Studio Lighting Equipment - Why You Don't Have to Spend A Lot

If you want to get studio quality results without all of the expensive lighting equipment, there is a way, but you have to get creative. If you're willing to get resourceful and take time to learn about lighting then here are some ways you can get great studio-like images using what you have.

Home-made Reflectors

One of the keys to studio lighting is "bouncing" the light off of reflectors or umbrellas to create full, soft, and even light. Though this is hard to do without a few different light sources, you can mimic the effect by making your own reflectors to use when you shoot. Lots of things will work to help soften the shadows that are created when you're only using a single light source such as the sun. For example, you can use a white sheet, a large piece of poster board or even a large piece of Styrofoam.

Use Backdrops Creatively

You may not be able to have a large selection of photo backdrops like in a professional studio, but that doesn't mean you can't have fun creating one of your own. You can use bed sheets for basic colors and then if you want to get creative you can always use paint to create a pattern or add color. All you need to do is hang the backdrops opposite a big window or a garage door opening, and you'll get the same results as if you were using a fill light pointed at the subject.

Get Out the Paint Brush

Whenever you go to shoot, always remember that all surfaces either reflect or absorb light so keep this in mind especially when designing a room for taking pictures. If you can't use a lot of lights in the room, you should consider painting the walls and the floor white. The white walls will help to bounce the light around for a more even tone.

Control the Flash

A direct flash will often make the subject have harsh shadows or look shallow but if used correctly it can be a great lighting tool. Whenever you can, try to bounce it off surfaces surrounding your subject and only use it to fill in shadows from the front. Think about it this way - if the image you are building looks like you won't need a flash, that's a perfect time to use one for additional fill.

Watch Your Time

Light looks different at different times of day. If you use your homemade reflectors to soften the shadows and use your backdrop facing towards the early morning light, you'll be happily surprised at the great results you'll get. Try taking photos at different times of day to see how the difference in light impacts the way things turn out, then book your studio sessions in for the times in which you'll have the best light possible.

It's important to remember that studio lights, for the most part, were created to simulate the light that we have in our every day lives. If you know how to properly control light and use it to your advantage, then there is no reason why you can't create images that look like they were shot in a top notch photo studio. If you have the desire and creativity to do it, you can create your own makeshift studio with a little bit of effort and ingenuity. When you're all done shooting, really the only important thing is the quality of your pictures - the method is secondary.

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