In this series, photographer and lighting expert David Bicho relies on the physics of lighting to create practical techniques you can start using today, regardless of the equipment you use and your level of experience. This series is packed with no-nonsense techniques and facts about how light works. You’ll understand how to assess the available light in a scene and see a variety of lighting methods, from simple techniques with an on-camera flash to full-concept shoots in three different locations using up to four lighting setups.

Your Instructor

A highly experienced photographer, David has shot everything from Hollywood celebrities to high-end Profoto products, as well as producing award-winning magazine covers. He’s also trained hundreds of professional photographers in advanced studio lighting and lectured thousands of semi-professional amateurs. Renowned for his witty and inspiring teaching style, David brings his knowledge and passion to Profoto Academy.

Course 1 – How to Mix Flash with Ambient Light

David shows you how to create perfect shooting conditions and natural-looking images by means of mixing ambient light with flash.

David photographs a subject in a small indoor space and in a challenging gym environment. He demonstrates how you can easily set the camera for perfect exposure in difficult conditions when mixing flash with ambient light in an easy, safe and controlled way.

Shooting a Hollywood stunt actress, we see how flash allows us to enhance existing conditions while maintaining a natural feel. We also discover how to use the background to light your image in a natural way. These techniques will change the way you work with light and make your images really stand out.

Discover how to:

• Use bouncing techniques with an on-camera flash
• Match flash with ambient light using gels with flash
• Assess available light
• Handle the most common challenging conditions
• Choose the type and direction of light with your flash
• Shape light easily with an off-camera flash
• Control background blur with aperture
• Control ambient light using shutter speed

Course 2 – How to Light a Face

David demonstrates how to avoid common pitfalls when lighting for portraits. He shows how to make the most of light modifiers and shares numerous ways to light the face.

Hannah Couzens shows how to apply the techniques in a portrait session.

David then applies all the lessons from the course in a real-life portrait session with singer Hanna Larsson from the duo Hanna and Andrea. You’ll see how to mix three different lights for a very creative lighting setup.

Discover how to:

• Change the environment and use it to create different styles for your portraits
• Avoid the five most common pitfalls
• Use the environment to impact and control contrast in shadows
• Set the most common light patterns on a face with one, two, and three lights
• Understand how different light modifiers impact shadow shape, contrast, and color

Course 3 – How to Light a Background

David creates inspiring cinematic backgrounds, using stunning studio setup and advanced lighting techniques that are easy to implement.

In an atmospheric dawn shoot, David uses flash with a variety of lighting techniques to enhance the background in an exciting and natural way. In the final fashion scenario, David shoots in a beautifully built studio with a four-light setup.

You’ll learn the importance of understanding the different types of shadows and how to shape them. David will show you how to control the light pattern and how it impacts contrast.

Discover how to:

• Understand self shadows and how to shape thrown shadows
• Make your portraits more dramatic with enhanced backgrounds in an exciting and natural way
• Control the light pattern and understand how it impacts contrast in shadows