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

It came about over and over another time in 2022.

My brand consumers and I may comb via location possible choices, settling on a final variety that matched their basic brand vibe AND appeared workable on the subject of delicate & space. 

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

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

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

Without reference to the explanation, my anthem for the 365 days changed into “get the lighting bag out of the car.” And GRACIOUS, did that bag save me!

When I first started my business, I clung to the identify “natural delicate photographer” love it was once a shield- I can’t be expected to understand how to use delicate lighting, I’m a *natural delicate photographer!*

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

I might cling to my natural delicate identify for as long as I wanted, alternatively the truth of the subject was once… I allowed it to limit me from finding out a brand spanking new skill. I was frightened of off-camera flash (OCF). I was frightened of feeling like a beginner, of not understanding what I was doing.

Then again you already know what’s worse than feeling like a n00b?

Disappointing a shopper. 

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

That implies understanding the way to make a location art work when the natural delicate merely isn’t decreasing it. 

Finding out to use off-camera flash doesn’t indicate it is a should to business your delicate & airy seek for Glamour Footage vibes. In truth, the additional versed you may well be with OCF, the upper you’re ready to emulate the look of natural delicate. 

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

ALL of the ones have been shot with the assistance of OCF. 

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

Flash doesn’t wish to truly really feel flash-y.

I might fill various hours with OCF era (and teach a whole class on it inside the Lighting Non-compulsory for my Emblem photograhy Academy students!), alternatively proper right here’s the skinny of what you want to clutch:

1. Tips about the right way to use a one-light set-up. This foundational knowledge is solely the top of the iceberg, but it surely’ll take you SO a ways! Get began proper right here with this straightforward educational from my client Katelyn- it’s the easiest possible introduction 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 elemental concepts of light behavior– mainly, how the measurement of your delicate, trail of your delicate, and intensity of your delicate affect your frame. Google those terms- be told Wikipedia pages and blog posts, watch YouTube films. You can’t shortcut finding out the theory. 

You don’t need to know the whole thing as a way to get started- you merely need to understand the basics.

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

Because of when you understand the underlying laws that govern how delicate behaves, it isn’t a subject of guessing and checking, praying that you just’ll someway stumble upon the fitting look you’re hoping to reach. 

And that self trust of understanding you are able to achieve the look you’re going for, no matter what kind of natural delicate a location would perhaps serve up, manner you’re ready to command higher prices for your art work on account of you are able to be certain that results. 

You’re not at the mercy of positive tick list photos or the weather- you are able to show up and perform irrespective of the circumstance, because you, my pal, regulate the light, as a substitute of allowing it to regulate you.

>> Want to concentrate further on this subject? Check out the podcast episode where I’m going into further part!

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