I received a flickrmail from ontario mommy asking about lighting for portraits. Here’s what she asked:

“Hello there. could i just ask what kinda lights do you use for your portrait pics, they are GREAT and i have no idea how to get pics like that.”

I use different lighting techniques for different portraits so I needed more information. In an attempt to answer her questions I had to ask a few of my own. Ask yourself these questions as well. The next few articles will discuss lighting equipment, techniques, and more.

What kind of lights do you have already?

I wanted to know if we could get some great results using the equipment she already had on hand. Sometimes a little knowledge can go a long way.

Are you interested in building your own lighting set up or would you rather purchase equipment?

I wanted to get a feel for how hands on she was willing to get. Some people don’t like to get their hands dirty and the thought of DIY can send them running.

What kind of camera do you have?

This is important when you consider that not all lighting equipment will work cohesively with digital point and shoot cameras. You can get around this with some work but results will vary.

What’s your goal?

This is a very broad question. It involves; who do you want to take better pictures of and why? Are you interested in becoming a professional photographer or do you want to get better for your own personal needs? The question of “What’s your goal?” really has to be looked at carefully because you really don’t want to spend too much money for your needs.

What’s your budget?

Money is such a funny thing isn’t it? I’ve seen hobbyists spend loads of cash on equipment and professional photographers that will duct tape their stuff until it dies on them. $299.99 can look like a good sum of money to one person while scoffed at by another. How much are you willing to put into your craft?

Photograph Holland by rkdauph

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