Light It Like Jeff: Hard Pop Photography Lighting | EP 2
Today, Jeff is turning up the energy with vibrant hard lighting in his latest studio shoot featuring Cheryl. This shoot is all about fun and creativity, as Jeff demonstrates how to create a vibrant, bubblegum-pop aesthetic that pays homage to the bold photography styles of the 80s while adding his own contemporary twist.
The Creative Inspiration
The shoot's concept emerged organically from Cheryl's wardrobe choices – a semi-translucent pink hat, bracelets, and earrings – which add a distinctly pop vibe. “What I thought I would do,” he says, “is put a pink gel on that five-foot octa-back there.” This gel acts as his rim light, giving Cheryl a gentle pink haze that wraps around her for a dramatic effect.
For his main light, Jeff introduces hard lighting with a Profoto B10. Positioned just off-axis, this light adds a distinct, edgy look with hard shadows. “I really wanted to go with almost a really harsh on-camera flash-type lighting,” Jeff explains. “It’s flat light; there’s hard shadows, but that totally works for this look.” The hard lighting style captures Cheryl’s bold styling and helps create that dynamic, bubble-gum feel.
To enhance the effect, Jeff places a V-Flat in front of the background light, allowing the pink-gelled light to wrap around and subtly illuminate the subject. This careful positioning creates a gradient effect that adds depth while maintaining the pop-inspired look.
Fine-Tuning Hard Lighting for Impact
Jeff separates the lights to demonstrate each one’s role, first showing only the pink rim light that wraps around Cheryl, turning the background nearly white with a subtle pink glow. “We want that background to turn almost pure white with just a little bit of a pink kicker,” he notes. By balancing the rim and key lights, Jeff achieves the intended aesthetic – crisp and punchy, without overpowering the shot.
While he usually prefers to underexpose for flexibility, Jeff leans into slight overexposure this time, adding more punch to his hard lighting setup. “I want almost an overexposed look for this,” he shares, creating what he describes as a "plasticky, poppy kind of 80s look."
Adjustments for Flow and Efficiency
To keep the pace up and avoid downtime between shots, Jeff runs into an issue with recycling time, as both the background light and the strobe are nearly maxed out on power. His fix? Bumping the ISO to 800 and dialing down the flash power by three stops. This adjustment allows him to shoot more rapidly without compromising exposure. Jeff explains, “Now we should be able to shoot at a much faster pace, which I think will totally work for this.”
Pro Tips from the Session
Throughout the video, Jeff shares several valuable insights:
- Don't be afraid of using higher ISOs in studio settings – modern cameras can handle it, and the technical benefits often outweigh any minimal noise
- When working with colored gels and hard light, position V-Flats to control light spread and create intentional wrap-around effects
- Make creative decisions about exposure before the shoot – sometimes "technically incorrect" choices like slight overexposure can enhance the desired aesthetic
- Consider the relationship between flash power, recycle times, and shooting pace – adjust settings to maintain the session's creative flow
And there you have it – Jeff's recipe for pure photographic candy! His fearless mix of hard light, bold pink gel, and intentionally pushed exposure transforms what could have been a standard portrait session into something that absolutely pops off the screen. By cranking up the ISO and dialing down the flash power, he keeps the energy flowing and Cheryl's poses fresh and dynamic. The result? Images that pack the perfect punch of 80s nostalgia with a modern edge.
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Get Connected
Follow Jeff on Instagram at @readylightmedia. For more in-depth workshops, visit nextlevelworkshops.com.
Follow V-Flat World on Instagram at @vflatworld and see more of our videos on our YouTube channel.
Wanna Learn More?
Ready to create your own hard-popping portraits? Check out the whole "Light It Like Jeff" series to try out more of Jeff’s lighting techniques and see where they take your creativity!
Plus, we’ve got over 100 videos on our Behind the Scenes page with tips and tricks for photographers and videographers of all genres.
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