5 Portable portrait lighting setups
Portrait and lifestyle photographer Holly Wren provides us with a practical guide to producing professionallooking results with affordable lighting setups
It is inevitable that at some point in our careers all photographers have to begin to grasp the use of flash, and it can be both daunting and expensive. Studio flash systems are not modestly priced, and once you add modifiers it becomes not only quite costly, but also a logistically more demanding way of shooting.
Luckily, the latest speedlights and ‘oncamera’ flash units provide a more affordable and relatively simple-to-use alternative. Traditionally seen as more of an event flash, the ability to take these off-camera, and the introduction of a range of modifiers into the market, has meant they are now a serious choice for portrait setups too.
With the introduction of the Profoto A1 last year, I have found myself going back to basics and using speedlights as the first stop for adding that extra kick of light. My concerns about battery reliability, recycle times and connectivity have been wiped out, and these lights now regularly feature in my images.
Speedlights in all forms and brands provide a lower-cost, smaller, more portable alternative. When space or time is limited, they can be the life-savers that make the difference between a good and a great shot. I find myself in a myriad of locations and conditions with clients, and often studio lights are not an option, but smaller units can be used alone, or with existing lights, to create subtle and dramatic effects. These concepts show the flexibility, versatility and impressive results that can be achieved with single and multi-light speedlight setups.