The guy that taught me about light had two rules. 1. At the end of a session, all lights came off the stands and were set on a table in the corner of the studio. And 2, no light went on a stand for the next session until you could explain why that light was needed to improve the shot. I love your stuff Cam, you are teaching on a whole different level. 👏🏻
This vid, so true, so many photographers, especially videographers, are scared of lighting, either for cost, time, to set up, or don't know what to do. The only way you learn is to do it. Light is the secret sauce to insane images in photo or video
“Light makes photography. Embrace light. Admire it. Love it. But above all, know light. Know it for all you are worth, and you will know the key to photography.” George Eastman, founder of Kodak. Thank you for this. Greatly appreciated. 🙏
Your CZcams stuff has no business being this high quality. I'm inspired once again by the polish you decided to put into this. Your stuff makes me want to get shots, and I think that's a big compliment to you.
Sadly.. if you look at the views on this video compared to my gear ones.. it’s not great. At some point people gotta stop blaming CZcamsrs and start blaming the viewers.
I totally get it, people are obsessed with gear, it makes sense. But you are an amazing artist, learning techniques from you is definitely more valuable than gear reviews, at least for me. Hopefully you continue making this type of videos but again, I don't blame you for doing what you've seen success with. Keep working, we appreciate every piece of content you create. @@cammackey
Thanks for this!! Really insightful. Quick video idea if I may: Ways to find locations for shoots. I recently moved from the east coast to Arizona, and I have a hard time finding photo locations since I'm in school and don't currently have a car. I think it would make for a good video topic! You always seem to have on point locations. Not sure if it's a matter of me needing to research and explore more or what haha
This was a great video! Very informative into your process. Could you explain a little further into what kind of layer adjustments you were using for retouching? It was a little unclear, because you were selecting colors and painting with them to blend, but it clearly wasn't just painting it like a normal brush. Also curious about the decision to use a constant light over a strobe for this shoot? Would love to see a video about when you should choose between the two! Great stuff man, thanks for sharing!
100% TBH I've backed myself into a corner a few times like this. Sure I can fix it post. 🤣🤣 Nope. Not worth it. Light it right and avoid the fight. FYI the Zf has been my dream camera come true. It's so good.
The hair looks so much better in the better lighting. Who woulda known. But honestly this is very logical but it seems nowadays you always hear from photographers that they are natural light and can fix anything in PS. As an old school photographer I believe in flash or using lights to separate subject from background plus to create look or mood.
Hands down, one of the best videos out there for me personally. There's a lot of similar videos which highlight the importance of lighting, but this one kinda resonates with me the most. Maybe because I like your style and I want to get similar results. I have a question, hopefully you'll see this and can give me a short answer, if I understood correctly: Let's say we don't have the artificial light like in this video, does it suffice that we always place the model in a way that the natural light hits her from this angle (as long as it's not 90 degree, noon light)?
Love the 3D pop (can't see it unless you compare to other lenses +plus, I don't think those lenses are marked with "3D pop" as a feature so you only find out about them from recommendations. Yet.... manual focusing is a big problem. Man, how do you even focus wearing glasses? Can't squish you eyes through the viewfinder to nail focus + Shooting stills via the 3" monitor is.. not fun.
Hi Cam, I've noticed an eyecatch on the picture. Did you intend to get it ? Or maybe not ? Would you do a video on this particular topic ? I wonder how to create an eyecatch, without changing the exposition of the face much. Thanks a lot for all your videos !
Completely different style, but I managed to get an eye light in this video, without affecting the overall exposure at all, just by sticking a little Aputure MC on 1% above the camera. It's not enough to reach the face but the highly reflective eyes still pick up the reflection. czcams.com/video/IEA8r40Ivyg/video.htmlsi=pAvxM90KFfnzN9UT
While I am really a fan of your moving pictures.. The photo shoots should have stayed the darker version :) Looked amazing .. now it is looking like from a cheap wedding photographer. Natural lightning was much nicer on almost all shots
How did you know what temperature to set your light to to match the environment? This is the question I haven't been able to answer to properly get into artificial lighting.
