Outdoor portrait lighting doesn’t have to be complicated. In this video, I’ll take you behind the scenes of a real beach portrait session and walk you through my simple 1-2-3 approach to balancing flash with natural light.

You’ll see why I chose a 70 cm Elinchrom Octabox instead of my usual 40 cm reflector, how I determine exposure outdoors, why safety always comes first when working with light stands on location, and how I’m using the latest version of Capture One Mobile to tether wirelessly during the shoot.

If you’ve ever struggled to balance flash with daylight, this workflow will help you get consistent outdoor portraits without guessing.

Learn More

Want to go deeper into lighting?

Check out the Academy with John Gress: https://johngress.com/academy/

Capture One setup advice:

https://support.captureone.com/hc/en-us/articles/35841313187357-2nd-Gen-Wireless-Tethering-for-Canon#maximizing-performance

I tried recording my iPad screen during the shoot but it failed to save. So I recreated it after the shoot for this video.

Capture One Offer

Use the links and codes below to receive 20% off an annual Capture One All in One subscription, including upgrades from Capture One Pro. You can also start with a free 7-day trial.

New Capture One All in One Annual Plan: JOHN20AIO

Upgrade from Capture One Pro to Capture One All in One Annual Plan: JOHN20UPGRADE

Start your free trial or subscribe here:

https://link.captureone.com/try-for-free

BTS Footage by https://www.instagram.com/rylworldphoto/ Thank you for all of your help!!

Gear List

Matthews Beefy Baby Triple Riser Steel Stand with Rocky Mountain Leg
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Cs7W9j
B&H: https://bhpho.to/3Cs85JT

Elinchrom Rotalux Deep Octa Softbox 70 cm (27.5″)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3IxitgV
B&H: https://bhpho.to/3AIN1uy

Elinchrom FIVE
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Um6V61
B&H: https://bhpho.to/3LcypYZ

Canon R5 Mark II
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4cJZyir
B&H: https://bhpho.to/3Yc4YyB

Canon BG-R20 Battery Grip for EOS R5 Mark II
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3B3Bg5f
B&H: https://bhpho.to/3XJFyaT

Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.0L USM
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vkEWbE
B&H: https://bhpho.to/426bKEM

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction
00:17 – Why Backlit
00:51 – Camera settings are as easy as 1-2-3
02:01 – Today’s Camera Settings
02:39 – Capture One Mobile
03:24 – Sandbag Safety
03:44 – Snack Shack
04:16 – Composition
04:32 – Beach Grass & The Academy
08:06 – Final Thoughts

Related Videos

The post Outdoor Portrait Lighting with One Flash (My Complete Workflow) appeared first on Chicago Photographer & Director of Photography.

In this second video we move away from the shoreline into the dunes, where the environment becomes an important part of the composition. Watch as I use the tall grass, changing backgrounds, and a single off-camera flash to create a series of fashion-inspired portraits while maintaining consistent lighting and color throughout the shoot.

Rather than only showing the final photographs, this lesson lets you follow the entire creative process—from directing the model and refining compositions to solving lighting challenges and capturing the finished images.

Gear

Matthews Beefy Baby Triple Riser Steel Stand with Rocky Mountain Leg
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Cs7W9j
B&H: https://bhpho.to/3Cs85JT

Elinchrom Rotalux Deep Octa Softbox 70 cm (27.5″)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3IxitgV
B&H: https://bhpho.to/3AIN1uy

Elinchrom FIVE
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Um6V61
B&H: https://bhpho.to/3LcypYZ

Canon R5 Mark II
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4cJZyir
B&H: https://bhpho.to/3Yc4YyB

Canon BG-R20 Battery Grip for EOS R5 Mark II
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3B3Bg5f
B&H: https://bhpho.to/3XJFyaT

Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.0
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vkEWbE
B&H: https://bhpho.to/426bKEM

Related Videos

The post Member Exclusive – Kinzie Look 2 appeared first on Chicago Photographer & Director of Photography.

In this first video with Kinzie, you’ll join me from the very beginning of the shoot—including an experiment that didn’t work out in the end.

I begin by exploring how changing white balance can dramatically change the appearance of the sky when combined with colored flash gels. First, I place a CTB (Color Temperature Blue) gel over my flash and set the camera’s white balance to approximately 8000 K. Because the camera is correcting for very warm light that isn’t actually present, the blue flash appears neutral while the ambient daylight shifts toward warm orange tones.

