How to Shoot Great Images With One Flash in the Studio

When you think of studio lighting, you probably think of elaborate multi-light setups, and while those certainly have their place, there's no reason you can't create compelling imagery with a single light. This great video will show you how to achieve exactly that.

Coming to you from Manny Ortiz, this great video shows you what you need to think about when you're working with a single light (and perhaps a reflector). When you're first starting out, I think it's advisable to work with only one light before you move into more complex setups, as you'll learn how falloff, modifier size, subject distance, etc. all affect the final result, which will give you the tools to engineer whatever is in your imagination down the line. That being said, one-light setups are just as valuable as their counterparts and are actually preferred by a lot of photographers both for their convenience (especially if working outside) and because they provide a more natural result, as we're generally accustomed to viewing things lit by a single source. And as Ortiz shows, depending on the size and placement of the light, they can allow a lot variability in the model's posing while still maintaining the overall result. 

[via Manny Ortiz]

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Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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6 Comments

nice! thanks

Did you even watch the video?

As a complete novice in regards to flash/strobe work... would the same (similar) effect be possible to achieve with something like the Godox V860?

You might have a little trouble using an octabox that big with a speedlight.

You can. The effect of the flash might not be quite as diffuse as an omnidirectional source, but it’ll be fine. Just put it in a Bowens bracket. I’d recommend this one: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1342131-REG/godox_s_bracket_for_b...