Setting the Stage: Lighting Your Subject (Part I)

Light is the most important aspect of photography, hands down. A photographic image is a recording of light, so without it, you won't have any pictures to show for your work. Your choice in lighting can change the mood and message of your images, so it's very important to keep it in mind when you're working.

Always be sure to do tests and check your progress. There's nothing worse than to shoot a long session, and realize that the lighting was inadequate or simply wrong.

In this particular post, I will address the basics of some of the most common kinds of light that you have available when shooting photos.

Setting the Stage: Creating Your Scene

Utilizing props can really make your photos something special, even if you're on a budget.

The dream of many amateur photographers is to have a studio of their own. Putting together a permanent set-up, or even a semi-permanent set-up, can be expensive and time-consuming, however. The very process of acquiring and constructing said studio can also be daunting if you've never taken on a task of that nature before.

For practice and fun, you can try working with smaller, more temporary scenery, or simply shoot in rooms that already exist where you live.

Setting the Stage: Finding Your Location

Now, just where shall we go today?

Imagine that you've prepared your ideal coordinate at long last.

It's detailed, it's well-balanced, it fits just right.

Pretty. Perfect.

Now imagine that the only photos you got to take of it are a few outfit snaps in your living room and a few stray shots at a meet-up or convention. Seems a little sad, doesn't it?

Depending on where you take your photos, the coordinate's feel can change drastically! The mood of the outfit can shift from whimsical and quirky to eerie and dark with a simple change in scenery. Identifying a good location for your photos is one way to add extra spice to your coordinate snaps, and can give you a good start to a more formal photo shoot.

Here are five suggestions for general locations which will frame your outfit (or that of your model!) nicely.