Why “being frightened of OCF” isn’t an excuse

It happened over and over all over again in 2022.

My brand consumers and I may comb via location alternatives, deciding on a final variety that matched their common brand vibe AND seemed workable when it comes to gentle & space. 

And then we’d step on set, and the light was once NOTHING similar to the tick list footage. 

Each and every so ceaselessly it was once as a result of the weather. Gloomy clouds + rain all day = a lot much less gentle. 

Each and every so ceaselessly it was once as a result of misleading tick list footage. Yeah, that photographer DEFINITELY shot those precise assets footage on a tripod + dragged their shutter. 

Irrespective of the explanation, my anthem for the three hundred and sixty five days changed into “get the lights bag out of the automobile.” And GRACIOUS, did that bag save me!

After I first started my business, I clung to the title “natural gentle photographer” like it was once a shield- I can’t be expected to know how to use delicate lights, I’m a *natural gentle photographer!*

Have you ever ever ever heard that Kelly Lee quote? “For individuals who argue for your obstacles you get to stick them.”

I might cling to my natural gentle title for as long as I wanted, then again the truth of the subject was once… I allowed it to limit me from finding out a brand spanking new talent. I was terrified of off-camera flash (OCF). I was terrified of feeling like a amateur, of no longer working out what I was doing.

On the other hand you understand what’s worse than feeling like a n00b?

Disappointing a client. 

I’m pronouncing this because of I would like you to thrive: wchicken you show up on a set for an emblem shoot, having promised a client a certain finish consequence, it’s your procedure to offer that finish consequence… regardless of regardless of forecast Mother Nature’s served up. 

That means working out learn how to make a location artwork when the natural gentle merely isn’t lowering it. 

Learning to use off-camera flash doesn’t indicate it is a should to business your gentle & airy seek for Glamour Photos vibes. In fact, the additional versed you could be with OCF, the upper you’re able to emulate the look of natural gentle. 

Don’t believe me? Check out the ones results:

ALL of the ones were shot with the assistance of OCF. 

Repeat after me, all you nat’l gentle photogs:

Flash doesn’t wish to in point of fact really feel flash-y.

I might fill quite a few hours with OCF generation (and train a whole class on it inside the Lighting Optional for my Brand photograhy Academy students!), then again proper right here’s the skinny of what you need to grab:

1. Recommendations on find out how to use a one-light set-up. This foundational knowledge is solely the top of the iceberg, but it surely’ll take you SO far! Get began proper right here with this easy instructional from my client Katelyn- it’s the easiest conceivable creation to off-camera flash, and you are able to slowly start to up the ante thru simply changing out that umbrella for a softbox.
2. The basic concepts of light conduct– principally, how the size of your gentle, trail of your gentle, and intensity of your gentle affect your frame. Google those terms- be told Wikipedia pages and blog posts, watch YouTube motion pictures. You can’t shortcut finding out the theory. 

You don’t want to know the whole thing so that you could get started- you merely want to understand the basics.

You don’t need EVERY gentle, every softbox on the market- you merely need thought to be certainly one of every to get started.

On account of when you understand the underlying rules that govern how gentle behaves, it isn’t a subject matter of guessing and checking, praying that you just’ll one way or the other stumble upon the fitting look you’re hoping to reach. 

And that self trust of working out you are able to succeed in the look you’re going for, no matter what kind of natural gentle a location would perhaps serve up, manner you’re able to command higher prices for your artwork because of you are able to make certain results. 

You’re no longer at the mercy of optimistic tick list footage or the weather- you are able to show up and perform without reference to the circumstance, because you, my friend, keep watch over the light, as a substitute of allowing it to keep watch over you.

>> Need to listen additional on this matter? Check out the podcast episode where I’m going into additional component!

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