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The Academy with John Gress

The Latest

Chicago headshot photographer mens fashion photography in 60602 60601 60611 60603 60604 60605 60616 60608 6-607 60606 60612 60661 60622 60610 60654 60614 60657
07/03/2019
Lighting Technique

Lighting Tutorial: The Circle of Light

You never know where you’re going to find the inspiration for your next photoshoot, so it’s always best to keep your eyes peeled and...

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06/16/2019
Lighting Technique

Lighting Tutorial: It’s a Hardbox Light

Over time, I have seen many images where a pattern is projected onto someone’s face, and I’ve always struggled to simulate this type of...

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Chicago behind the scenes photoshoot
11/24/2018
Exclusive Training Videos , Lighting Technique

Light Years: How my Lighting Gear Evolved Over Time

Over the course of my career I have used White Lightning, Elinchrom, Alien Bees and Profoto lights. I wanted to share with you today...

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11/14/2018
Business , Exclusive Training Videos

My Journey: Practice Your Passion and Never Hold Back

I wanted to share with you a little about how I got to where I am, in hopes that it may help you get...

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Hardware that you would use in studio by matthews and Kupo
11/07/2018
Gear

Hardware Studio: equipment that will make your photo studio hum!

Everyone has a light stand, even make up artists. Some photographers have boom arms but when you really want to refine your work, or...

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Chicago fashion photographer tuxedo male model 60616
08/27/2018
Lighting Technique

Fashion Photography: DIY Light Saver

Adapting the look of LED or Fluorescent tube backgrounds for still photography with a DIY approach using softboxes, a v-flat, a knife and three...

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Using passive and active fill to madimize shadow detail and dynamic range
04/30/2018
Lighting Technique

Fill is not a person, but he is your friend

As photographers we might obsess about this modifier or that one, believe me I have, but often times we fall short when it comes...

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Chicago Portrait Photographer Vintage Lights and Painted Backdrop
03/24/2018
Gear

What ARE those lights I keep putting in my photos…

One of the most popular questions I am asked is: what are those lights in the background of my portraits? Aside from the one...

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Cucoloris portrait with a fresnel by Chicago Photorgapher John Gress
03/08/2018
Lighting Technique

Making a custom Cucoloris to create dramatic portraits

After being inspired by Sophie Palmer's portrait depicting boredom with a Catholic priest inside the confession booth, below, I decided to try my hand...

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Chicago Photographer John Gress Steady Focused Interview
03/08/2017
Advertising , Headshots , Lifestyle , Portrait , The Academy , Video

Steady Focused Interview: Going Full Circle

A few weeks ago I had the great pleasure and honor of spending the lunch hour chatting with Simeon Hendrix, and recording an interview...

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Cheetah Stands Ricebowl RB-120 during a color temperature test. The modifier had no effect on the lights color temp.
01/16/2017
Lighting Technique

Should photographers care about modifier color temperatures when shooting portraits?

After buying three new softboxes I had two questions: 1. What are the color temperatures of all of my modifiers? 2. Do Kelvin temperature...

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