The Complete Guide To Lighting White/Dark Seamless

On this two part extensive video tutorial, photographer Zack Arias takes a look at one of the most important skill any studio photographer needs to master – shooting with a seamless white/dark background.

Creating wither a white or a dark background is a basic skill which every photographer should know (especially portrait and studio photographers). Getting this white/dark look is actually not that hard if you know what you are doing and this 2 part video is all about explaining (and demonstrating) exactly what goes on when you change different things.

What you need to have is a studio (if you want a full body shot you will need a pretty large one – for a head shot even a small room will be enough). You will need (typically) at least 3 lights – either constant lights – 2 for the background and at least one for the model and be able to place the model far enough from the white backdrop so that you will not get a light spill from your main light to the background.

In the video Arias also shows how to create a dark background and also go through some tips for post processing in Photoshop (in part 2).

Part 2 – working with strobes and some post production tips and tricks in Photoshop

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZwc-QBkOfg[/youtube]

You can watch many more photography tips on the LensVid technique section. as well as more videos on using lighting in photography on our photography lighting section here on LensVid.

Iddo Genuth

Iddo Genuth is the founder and chief editor of LensVid.com. He has been a technology reporter working for international publications since the late 1990's and covering photography since 2009. Iddo is also a co-founder of a production company specializing in commercial food and product visual content.