The lighting used in photography is mostly an artistic choice. The photographer has learned through trial and error the type of lighting she prefers to shoot with for various effects. Once the new photography learns lighting basics, they can branch out and experiment on their own. Photography is an art, and the lighting is akin to the choices an artist makes about the lighting in her paintings. Learning the basic techniques is as easy as some hands-on training, studying written resources, or just experimenting to see what you like.
Instructions
1. Learn the basics first by offering to help an experienced photographer set up his equipment. He will show you where to place the lights, and will explain what portion of the client each light is supposed to highlight.
2. Apply to work at school photography studios. A lot of them will train their inexperienced employees, so long as they seem to have the knack for the job. You will work with an experienced photographer until your superiors think you have learned the job well enough to do it on your own.
3. Buy books on photography lighting and study them. Adapt the instructions to your own photography and experiment until you find a lighting set-up that you like. A lot of lighting techniques rely on the style and interpretation of the photographer.
4. Enroll in an on-line or college class on photography and lighting. You can learn a lot from these, or very little depending on the class. They will probably be costly too, so look around for the best deal before enrolling.
5. Subscribe to a good photographer’s magazine. They have many great articles about lighting in them, and you will continue to learn other things about photography as well. Experiment with what you have learned and don’t be afraid to change up the lighting to reflect what you envision, as that’s part of the art of being a good photographer.
