5 ways to light your model with a single flash

Wednesday 3 March 2021, 15:51 by Nando Harmsen | 6,386 views | 2 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

A studio sometimes uses two, three, four or more flashes to light a model. It can be done differently. In this video, Pye Jirsa shows you how to create five different lighting setups with a single speedlight.

Creating a good lighting setup can sometimes be difficult. You may be tempted to use more than one flash. This is not always necessary, though. With a single flash and a few reflectors, you can easily create several lighting setups.

Wedding photographer Pye Jirsa, co-founder of SLR Lounge, shows no fewer than five basic lighting setups in this ten-minute video. They can all be created with a single speedlight, an umbrella and a few reflectors.

Jirsa explains Rembrandt lighting, butterfly lighting, also known as Paramount lighting, clamshell lighting, square lighting and backlight flat lighting in this video.

I wouldn't know what to call the last three in English. If you do, let us know in the comments below this article.

You don't need a large studio or expensive equipment for these five lighting setups, which makes this video, in English of course, very useful. If you don't speak English, the images in the video speak for themselves.

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About the author

Nando Harmsen has been photographing for more than 40 years. He specialises in wedding photography and landscape photography. Nando also gives talks, workshops, masterclasses and photo trips, and regularly reviews new and interesting equipment.

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2 comments

mousquito wrote on Tuesday 9 March 2021 at 12:46 | reply
I thought there was a difference between paramount and butterfly. That paramount was what he explained and clamshell is butterfly. Because you then distribute your light like a butterfly's wings. Furthermore, I found it very interesting and certainly for the hobbyist on a budget. next weekend try out a few setups.
Translated from Dutch.

Robert wrote on Tuesday 9 March 2021 at 15:42 | reply
Hehe...in the last setup....their ears came very far forward.

Fotoschiet greetings Robert
Translated from Dutch.

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