Next, I reverse the process by placing a CTO (Color Temperature Orange) gel over the flash and lowering the camera’s white balance to approximately 3200 K. Now the camera is correcting for very cool light, so the gelled flash again appears neutral while the daylight background shifts toward deep blue.

After comparing both approaches on location, I didn’t like where things were going, so I decided to abandon the gel experiment in favor of a single 70 cm Elinchrom Octabox, which became the lighting setup for the remainder of the session.

From there, I walk you through my complete outdoor portrait workflow.

My exposure method is always built around three simple steps:

Choose the aperture for the depth of field you want.

Adjust the shutter speed (and ISO, if necessary) until the ambient background looks exactly the way you want it.

Adjust the flash power until your subject is illuminated naturally against that background.

For this session, I photographed almost entirely between f/2 and f/2.8, ISO 100, and 1/6,500–1/8,000 second, using High-Speed Sync to preserve detail in the bright afternoon sky while keeping the flash looking natural.

Throughout the lesson, you’ll see the complete, unedited shoot as I choose locations, direct Kinzie, refine compositions, solve problems, and explain every decision along the way. Rather than only showing the successful images, you’ll see the entire creative process—from initial experimentation to the final photographs.

Gear

Matthews Beefy Baby Triple Riser Steel Stand with Rocky Mountain Leg
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Cs7W9j
B&H: https://bhpho.to/3Cs85JT

Elinchrom Rotalux Deep Octa Softbox 70 cm (27.5″)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3IxitgV
B&H: https://bhpho.to/3AIN1uy

Elinchrom FIVE
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Um6V61
B&H: https://bhpho.to/3LcypYZ

Canon R5 Mark II
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4cJZyir
B&H: https://bhpho.to/3Yc4YyB

Canon BG-R20 Battery Grip for EOS R5 Mark II
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3B3Bg5f
B&H: https://bhpho.to/3XJFyaT

Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.0
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vkEWbE
B&H: https://bhpho.to/426bKEM

Related Videos

The post Member Exclusive – Kinzie Look 1 appeared first on Chicago Photographer & Director of Photography.

Are you making portrait lighting mistakes without realizing it?

In this early access YouTube video, I critique a series of portrait photographs and explain exactly what I would change to improve them. Along the way, you’ll learn how to recognize common portrait lighting mistakes involving catchlights, broad lighting vs. short lighting, edge lights, hair lights, fill light, background brightness, outdoor portrait photography, and visual attention.

Whether you’re photographing in the studio or on location, learning to critique images is one of the fastest ways to improve your own photography. By understanding why an image works—or doesn’t—you’ll begin to see light more intentionally and make better creative decisions during every portrait session.

Topics covered:

Portrait lighting mistakes
Studio lighting tutorial
Outdoor portrait photography tips
Understanding light in photography
Broad lighting vs. short lighting
Catchlights and fill light
Fashion photography lighting critiques
Best photography lighting setups
Portrait photography composition
How to critique your own photos

Take your photography to the next level with my digital book The Photographer’s Journey, Lighting Handbooks, Digital Downloads, the Academy with John Gress, in-person workshops, and one-on-one mentoring.

Digital Downloads: https://johngress.com/downloads
Academy: https://johngress.com/academy
Workshops: https://johngress.com/workshops

Gear List

Gear I use in the studio:
John Gress: https://johngress.com/gear/

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction
01:16 – Broad Lighting May Be The Wrong Choice
01:55 – Wait Is Broad Lighting The Right Choice This Time?
02:10 – Lookout For Those Accent Lights!
03:38 – Is white clothing always a bad idea?
04:10 – Fill is your friend?
05:12 – Use a Scalpel or a Hammer, Not a Butter Knife
06:43 – The Sun’s Position Is Going to Determine Your Composition
07:24 – October Surprise
08:27 – Final Thoughts

Related Videos

My outdoor flash photography technique when it’s sunny

The post Portrait Lighting Mistakes Every Photographer Should Know appeared first on Chicago Photographer & Director of Photography.

The post Member Exclusive – Gael Look 3 appeared first on Chicago Photographer & Director of Photography.