Shooting Portraits with One Speedlight

Use the discount code SEANTUCK for 10% off at checkout for any lighting products.

Music:
'Always' by Utah

I think the assumption is that to get into shooting portraits with strobes, it's going to be a very expensive and technical pursuit. But in my experience you can actually achieve some great images with very little gear. In this video I share how you can create dramatic portraits using only one speedlight and a cheap modifier.

Share this video on if you found it helpful.

#portrait #strobe #speedlight

[seantuck]

Some of you have pointed out that I mentioned changing exposure with shutter speed, and the fact there is a rough rule that aperture controls your flash exposure, and shutter speed controls your ambient exposure. This is technically correct, but not absolute, and often varies when using the longer flash durations of HSS with different shutter speeds, as well as the fact that aperture obviously increases both your ambient and flash exposure to some extent, so you still need to be careful when following this rule (for those who don't understand the rule I will get into it in future videos, especially an upcoming video on mixing strobe and ambient light). What I should have said to be more accurate in this demo is that I was trying to balance the exposure and using the shutter speed to make sure that no ambient light influenced the exposure in the shot, and then using the flash power to get the correct exposure for the portrait. Those settings ended up being ISO 100, F2.8... then 1/200 meant that I had no ambient light in the shot, and I then turned the flash power up to 1/16 power for a correct exposure from the flash only. I hope that clears things up.

[mattymazzant]

Finally, a youtube photography video that is to the point and not ego driven like everyone else on here.

[GoodFoodShared]

Finally someone who isn't spending a small fortune on equipment and sees the value of the craft and not the stuff. Thank you so much, I've learnt so much.

[rickyashley]

Finally a photographer who is in depth without talking down to you with expensive gear. Flash Photography on a simple budget. Thanks!!

[henrahmagix]

This is probably going to be the most helpful photography video I've _ever_ watched, I bet it's going to save me so much money in the future, _and_ actually get me doing portraits rather than thinking that I'll never have the gear to do it!

[devansclick]

Sean, you have no idea how overwhelmed I am after watching your series of videos (shadows, highlights and manual mode). I am overwhelming relieved to see that it is possible to take portraits without having expensive gear. Thank you so much, you are a blessed soul sharing so many secrets that photographers normally hoard. It is a hobby for me and I am not doing anything commercial.


I am cracking away on the Pentax K50 I have and have started saving to buy a full frame camera.


Thank you so much for all the time you invest in spreading this knowledge to people like us. As you put it, I was one amongst the many who think that expensive gear = good photographs. I was able to apply your principles and get a good shot from my mobile phone. I am sure I can get many more once I start applying your teachings to the gear I have. I have started writing down your points like I used to do in school. So simple to follow and learn from your videos.


May you live long and strong Sean.
Now, your YouTube feed streams on my laptop instead of Netflix; whenever I have time away from work.

[johnhaller]

My god man! In twenty-two minutes you just covered every lesson I learned in the 16-week portrait photography class I took last semester. This is the first video I’ve seen of yours, and I cannot wait to see what else you’ve done. I’ve happily subscribed and turned notifications on. 😀

[Heelissrogue]

The "How to fold a backdrop" part. Absolutely priceless :)

[jumeirahjohn]

I'm a pro portrait photographer and this is the best film I've seen! well done.

[FAIYABRAND]

This is probably the best photography video I've ever watched. Thank you!

[fletcherbrown]

Well that’s probably the most direct, to the point, high information filled YouTube instructional video I have seen . What an absolutely delightful experience. Guess I’ll be up for awhile exploring your other content Thank you so much for all the work that you put into this.

[deloceanophoto]

‘A lot of people who declare themselves natural light only photographers but who are actually just afraid of using strobe”. That’s me all over. Fucking terrified. Thank you so much for this video... it was so incredibly helpful, like all of your videos.

[michaelcima]

This is, by far, my favorite YouTube video. I return to it every now and then before a portrait session. Simplicity is king.

[KatieF]

I believe I watched this before, and it was great to go back for a simple refresher. I really like the fact that it gets into the explanations of how to take a great flash photo with one speed light, and not a dissertation how one may need a Profoto light, expensive camera, and a new 50 mm f1.2 lens that is only 2000+ dollars. Nice done Sean!

[fklwiseman]

This is the best photography channel on YouTube. Actually. It's more than photography. This is my favourite channel.

[dcrilley]

Fantastic. My phobic anxiety about having a go with studio lighting swept away in one unpretentious video. Clarity of presentation is 10/10. Thank goodness the flow is not interrupted by adverts.

[stroiman.development]

Showing how to fold the backdrop is enough to deserve a “like” 😆 I remember it took a while for me to learn to fold a 120cm reflector.

[jayeuptown]

This is probably the most useful and straight forward tutorial on flash portrait photography.

[coinstarbon]

I remember watching this video when i was just starting my photography businesss 2 years ago, the fear of strobes is the biggest reason why i stayed away. But now im trying ot expand into doing headshots and revisiting this is a blessing. Thank you so much Sean sending love from Sweden

[boromaushelms]

YouTube algorithm is really bad, as I watched literally every photographer channel in English and German for the last 5 years. And I spend thousends of Euros for gear and stuff in the meantime.... Found your video and channel today and you nailed it in 22 mins, even showing how to fold the background! A masterpiece! Thank you Sean!!!🙏