Outdoor Special Occasion Photography Lighting Tips

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Beach Wedding Photography Tips

Prepare for wind. It’s always windy at the beach and a tall light stand with a flash or reflector on top makes an excellent sail. It’s exciting to watch it fly 10 feet in the air before it comes crashing down upside-down, but it’s an expensive show.

There are a few solutions available. You can get some sand bags and lug them down to the beach to weigh down your stands. This will keep your light stands from flying away but it may not prevent them from tipping over. The second option is to bring an assistant, or two depending on what lighting tools you plan on using. The third option is to purchase a Turfstand, the preferred outdoor photo light stand for professional photographers.

Click here to see details on the Turfstand or visit Photography Sites to find other photography equipment.

Bring a towel in case someone gets wet and talcum powder to help dust off sandy hands or feet.
Make sure you know when sunset will be on that evening so that you can take advantage of the best light and have ample time to get your photos before the sun has gone down.
Get some action shots. There’s something magical about people playing by the water, whether they are splashing at the waters edge, running along the beach or jumping in the air action shots appear unencumbered and spontaneous. If there’s wind have people face the wind if possible to avoid the “cousin it” look.

Use the sunset to capture some dramatic shots. Just make sure one person is blocking the image of the sun in the photo and you use your light stand (and sandbags), assistant or Turfstand to light the front of your subjects.

Play in the sand. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to use the sand as a prop. You can experiment with bare feet, messages written in the sand and bouquets or rose pedals lying in the sand.

Outdoor Senior Pictures Tips

For a professional photographer, it takes more than just a good camera and the right equipment to come up with the perfect shot. An understanding of outdoor photography lighting combined with a variety of styles and ideas can make an award winning photograph. If you want great outdoor lighting for your senior picture sessions, below are some important tips you can consider:

Choose the right location: Outdoor photo sessions must be conducted in a place where there is good scenery. You can consider natural scenery or even unique buildings and structures that bring warmth into the portrait. To optimize the outdoor photography lighting, choose places without direct sunlight. Also avoid locations that have a lot of activity since you need the subjects to concentrate on your posing instructions and loud noises or too many people can be distracting.

Use reflectors: Outdoor photo sessions can be frustrating without this invaluable tool. You can mount them on your outdoor photography light stands and use them to direct light to where you want it. It’s a good idea to direct light to the face and eyes instead of using flash. If you’re looking for a professional outdoor light stand the Turf Stand is an excellent choice. Its light sturdy frame is easy to carry and can stand up to abuse, but most importantly its unique base can be anchored into the ground.

Always focus on your subjects: When it comes to group photographs, you need to put a lot of focus on your subjects. You can do this easily if you have a longer lens since it leaves the background appearing soft and out of focus. This not only adds drama in outdoor photography lighting but also creates photos with a unique style and look.

Consider clothing: Group portraits appear busy if the subjects are wearing a wide variety of colors and or prints. On the other hand, turtle necks together with long sleeves help to bring emphasize on the face as opposed to busy patterns like plaids and polka dots.

Proper exposure range: This prevents images from losing details in the shadows or in the highlights. Avoid shooting in JPG mode since it can cause a degradation of image quality. Make use of the RAW format that allows you to adjust the exposure, contrast and color before the image is processed into JPG.

Use outdoor photography light stands: The outdoor photography light stand is an important tool as it helps you to form different group formations with your camera remaining in full focus on a particular area. A good stand gives you stability and helps to save time, while the wrong stand can mean damaged equipment and an unprofessional presentation. Check out the Turf Stand for a durable, stable, affordable professional outdoor lighting solution.

Outdoor Maternity Photography Tips

Photos taken of pregnant women in outside settings can produce breathtaking images of natural beauty. Although many women do not feel as comfortable with taking their shots outdoors as they do inside their own homes or a photo studio, natural scenery does wonders in maternity photography. The following tips will help you produce great maternity photographs in the outdoors while using a professional photography light stand.

Pay attention to the background. After you set up all of your lighting equipment on your photo light stand, take time to ensure there are not any objects present in the background that could distract or take away from the woman’s essence. Since the subject is already telling a story in the main picture, her surroundings should remain simple.

Help her feel comfortable and relaxed. Since many expectant mothers are not very comfortable with taking outdoor photographs, you should talk to them about the ideal place they will each experience the most comfort. Connecting with the subject will reduce discomfort that could show up later in an unpleasant photo. If you set up your outdoor lighting stand well, you can then concentrate on guiding the mother to pose.

Make her feel beautiful. Many expectant women do not feel attractive so it is important you help them feel pretty by talking while you take the shots. You can verbally express her beauty while carefully making sure she does not take your encouragement the wrong way. Doing your best to make her feel nice will certainly show on the photos.

Include the entire family in the photo. You should start the shoot by including the dad in some of the frames and highlight their relationship. You can also take some shots with the siblings to help show the family unit in which the baby will enter. Taking a few frames with the entire family can produce a great picture and using a stable photo light stand designed for outdoor use will let you take those shots as they move around as well.

Use creativity to produce the best maternity photos. You do not need to take photos with a subject in the standing position only. Try different things. In fact, tailoring each photo session to match your subject will result in better pictures.

Use proper lighting equipment in outdoor photography. When working with numerous pieces of lighting equipment you should utilize a photo light stand. They will help you obtain great lighting that results in amazing maternity shots.

