Learning to Shoot with Strobes

Course details

Are you looking to take your studio photography to the next level? Do you want to go beyond using natural light and on-camera flashes to add depth and character to your photos? In this course, Abba Shapiro gives you a brisk look at using strobe lights in a studio setting—lessons that easily translate to the field and locations, inside and out. Learn why shooting with strobes and continuous lighting makes such a big impact on your photographs, and how to buy a good, affordable starter kit. Abba also shows how to set your gear up, trigger your lights, and make modifications with accessories like reflectors, umbrellas, and softboxes. Finally, learn how to use strobes for portraits and headshots with one-, two-, and three-light set-ups.

Concepts

Introduction

What you'll learn in this course
Essential skills you should have before watching this course

An Introduction to Strobe Photography

Why shoot with studio strobes
Comparing strobes to continuous lights

The Benefits of Strobe Photography

Shooting with increased depth of field
Shooting more action with faster recharge time than flashes
Freezing action with strobe lighting

Buying a Lighting Setup

Buying piecemeal vs. buying a kit
Criteria for selecting lights
How many lights do you need
Essential power decisions
The challenges of mixing strobe brands

The Components of a Studio Strobe Kit

Monolights, flash heads, and bulbs
Light stands
Power pack or power supplies
Reflectors and diffusers

Getting to Know Your Lights

The role of the modeling light
Keeping lights cool
Essential controls

Triggering a Light

Connecting the sync cable
Optically triggering your strobes
Using a wireless transmitter to trigger your strobes
Controlling the brightness of your strobe remotely

Setting and Testing Your Strobes

Setting the shutter, sync speed, and high-speed sync
Setting an initial aperture and ISO
Controlling power output and test shooting

Modifying Strobe Lights

Bouncing the light with a reflector or a bounce card
Shaping the light with a beauty dish
Diffusing the light with an umbrella or a softbox
Modeling the light with grids and honeycombs

Using Your Studio Strobes Outside

Advantages of using a strobe for exterior portraits
What are the best modifiers to use when shooting outside
Strobe strategies with sun and shade

Putting Everything into Action

Shooting with a two-light setup
Mixing strobes and continuous lights
Three-light dramatic portrait
Four-light setup

Conclusion

Next steps