Did you ever put the lens at 1.4 at any point in the shoot? Or do you find f2 or above (on this 20mm lens) to be enough for your desired DOF effect? Obviously asking because it's a day shoot.
Just depends what I’m shooting. If it’s a fashion clients and they care more about the clothes.. f4-f8. If it’s a fun shoot, whatever I’m feeling. If the background is distracting.. I’ll open it up more. If I want the story to show more.. I’ll close down. There’s no science to it. Just whatever is needed for the moment
Yes if you’re shootings fashion, that matters as well. Though some brands know that mood will sell more than the clothes looking perfect. I always try to go for a good balance of the two!
Regarding lighting, I'm a fan of your stuff but am still trying to figure out the mystery of soft cinematic video. I use Panasonic Lumix cameras and am wondering if I should buy the external BM Video Assist, a real cinematic lens, quality color grading or a totally different camera to get the images you get. I've seen indoor test footage of 12 bit BRAW compared to internal codec and ProRes and it all looks very similar indoors. Outdoors the footage is softer. But then I see you get cinematic footage with the camera alone internally. So what tools are the most important to get close to that softer cinematic look I keep seeing? Or is it all lighting and color grading and any 10 bit camera and lens can get close results? Please debunk this once in for all. thanks
It has nothing to do with your camera. It’s all about lighting.. the colors I use on the backdrop, the colors and textures I choice to put on me or subjects. The color of light I play with. The framing. How I shape the light. Color contrast. Creating pockets of light. List goes on and it literally has zero to do with the cameras. You can light a scene good and change out a million cameras.. the image will still look good, it might look different, but it’ll look good. So focus on that first.
@@cammackey thank you. Can you recommend a book or guide that shows the best practical lighting setups? I know there are a lot of CZcams videos out there but there are common simpler scenes that people typically use such as being behind a desk, inside a car etc. that require simple light setups in small spaces. I see you shoot in the spaces often and I'm always wondering how to maximize the film look in these commonly used spaces. Your stuff looks great straight out of camera internal codec and you seem to rig out the setup out of a backpack. Great quality for CZcams videos.
The biggest difference for me is the catchlight in her eye, looks far more natural than the unlit image which has multiple catchlights. There is only one sun in the sky!!!
Yes but the sun isnt the only thing that can create a catch light.. and there is no sun under the roof haha. So I don’t live much by that rule. A catch light def brings the eyes alive tho
IMHO the lit image is a bit too lit looking - something a bit more soft and a bit warmer in temp (and possibly a 2nd harder rim light from behind if you want a bot more drama...) would have felt more organic in a very naturalistic 'set'. Obvi an artistic choice and there are 'no wrong answers'...
Yeah definitely can’t get behind a lot of this video. Not one of your best videos man. But I can agree that proper lighting does make a huge difference.
The guy that taught me about light had two rules. 1. At the end of a session, all lights came off the stands and were set on a table in the corner of the studio. And 2, no light went on a stand for the next session until you could explain why that light was needed to improve the shot. I love your stuff Cam, you are teaching on a whole different level. 👏🏻
This vid, so true, so many photographers, especially videographers, are scared of lighting, either for cost, time, to set up, or don't know what to do. The only way you learn is to do it. Light is the secret sauce to insane images in photo or video
“Light makes photography. Embrace light. Admire it. Love it. But above all, know light. Know it for all you are worth, and you will know the key to photography.” George Eastman, founder of Kodak. Thank you for this. Greatly appreciated. 🙏
Awesome video would love a longer format video on your skin retouching process
Your CZcams stuff has no business being this high quality. I'm inspired once again by the polish you decided to put into this. Your stuff makes me want to get shots, and I think that's a big compliment to you.
Sheeeeeesh! The lit photo is 🔥 Great video, dude!
