Portraits with a strip light

Shooting portraits can be great fun, although sometimes placing the light when using speed lights can be very difficult, this film shows the great advantage of using some sort of continuous light in this case studio flash with modelling lamps that allow complete control when directing lights for serious portraiture.

[@conservovirtus5796]

I can't say I'm often impressed. But you have some superb shots here. Thanks for the video. I look forward to trying this out.

[@jeremyparr4238]

Jeremy Parr thank you Phillip this as bean very helpful great photography work yours truly Jeremy Parr 😁

[@markharris5771]

Phenomenal shots and a brilliant explanation, the best I have seen. Loved how you worked the highlights on her dark skin in the black and white images and then the softness with the floral dresses. Simply excellent.

[@RickMentore]

I gained new respect for your posts, these images are magnificent and to see how relatively easy they were to construct. Gosh, I hope I can replicate! ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,thanks Phil

[@jeffreyhaines2132]

Truly enjoyed this! I agree about your favorite shot. Wonderful capture!

[@chelseathompson1897]

Thank you!!

[@BillMrWild]

Thanks for the video Phillip...very informative as always

[@paragdhungana]

thank you... great video...
I like the way you explain and keep things simple...

[@juliadebbs]

You're great teacher and photographer, congrats!! I got inspired now thank you!

[@PhillipMcCordall]

Thanks so much for the comment :)

[@JuanLopez-oz9kh]

love the simplicity of your video and to the point. thanks

[@jimshaw68]

Very informative , thanks so much for your time and knowledge , Wishing you all the very best :)

[@iainmacdonald7921]

Cheers Phillip, another great bundle of tips - many thanks, especially like the dark image too as its just up my street so to speak. If you're pleasing everyone, you're doing something wrong as they say...

[@DavidTothill]

More McCordall Magic. Loved it.

[@josephjwoods66]

Great video, informative and it inspired some ideas

[@deanjones2525]

Thank you very much.

[@howardallen5390]

Thanks for this video, I really enjoyed it and will try some of these techniques with my model aka my wife. When the portrait of Stephania that appears at about 7:33 in the video was critiqued on learnshots there was a comment about the way the light gradient went the opposite way on the model to the background: now that you’ve explained how you achieved that with one light, the theory at least, makes a lot more sense. In practice, I’m sure it’s more difficult: you make it look so easy.

[@PhillipMcCordall]

To be honest Howard it's very easy with flash that have modeling lights but impossible with guesswork. This type of accurate lighting is the way the very top traditional portrait photographers work. Harcourt studios in paris have worked this way with all the famous people over the years. It's just a matter of placing a light in a position that pleases you. So many photographers these days don't actually use their eyes to adjust light, they just guess. I'm an old school boy who had limited funds for film, so it had to be good before taking a shot. Thanks for the comment.

[@vive826]

Good job. I like it.

[@sabyasachichatterjee2533]

Thanks..!

[@do-or-die5822]

what strobes is being used here
Please provide detsils.of equipment
amazing video
very old school and perfect

[@PhillipMcCordall]

I use studio strobes , The make is unimportant. It's the soft box that's gives the light quality. The soft box is a Goodox 1.60 x40 cm ,I think there is an adapter for small strobes.

[@An.Individual]

Phillip, judging by the way Vanessa's looks at you, I'm pretty sure she fancies you

[@PhillipMcCordall]

I know, it's a bit of a problem now that yo've told the world, my wife reads these comments, see you in court.!!

[@howardallen5390]

I’d like to thank you again for this tutorial and as you know I’ve tried the technique and posted one shot on learnshots for critique. I’ve taken shots of my two sons as well now which I’m pleased with but still hope to improve on. Just in case you’re worried I’m not going to inflict pictures of the rest of my family on you because that would be a bit much.

[@PhillipMcCordall]

Thanks Howard, don't forget on learnshots we give honest constructive critique only, so the subject is a lot less important. In fact we want too see bad shots,(not saying yours are bad) :) It's very easy to improve a beginner than a pro :)

[@AbstractFocus]

the beautiful dark chocolate sista brought me here. only facts.

[@Sinatra292]

Abstract Focus lol right!