thank you!
Thank you!
Love it, especially having a conversation before even taking any images.
Hi again Martin. What timeless advice you impart here. The brutal simplicity of it, combined with the simple gear and insightful knowledge you've isolated amidst an ocean of high tech equipment and advertising is testement to a true practitioner of the craft!
As I refine my technique, getting closer to an honest, resonant image, I realise that within 50hrs of decent work, I may take my first really decent portrait!
Thankyou for sowing seeds of wisdom into guys like me, with podcasts like this!
Bravo to you! -Greg
Thank you, all you need is to work at it and try to always improve and it happens
Great video Martin.
Your references are cracking me up😂 . "We're not moths".
Started photography about a year ago and only had 1300D. Pushed me to focus on composition and lighting and not rely on pixels and technology to get better. Then I recently got a 6D after watching your videos and see what you're able to produce with yours (on IG). You're quite an inspiration. I'd be glad if you ever decided to sometimes critic a few pictures on videos to show people how they can get better or how you would rather do things.
But you're already doing more than enough. Thanks
Thank you very much. Most appreciated.
Great video Martin. Thanks
Yes finally a UA-cam channel where we can learn to be better photographers rather than focus solely on gear, thanks Martin keep up the great work😊
Much appreciated
Truly excellent content, thank you!
Looks like am gonna watch every video you've put up😂, am just having so much fun listening and learning from you. Thanks a great deal.
Hahaha well I hope you don’t get bored. You can watch the quality slide in many of them and some early ones are basically unwatchable haha
@@MartinCastein I highly doubt am getting bored anytime soon😂.
I like the fact that I can just listen without even watching but still enjoy...that's something very few UA-camrs can do.
@@masekagerrard7468 thanks! i will keep trying!
Very helpful as always. Cheers😊
I don't love make portraits, but your advices are very interesting. And your photos are awesome, you have an incredible artistic talent. Thanks !
Thanks you Riccardo! Very kind of you!
Glad I found your channel. It's the most informative site on photography I have ever seen. Thank you so much!
Beautiful 👌🏿🎭
thanks!
You are dropping knowledge! Thank you sir 🙏🏼
So nice of you
Thank you, I feel I wasn't wrong in a picture I took at a family wedding, my Niece and Husband loved, the picture I took of them looking at each other, where the pro there wanted them to look at the light, he said to me my picture was a ok amateur picture, I'm not a wedding photographer or a pro, however they have a large copy of my picture on their wall, all my other pictures in frames around the house.
You are welcome Paul, looking at the light is generally ok for amateur pictures but more professional photographers will get the couple to connect and actually look at each other. See what i did there haha. Well done to you.
@@MartinCastein Haha very good professional me NO, I just like photography, constantly learning all the time, I was at a car museum, with a 50mm on the Canon50d, and a pro- photographer approach me, and said would i like to walkaround with her, she gave me really good compositional idea's ,I learned a heck of a lot that day, I thanked her for her help & time.
thats really nice of her! photographers should always have this attitude, pro or not we are all just people :)
Wishing you Health and Happiness in the New Year Martin🙏
Thank you, same to you buddy hope all is good for you!
Great advice! Subscribed!
Great advice as always Martin!
super advice Martin. I know nothing about studio portraiture (although it does interest me). I'm new to your channel, have you done a video on a budget studio setup from a gear and setup perspective?
David I havent done that its a good idea though maybe i should do a video on that!
@@MartinCastein Awesome! I love your portraiture lighting - it's smooth, soft and exudes emotion. Do you have a tutorial video (either in channel or available for separate purchase)? Currently busy saving for a bunch of stuff and I'm on a limited income, but down the track, would love to see a detailed setup video and processing video with step by step instructions that are id10t proof lol.
Im planning that at the moment but realistically its going to be next yea Feb probably. Its time consuming and i have other projects im working on too. But its comig!
@@MartinCastein mate, it's all good!
Great video. I was wondering whether the objective of a portrait session should be an extraction of several "key" mood or feel expressions of the face and body that encompass the personality of the subject person. Perhaps some people would be able to articulate that if approached the right way.
Yea there are different types on portrait photography getting people to do that type is a bit hard these days unfortunately but not impossible of course
Really helpful, thanks! Would you bounce light against the wall, even if the wall isn't white?
Some of ours are cream (some yellow), others have some pale pink/orange in them.
Cream yes, orange and pink no. Neutral tones are fine even grey is fine
Thanks!
This is gold mate!
Wow, very helpful!
Glad to hear!
we're not moths 😂😂
priceless photographic advice
the majority of photographer on youtube think that softlight came from diffusion material.
in my country? probably 99% photographer including those who have photography school, famous, and photographed many famous people still think that softlight came from the diffusion lol
it is just physics. soft or hard light come from 2 things.
1. relative size of the source of the light compares to the subject.
the sun is very big, but because it is very far away, it size is small relative to us, so the sun produce hard shadow, its a hard light.
2. diffusion makes the photon became homogenous, because it hit the subject in the same frequencies or ripple so it look softer, wrap around, spread evenly.
this is why diffusion cut a little bit of light because it change some of the frequencies of the light and those vibrate in different frequency delayed, it is easier to demonstrate this with stream of water hitting on a filter.
too bad many people nowadays treated photography as cool thing to flex of how much they can spend on fancy camera so it attract good looking instagram models going into cheap motel.
I have never really liked a portrait where the subject is looking at something that makes the viewer wonder what exactly are they looking at. The absolute worse thing, and I cannot watch, is a presenter looking at themselves on a monitor while making a video instead of looking at the camera lens. Not that you are, but some do, and I stop the video and move on. Thanks for sharing.
I know what you mean and the looking at the screen thing, some people do the whole video like that, drives me mad!
@@MartinCastein I can't watch the video when they look at themselves instead of engaging the audience.