Thanks man, we needed a break from gear reviews
Sadly.. if you look at the views on this video compared to my gear ones.. it’s not great. At some point people gotta stop blaming CZcamsrs and start blaming the viewers.
I totally get it, people are obsessed with gear, it makes sense. But you are an amazing artist, learning techniques from you is definitely more valuable than gear reviews, at least for me. Hopefully you continue making this type of videos but again, I don't blame you for doing what you've seen success with. Keep working, we appreciate every piece of content you create. @@cammackey
Thanks for this!! Really insightful.
Quick video idea if I may: Ways to find locations for shoots. I recently moved from the east coast to Arizona, and I have a hard time finding photo locations since I'm in school and don't currently have a car. I think it would make for a good video topic! You always seem to have on point locations. Not sure if it's a matter of me needing to research and explore more or what haha
Thanks for showing some love on the Nikon Zf!
Did you use the 60 watt on full power? I've got the Godox ML30 - so it's just 30 watts. The results of your shoot are amazing, looks really natural ❤
This was a great video! Very informative into your process. Could you explain a little further into what kind of layer adjustments you were using for retouching? It was a little unclear, because you were selecting colors and painting with them to blend, but it clearly wasn't just painting it like a normal brush. Also curious about the decision to use a constant light over a strobe for this shoot? Would love to see a video about when you should choose between the two!
Great stuff man, thanks for sharing!
I have a bunch of videos I’ve done on both topics! Go to the search bar on my channel and you should be able to find a bunch!
100% TBH I've backed myself into a corner a few times like this. Sure I can fix it post. 🤣🤣 Nope. Not worth it. Light it right and avoid the fight. FYI the Zf has been my dream camera come true. It's so good.
Always so much value and appreciate your talking head lighting setups! Thanks mate
Such a great breakdown man. Much appreciated.
Great video once again. Nice to see you doing a little photography videos again :)
I appreciate your honesty man! I used to spend a lot on presets trying to fix my pics. Lighting is the secret sauce!👌
That was the most value I’ve gotten out of the shortest amount of time. Amazing advice I’m very excited to practice this
Lighting is everything
Your content is always great man! Another fire video
The hair looks so much better in the better lighting. Who woulda known. But honestly this is very logical but it seems nowadays you always hear from photographers that they are natural light and can fix anything in PS. As an old school photographer I believe in flash or using lights to separate subject from background plus to create look or mood.
I mean my overall goal is to shake the light. I don’t care how it’s done as long as it works
Hands down, one of the best videos out there for me personally. There's a lot of similar videos which highlight the importance of lighting, but this one kinda resonates with me the most. Maybe because I like your style and I want to get similar results. I have a question, hopefully you'll see this and can give me a short answer, if I understood correctly: Let's say we don't have the artificial light like in this video, does it suffice that we always place the model in a way that the natural light hits her from this angle (as long as it's not 90 degree, noon light)?
100%. This midday light is going to be hard to pull that off. You’ll need a scrim
@@cammackey thanks a lot!
One of your best videos! The difference is black and white!
Can you guess which one is retouched? Comment below! Love the subtle humor and poking a little fun at how many other people do just that!
Lolol ;)
Could you point me in the direction of somewhere I could learn more about this style of retouching in PS? Seems pretty intuitive and fast.
Frequency separation and air brushing
You did it again 👏👏👏🫡🫡🫡
Love the 3D pop (can't see it unless you compare to other lenses +plus, I don't think those lenses are marked with "3D pop" as a feature so you only find out about them from recommendations. Yet.... manual focusing is a big problem. Man, how do you even focus wearing glasses? Can't squish you eyes through the viewfinder to nail focus + Shooting stills via the 3" monitor is.. not fun.
Hi Cam,
I've noticed an eyecatch on the picture.
Did you intend to get it ? Or maybe not ?
Would you do a video on this particular topic ?
I wonder how to create an eyecatch, without changing the exposition of the face much.
