3 Tips for Successful Continuous Light Portraits

In today's video, I'm excited to share my three tips for successfully shooting with continuous lights in your studio portraits. Continuous lighting has become a game-changer in my work, providing me with the flexibility to capture stills and motion simultaneously without changing the lighting setup. Join me as I discuss the importance of managing ambient light, optimizing camera settings, and selecting the right continuous light sources for your specific needs. Whether you're new to continuous lighting or looking to enhance your studio shoots, these tips will help you integrate continuous lights seamlessly.

0:00 Introduction
1:06 Controlling Ambient Light
1:48 Watch your camera settings
2:26 Shutter speed
3:16 Image stabilization
3:32 ISO
3:54 Aperture
4:11 Color Temperature
4:29 Know your output
6:48 Shooting groups

⭐ Highlights

📷 To successfully shoot with continuous lights in a studio, eliminate all unwanted ambient light.
📷 Be conscious of your camera settings, especially your shutter speed, which should be at least 1/200th of a second for best results.
📷 Higher ISO settings may be necessary when using continuous lights, and image stabilization should be activated to counteract camera shake.
📷 Consider the output of your light source when choosing your camera settings and aperture.
📷 Always be aware of the color temperature of your light and set a custom Kelvin white balance.
📷 For close-up shots or product work, around 200 watts of output can suffice, while shooting groups may require 500 watts or more.
📷 Keep in mind that most affordable continuous lights do not have as much output as strobes, so choose your light's power carefully based on your shooting needs.

📸 Continuous lights I recommend:

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[CharlotteAnneClark]

Every time I watch your videos, I learn something valuable.

[ADFCHRONICLES]

mixing natural light with continuous light is actually very nice

[tonyfergusonphotography]

I hate that I’m just now seeing this and also just now thinking of using continuous for portraits. I’ve always used it with food and product photography because I put the lights closer but using continuous with portraits, GAME CHANGER!!!!

[jfvaf]

Always the most intelligent and complete explanations about a topic. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[Francisfphoto_]

The Nanlite FS300 and FS300B are bowens mount.

[nataliemann]

I just found your channel... I owe my livelihood to YOU! I am sad to say I didn't at first 10 years ago consider making photography a career... but that past several years fate has it that more and more people are coming to me for work, and now I am able to make a nice living off of it doing something I actually completely find joy in!

[trishhorton]

I always love how you break things down practically.

[roymatusek]

Your posts are always authoritative, immediately actionable and engaging. I started using Rotolighs LED lighting3 years ago and use them both in my home studio as well as for corporate event photography and it has changed the game for me. Thank you for yet again another excellent post.

[benjaminbuchanan]

wow!! thank you for this. so much great information, it’s been a lot for me to consider and this helped me categorize my thoughts and learn more. appreciate it!!

[josephchan]

Outstanding job on website and tutorials. Hope to see another video soon or by summer if not busy.

[PnutPi]

FANTASTIC explanation! Right know I’m trying to decide between strobes or continuous to upgrade from my speed lights. Since I’m doing more video now I wanted to see the possibilities of portrait work with continuous lighting and you’ve inspired me. Thank you! Liked. Subbed. I can’t wait to learn more from you.

[RY_OnTheLand]

Great information on lighting and gear... Thank you!

[garyadams]

Great video and information Ms. Adler. Thank you!

[robinsuing]

Fantastic advice! You put this is a way that was so easy to understand, I'm already more confident!

[marcwill]

Awesome! Love it! Thank you for the education

[risbill]

I'm going to be in a studio tomorrow and am looking forward to comparing my 600ws strobes to a pair of 1000w LEDs. My plan is to set my exposure for the strobes and then move in the LEDs with the same modifiers and see how close to full power they need to be. I'll be aiming for 1/200, ISO 200, f8. For photography I think strobes will always be king because I don't see me dragging a continuous led outside during the day for a photoshoot when a speed light would probably have more power.

[vanzetti]

Thanks Lindsay, you have an incredible gift for teaching ❤️

[MadLaVolpe]

I love your work, you are an inspiration for everyone and I hope one day to reach your quality.
Several years have passed but damn, you seem always unreachable! Time to study more!

[josephchan]

I always watch your channel since it has great information. Wish you great success this summer with your workshop and much more.

[GavinHoey]

Great work team Adler! Excellent tips and honest advice especially around multi format content shoots, which are increasingly the "norm"👍