Newborn Outdoor Photography Tips

You can comfortably take your newborn photo shoot outside when you live in an area with nice climate since natural lighting is always preferred in newborn photography. Newborns can be hard to photograph so you do need a good collection of photos to ensure you do not miss out on a great shot. You can do this with the help of a dependable photo light stand.

Below are some tips on how to come up with great newborn photographs using photo light stands.

Pay attention to the shade. Taking newborn photographs in open shade works best so you can avoid harsh lighting. Always stay out of direct sunlight because this type of lighting will cause newborns to feel uncomfortable and squint and then spoil your shot.

Achieve versatility with photography light stands. The biggest benefit of using a light stand is that you can take as many shots as you want since the stand can hold a variety of lighting tools. This gives you a chance to get the best shot without wasting too much time.

Make sure you work with a durable, compact, and stable light stand. Many different photography light stands will do the job but one that stands out is the TurfStand. It is lightweight yet firm enough to work well in different weather conditions and take great shots regardless of the terrain.

Avoid mid-day lighting. Many photographers avoid taking shots at midday due to the sun’s position at that time of the day. The lighting often causes dark shadows to show up in the photos.

Avoid red eye in photographs by positioning the shot in a way that the newborn’s pupils will be smaller in size. Sometimes the use of flash cannot help eliminate the red eye. Luckily, many newborns sleep during photo sessions so you do not always deal with red eye issues.

Make sure you use the correct lighting tools when taking newborn photographs. Reflectors, diffusers, strobes, and flashes are very important in producing the effect you desire. Mounting these in photography light stands can make things much easier.

Tips For Outdoor Group Wedding Photos

Many brides, grooms, and their photographers like to take advantage of sunlight and beautiful weather to capture some great outdoor group wedding photos. A stunning cathedral, beautiful field or beach sunset can be the perfect backdrop for some formal outdoor group wedding shots. With some preparation and planning, you can capture beautiful images that the bride, groom, and their friends will cherish for years to come.

Line Them Up – But Have Some Fun

Many photographers rely on standard group poses to capture the happy couple and their wedding party. After the “I Dos,” gather the group and head outside for some formal poses. Pair the groomsmen and bridesmaids up on either side of the couple, or line the bridesmaids up on the bride’s side and the groomsmen up on the groom’s side. Remember to capture a photo of the bride and groom with the best man and maid of honor. And whatever you do – don’t forget to capture some formal shots with both sets of parents.

In addition to the formal poses, get the group laughing and playing, and capture some fun candid moments, as well. It is often the little details that make the day special, so be sure to get a shot of dad kissing the bride’s cheek and some photos of the groomsmen laughing together and toasting the happy couple.

Watch the Lighting

When it comes to planning outdoor portrait sessions, you can easily schedule them around the sweet light of the day – the time just before sunset and just after sunrise. With a wedding, you have no control over the time of the event or the angle of the natural lighting. Following the old adage of “Put your back to the sun” is not enough for outdoor group wedding photos. In fact, this can result in a lot of squints and unflattering shadows. If the ceremony takes place in the harsh light of the midafternoon sun, consider angling the group to take advantage of more flattering side-lighting or back-lighting.

The problem of proper lighting takes another turn when the day turns cloudy and drab. If it’s not raining, the couple will surely be game for some outdoor photos. But what do you do when the flash on your camera is not enough? Be prepared by outfitting your photography kit with a photo light stand. In photography, lighting equipment is an important part of a photographer’s tool arsenal. A lightweight, portable outdoor light stand that assembles in a flash and anchors itself to the ground can be a godsend that will help you illuminate beautiful outdoor group wedding photos. The Turfstand outdoor light stand will meet your outdoor light stand needs and allow you more versatility and outdoor photography options.

Sports Photography Tips

The best sports photographers capture the action by taking advantage of unique shooting opportunities. The right equipment, including an outdoor professional photography light stand will make a big difference. Here are some meaningful tips to help you enhance your sports photography.

Make use of high ISO: The best sports photographs are taken with perfect lighting. You can achieve this perfection by making use of a high ISO. By increasing the film speed of your camera, the camera can see more light even when using a high shutter speed. Some cameras can even select an auto ISO, which will automatically adjust ISO settings for you.

Consider the surroundings as well as the action: There is so much you can capture from the people watching the game. You can capture shots of true fans by paying attention to your surroundings instead of the action once in a while. Use a wider lens and a stable photography light stand to capture the cheering fans.

Always carry the right equipment: Sports photographers usually carry a lot of equipment with them. You need to carry a number of lenses and other equipment used to enhance outdoor photography lighting. It is only when you have the right equipment that you can shoot from almost anywhere whether you are capturing a rock climber hanging from a cliff, a kayaker racing down the rapids or a runner crossing the finish line.

Use the right lenses: Long lenses are always considered best. Choose a lens of 70-200mm or even 400mm depending on your budget. Big and heavy lenses are usually the best and make sure it has a tripod.

Pay attention to avoid accidents: When you are taking sports photographs, avoid checking every photo you take. This is a very bad habit since it is a form of distraction that gets your mind out of the game and can even cause you to be run over. Once you take the photo just move on to the next one lest you miss out on all the action.

Slow shutter speed: Sometimes, a slow shutter speed is best. If you are looking to get a nice looking blurry background then lower the shutter speed. At a shutter speed of 1/100, the subject remains sharp and in focus but the background becomes blurry.

Avoid using a flash: In most cases, flash is not allowed since it can distract the athletes. The on-camera flash can be accepted in local games but you have to check with the coach before you shoot the event. If you are looking for proper lighting then just invest in a quality photography light stand.