Light It Like Jeff: Using Optical Snoots in Photography Lighting | Ep 1
We are so excited to be teaming up with Jeff Carpenter, the super talented photographer behind Ready Light Media, to bring photography enthusiasts an exciting new bi-weekly lighting tutorial series called Light It Like Jeff. In this first episode, Jeff dives into the world of optical snoots, demonstrating how to use this unique lighting tool to create stunning dramatic beauty portraits.
What Are Optical Snoots?
"If you don't know what an optical snoot is, basically it's something you slap on the end of your light," Jeff explains. "It has a lens on the end of that and it has these little inserts that allow you to create different shapes."
For this tutorial, Jeff uses a starburst pattern to cast dramatic, focused light onto model Allee Sutton’s face, creating a high-contrast beauty portrait.
Breaking Down the Lighting Setup
Jeff is working with three lights in this setup:
- Main Light: Equipped with the optical snoot and the starburst insert to cast sharp, defined light on Allee's face.
- Secondary Light: Adds more exposure to her face without overpowering the starburst effect. "Where the light’s hitting, it’s light. Where it’s not, it’s completely shadow," Jeff notes, explaining why this additional light helps balance the intense shadows created by the snoot.
- Hair Light: A 1x4 strip box behind Allee, adding a soft outline to separate her from the dark background.
Speaking of the background, Jeff cleverly uses the inverse square law to turn a white backdrop into a pitch-black one. By keeping the lights close to the subject and using lower power, he ensures the light doesn’t reach the back, leaving Allee standing out against a deep, dramatic void.
Enhancing Contrast with V-Flats
Jeff also uses V-Flats strategically to control light spill and maintain contrast. With the black side of the V-Flat facing out, Jeff says, "I want that contrast. I want this V-Flat to eat up that light and have that negative fill." This simple addition enhances the high-contrast effect, keeping the lighting crisp and focused.
After walking viewers through each light’s role, Jeff shows how the combined setup creates a balanced, stunning image. The optical snoot’s starburst pattern, along with the extra lighting and V-Flat use, results in a dramatic, well-lit portrait with rich shadows and highlights.
Mastering Lighting
This tutorial serves as an excellent introduction to optical snoots and their creative potential in photography lighting. And it's just the beginning!
As the Light It Like Jeff series kicks off, you can look forward to more insightful tutorials that will help you elevate your lighting game and create captivating images.
As Jeff says, “You’re not going to want to miss this.”
Get Connected
Follow Jeff on Instagram at @readylightmedia. For more in-depth workshops, visit nextlevelworkshops.com.
Model: Allee Sutton
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