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In this video, we’re diving deep into black-and-white portrait lighting, showcasing three of my favorite lighting modifiers: the beauty dish, optical snoot, and Fresnel. Learn how to use hard light to create striking drama and contrast in your black-and-white photography. Whether you’re a fan of the classic film noir style or just want more texture and pop in your images, this tutorial is for you!
What You’ll Learn:
- How to use a beauty dish for sharper textures and contrast.
- Creating cinematic looks with an optical snoot.
- How Fresnel modifiers add dimension and drama.
- Alternative setups if you don’t have these specific modifiers.
I’ll walk you through each lighting setup, featuring real shoots with models like Oneka, Ethan, and Jordan. You’ll also get tips on alternative setups, plus a peek into my post-production workflow in Lightroom to achieve the perfect B&W portrait look.
Editing Your Portraits:
I use Lightroom presets to speed up my workflow. You can check out my presets here: https://johngress.com/presets/
Lighting Handbooks:
Want to master lighting techniques? My handbooks include over 20 setups for black-and-white portrait lighting and more. Find them here: https://johngress.com/lightinghandbooks/
Retouching Services:
Looking for professional retouching? I recommend my friend Simon, who handles many of my edits. You can connect with him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonkeys_studios/
Gear Mentioned in This Video:
Click here for a full list of all the gear I use in the studio: https://shop.howl.me/JohnGress
Studio Titan Camera Stand STA-01-360 MK2
- Adorama: https://howl.me/cjGcfVD3aCG
- B&H: https://bhpho.to/3cf4RfL
Elinchrom
- Elinchrom FIVE
- Adorama: https://howl.me/cjCnmmUpjV1
- Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Um6V61
- B&H: https://bhpho.to/3LcypYZ
- Elinchrom Rotalux Deep Octabox (70cm / 27.5″)
- Adorama: https://howl.me/cjCnv9WSyB2
- Amazon: https://amzn.to/3IxitgV
- B&H: https://bhpho.to/3AIN1uy
- Elinchrom Litemotiv 120cm Parabolic Softbox
- Adorama: https://howl.me/cjCnmnbIuZ0
- Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AumKiy
- B&H: https://bhpho.to/41JKL1V
- Elinchrom 8.3″ Standard Reflector with 30 Degree Grid
- Adorama: https://howl.me/ckXfvvRu20T
- B&H: https://bhpho.to/4731i3t
- Elinchrom Rotalux Stripbox 35x100cm
- Adorama: https://howl.me/cjCnv9oDSZ6
- Amazon: https://amzn.to/3nUwD3M
- B&H: https://bhpho.to/40PXZbZ
- Elinchrom Indirect Litemotiv Strip Softbox (13 x 69″)
- Adorama: https://howl.me/cjCnml5FQG0
- Amazon: https://amzn.to/33NTasn
- B&H: https://bhpho.to/44b7B43
Sekonic L-858D-U SPEEDMASTER Light Meter Kit with RT-EL/PX Transmitter Module for Elinchrom
- Adorama: https://howl.me/cjFnYfUhqyi
- B&H: https://bhpho.to/41dCnXc
Sekonic L-858D-U (401-858) Meter Plus RT-GX for Godox
- Adorama: https://howl.me/cmQWhrMoP3A
- Amazon: https://amzn.to/4corJ5H
- B&H: https://bhpho.to/4crCu77
Chapters
- 00:00 – Introduction
- 00:53 – Beauty Dishes With Oneka
- 03:54 – Optical Snoots With Ethan
- 06:04 – Fresnels with Jordan
- 10:18 – Post Production
- 13:08 – Final Thoughts