Thanks a lot for all your videos !
Completely different style, but I managed to get an eye light in this video, without affecting the overall exposure at all, just by sticking a little Aputure MC on 1% above the camera. It's not enough to reach the face but the highly reflective eyes still pick up the reflection.
czcams.com/video/IEA8r40Ivyg/video.htmlsi=pAvxM90KFfnzN9UT
While I am really a fan of your moving pictures..
The photo shoots should have stayed the darker version :)
Looked amazing .. now it is looking like from a cheap wedding photographer. Natural lightning was much nicer on almost all shots
How did you know what temperature to set your light to to match the environment? This is the question I haven't been able to answer to properly get into artificial lighting.
People like to cover complicate it. If it looks it looks good
@@cammackey I'd agree. I guess you just eye-balled it onto a somewhat warmer temperature due to your environment.
Did you ever put the lens at 1.4 at any point in the shoot? Or do you find f2 or above (on this 20mm lens) to be enough for your desired DOF effect? Obviously asking because it's a day shoot.
Just depends what I’m shooting. If it’s a fashion clients and they care more about the clothes.. f4-f8. If it’s a fun shoot, whatever I’m feeling. If the background is distracting.. I’ll open it up more. If I want the story to show more.. I’ll close down. There’s no science to it. Just whatever is needed for the moment
… and in the end it is about the clothes and the first image the clothes are muddled in and the second, with the light the clothing stands out XD
Yes if you’re shootings fashion, that matters as well. Though some brands know that mood will sell more than the clothes looking perfect. I always try to go for a good balance of the two!
wow!
Regarding lighting, I'm a fan of your stuff but am still trying to figure out the mystery of soft cinematic video. I use Panasonic Lumix cameras and am wondering if I should buy the external BM Video Assist, a real cinematic lens, quality color grading or a totally different camera to get the images you get. I've seen indoor test footage of 12 bit BRAW compared to internal codec and ProRes and it all looks very similar indoors. Outdoors the footage is softer. But then I see you get cinematic footage with the camera alone internally. So what tools are the most important to get close to that softer cinematic look I keep seeing? Or is it all lighting and color grading and any 10 bit camera and lens can get close results? Please debunk this once in for all. thanks
It has nothing to do with your camera. It’s all about lighting.. the colors I use on the backdrop, the colors and textures I choice to put on me or subjects. The color of light I play with. The framing. How I shape the light. Color contrast. Creating pockets of light. List goes on and it literally has zero to do with the cameras. You can light a scene good and change out a million cameras.. the image will still look good, it might look different, but it’ll look good. So focus on that first.
@@cammackey thank you. Can you recommend a book or guide that shows the best practical lighting setups? I know there are a lot of CZcams videos out there but there are common simpler scenes that people typically use such as being behind a desk, inside a car etc. that require simple light setups in small spaces. I see you shoot in the spaces often and I'm always wondering how to maximize the film look in these commonly used spaces. Your stuff looks great straight out of camera internal codec and you seem to rig out the setup out of a backpack. Great quality for CZcams videos.
The biggest difference for me is the catchlight in her eye, looks far more natural than the unlit image which has multiple catchlights. There is only one sun in the sky!!!
Yes but the sun isnt the only thing that can create a catch light.. and there is no sun under the roof haha. So I don’t live much by that rule. A catch light def brings the eyes alive tho
IMHO the lit image is a bit too lit looking - something a bit more soft and a bit warmer in temp (and possibly a 2nd harder rim light from behind if you want a bot more drama...) would have felt more organic in a very naturalistic 'set'. Obvi an artistic choice and there are 'no wrong answers'...
Agreed, this was just for example
I do appreciate a nice skin of a pro model.
Not all models have “nice skin” they’re human too
I need a light
Yeah definitely can’t get behind a lot of this video. Not one of your best videos man.
But I can agree that proper lighting does make a huge difference.
Cool
@@cammackey lmao.
vote for = *left is natural*