Lighting on the Cheap. Under $100

I shot this set with Deanna Marie Hill with a lighting set up that is not a DIY for under $100.

I used a used Quantaray hotshoe flash that I bought used at a camera repair shop for $20. I used a cheap, very basic lightstand that you can get for under $19. An umbrella adaptor that was less than $17, an white shoot through umbrella for $7 and a wireless trigger that you can get for under $19. I'll show a short video of the rig on Wednesday. Here is Deanna...

This is the lighting rig. Deanna is getting ready.

With lighting.

Natural light only.

With added light.

Working With Teen's and Swimsuit

I advocate being a decent human being. There are to many creepers for models to have to deal with, we should be the good guys/gals and make modeling fun and safe for our models.


I have always advocated allowing escorts to shoots of any kind. With minors, it is important to be safe for our own sake and for the safety of the people we work with. I tell the minors that I work with that I require an escort and a parent signed model release. I describe the type of shoot on the release as well. I prefer that the escort is one of the models parents.


When you set up a shoot, make sure the model understands what she needs to bring, swimsuits, oil, towels, etc. Do you want heels, other beach wear? How do you want them to do their hair and make up? Are you providing a MUA or a hair stylist?


When it comes to poses with minors, keep the poses from being suggestive. Sure, a young, pretty girl in a bikini is going to look cute, pretty or even sexy. But you do not have to sexualize the models with the poses you choose or the body parts you focus on.

Stay away from crotch shots, or too much focus on the chest, etc. You can keep shots focused on the face, the over all person, full body, upper body, etc. You can also keep the shots innocent by having the models do something, give them a prop that distracts the viewer from thinking about the body.


Yesterday someone asked me about the "danger" of photographing minors. I do not see it that way and here is my response: 


With all due respect to your views, may I point out that models much younger than this young lady are found in fashion magazines, catalogs, department store signs etc. Modeling is work and takes effort.

Also, (this part may see inflammatory, I just say it to make a point, not to be a jerk) I don't go jonesing for my models so I guess I don't see them as sexual objects, so it doesn't bother me. I could shoot models in more suggestive poses, and I do with older models, but not teens.

I see this photo as a demonstration of her ability to strike a pose, show her form or possible clients, and to create a mood, in this case a bit of mystery. No body parts are highlighted or made the focus of the image.

Further, this models parents drove her to the shoot and were not far away and there were 4 people at the shoot.

If a person does not wish to shoot minors, that is their prerogative and I respect that. 

I see no trap. In fact, I am in the process of writing a short ebook on doing appropriate swimsuit photography for under 18 people. (these remarks refer to the top photo.)

Working With a Bright Background (Snow)

When you are working with a model in a location that is very bright one of your options is to expose for the highlights in the location and then add light to your subject.

Here Brandy is surrounded by very bright white snow.  You can set your exposure before you model ever gets out of the comfort of her nice warm truck.  What I did here is to set the exposure for the ambient light so that the snow was not over exposed and we did not blow out the highlights. At least, for the most part.  I then set up my strobe. I just used one strobe for these shots, on a stand with an umbrella. I shot in manual mode so then I used the tree to check the amount of light I was getting on the tree for balance, before bringing the model out into the cold.

Once the model was out, it only took a few seconds for some final adjustments to get the light like I wanted it.

This shot was a little different because the lighting was not static. I used a bare bulb strobe so I could get a longer throw and let the model run.

One hint when you are working with a mode in the snow like this...make sure they stay dry. Once they touch the snow or get wet they will get very cold and miserable very fast.

Now, go shoot some and try it out. I'd love it if you would share your results.

Happy Shooting.