Lighting Techniques for NYC Photo Shoots

Lights, Camera, Action! See how lights come first in this phrase? That’s for a reason! Proper lighting techniques for NYC photo shoots is the first step to achieving mesmerizing editorial shoots no matter what your brand is about. In NYC, getting adequate natural light within your studios is a tough row to hoe. That’s why you have to take care of the lighting situation in studio shoots by incorporating the right lights around. So, let’s learn about all the useful lighting techniques for NYC studio shoots!

NYC’s Lighting Situation

Even though New York gets adequate sunlight during the day, the bustling city is covered with shadows. According to the New York Times, half of the time, the buildings in Manhattan are covered with shadows. Getting natural lighting inside the buildings whether it’s a studio or your personal space isn’t an easy task. That’s where artificial lights come in handy because a well-lit studio is crucial for vibrant and flamboyant shoots.  But first, check out how we at Sinematic produce viral social media content!

6 Best Lighting Techniques For NYC Studio Shoots

So, how can you light up your studio for the perfect photo shoot? Here are some practical lighting techniques for NYC studio shoots!

Three-Point Lighting Setup

The three-point lighting setup is the most basic one when it comes to studio shoots. In this setup, you use three lights:

• Key Light for illuminating the subject.
• Fill Light for filling in the shadows produced by the key light
• Back Light for creating depth in the photo shoot.

Utilize Modeling Lights

Modeling lights are small yet powerful enough to help you visualize the shoot before taking the pictures. By adding modeling lights to your setup, you can see how every light will fall on the subject so you can make the adjustments accordingly. They are beneficial for positioning the main lights in the right way.

Choose Between High-Key and Low-Key Lighting

High-key lighting sets a bright and vibrant atmosphere perfect for editorial beauty and fashion shoots. Low-key lighting sets a mysterious, shadowy vibe for suspenseful and cryptic shoots. Some fashion brands prefer low-key lighting as it matches their brand’s aura such as Givenchy’s gothic aesthetic and Rick Owens’ dramatic shoots.

Choose Between Side and Rim Lighting

Similar to high-key and low-key lighting, side and rim lighting also set the overall mood for the shoot. Side lighting creates shadows on one side perfect for dramatic shoots whereas rim lighting adds glow to the subject for an ethereal look.

Use the Right Light Modifiers

Light modifiers control the quality and direction of the shoot’s lighting. Common light modifiers include softboxes, reflectors, snoots, umbrellas, gels, and beauty dishes.  Here’s how you can utilize each one of them:

• Softboxes create soft lighting with fewer shadows.
• Reflectors bounce the light back to the subject for even exposure. However, black reflectors do the opposite and absorb the light for a darker background. Silver reflectors add brightness whereas gold reflectors provide a warm tone to the shoot.
• Gels are used to change the color of the light.
• Umbrellas are used for diffusing the light similar to a softbox.
• Beauty dishes add a circular pattern of light to the shoot.

Experiment with Different Angles

You can place the light at different angles for a creative shoot. Experiment with the angles to find the desired lighting placement. Some common angles include eye level, low angle, and high angle. Think outside the box here if you want an avant-garde shoot.

Choose the Right Camera Settings

Camera settings play a crucial role in a studio shoot. Balance the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO according to the situation. Experiment with different settings to find the right one.

All of this information is quite a lot to take, that’s why we at Sinematic can help you get the perfect shot in NYC without you having to worry about the lighting situation.

4 Lighting Mistakes To Avoid For NYC Studio Shoots

After learning all about the right lighting techniques for NYC studio shoots, it is time to know what mistakes you should be avoiding!

Don’t Ignore the Importance of White Balance

Ignoring white balance means unnatural skin tone and off colors in the shoot. To avoid this mistake, set the camera’s white balance manually. Moreover, add a combination of lights in addition to the main light such as a side light, fill light, etc.

Don’t Use Harsh Lighting

A single harsh and direct light isn’t the right choice for a studio shoot as it can create strong shadows overlooking the subject and ruining the entire shoot. Use light modifiers such as diffusers, umbrellas, and soft boxes for adjusting the light and place the main light at an angle that gives depth to the photos.

Don’t Ignore the Background

Dark or too bright backgrounds can affect the colors of the subject as well. Such an imbalanced shoot looks unprofessional. To avoid this mistake, place a light source to light up the background such as a softbox. However, if the room is larger, add multiple lights at different angles to highlight the background features.

Don’t Ignore Flash Power Settings

Using flash for indoor shoots is quite common. But using the wrong flash power settings can make the shoot look over or underexposed.

To avoid this mistake, manually set the flash power settings according to the environment. Experimenting with different settings will work great here.

Examples of Brands Using Lighting Techniques

Let’s look at some brands and the kind of lighting techniques they use in their shoots!

Gucci

Gucci uses soft lighting with a high-key atmosphere to highlight the luxury and glamor of their products.

Tesla

Tesla, a high-end electric vehicle brand, uses minimalistic lighting with soft shadows to give a clean look to their products.

Samsung

Samsung’s product shoots are often dark and shadowy with mystery incorporated in them for which a low-key lighting atmosphere is perfect.

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton also utilizes a dramatic lighting scenario to add mystery and intrigue to their shoots.

Sinematic Lighting Techniques For NYC Studio Shoots

Sinematic produces photoshoots for various brands in beauty, fashion, wellness and uses various studio lighting styles to deliver beautiful images to our clients.  Whether you want a dramatic, mysterious product shoot or a soft, understated fashion shoot, we can help you with it. In addition to social content production in New York we also shoot  TV commercials with the perfect lighting for your brand.