I Climbed a Basketball Hoop for the PERFECT Photo… Anything for the Shot | Ft. Viltrox Z1 Pro & A7RV

Today we’re back in Queens, New York City for another behind-the-scenes portrait photoshoot with Morty, and this one quickly turns into one of the craziest shoots we’ve ever done. I put the new Viltrox Vintage Z1 Flash to the test on my Sony A7R V, breaking down when I use TTL vs Manual flash, my camera settings, posing techniques, lighting decisions, and how I adapt when shooting in unpredictable weather. Try The Vintage Flash For Yourself : https://amzn.to/4eNGXUX Throughout the session I also teach: • TTL vs Manual Flash explained • My outdoor flash settings • How I pose clients using my Touch. Feel. Space. framework • Composition and framing in busy environments • Working around rain and changing light • Directing models with confidence • Creating photos that stand out and can’t easily be replicated The biggest lesson from this shoot isn’t just photography. It’s about execution. We had an idea to shoot from inside a basketball hoop… and instead of saying it couldn’t be done, we figured out how to make it happen. Anything for the Shot. If you enjoyed this video, leave a like, subscribe, and let me know what challenge you’d like to see next. 📸 Join PNG University: https://www.pnguniversity.com COME TO A MEETUP x WORKSHOP NEAR YOU : https://www.eventbrite.com/o/taxi-hal... GET $50 OFF YOUR NEXT STUDIO RENTAL : https://www.peerspace.com/claim/gr-VL... 🚀 LEVEL UP YOUR CREATOR JOURNEY 📚 PNG UNIVERSITY : (Editing Tutorials, Client Growth, Hybrid Tips & Mentorship): https://www.pnguniversity.com 💬 Free Creator Groupchat & Community (Discord):   / discord   📰 Newsletter (Free Resources & Creator Updates): https://taxipng.kit.com/66b1f6e9ab 🎨 TOOLS & PRODUCTS I USE 🎨 Cop The Retouching Pack : https://www.taxipng.com/shop/p/taxipn... 🔥 Lightroom Presets: https://linktw.in/nQiHBE COP SOME MERCH : https://www.pngkulture.com 🖥️ Client Gallery Hosting (Pixieset) $20 OFF : https://pixieset.com/ref/0d88Rc3nOj 🏢 Book a Studio via Peerspace ($50 OFF): https://www.peerspace.com/claim/gr-VL... 🎬 Amazon Gear Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/taxi.png 🎞️ Color Grading – Dehancer (10% OFF Code: TAXI): https://www.dehancer.com/ 🔗 SOCIAL LINKS 🌐 Website: https://www.taxipng.com/ 📸 Instagram:   / taxi.png   🎥 TikTok:   / taxipng   📧 Business Inquiries: [email protected] 🎶 MUSIC FEATURED 🎤 Artist Spotlight – BBE Dreco:    / @bbedreco   🎵 Extra Music: Investigations by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... • 00:00:00 - Intro Teaser & "Anything for the Shot" Theme • 00:00:45 - Location Reveal (Astoria Park, Queens) & Gear Overview • 00:01:30 - Testing the Viltrox Z1 Pro Vintage Flash (TTL vs. Manual) • 00:02:49 - Dealing with the Rain & Wardrobe Overview • 00:03:19 - Creative Framing: Choosing the Hoop with Dynamic Foreground/Background • 00:05:02 - Minimizing Friction: Why I Chose an On-Camera TTL Setup Today • 00:05:54 - Directing the Initial Poses & Setting up the Lens Exposure • 00:06:50 - The Posing Framework: Touch, Feel, Space (3-3-3 Rule) • 00:08:18 - How TTL Flash Automation Works (and Why It Can Be Inconsistent) • 00:10:49 - Stacking the Chips: Tweaking the Aperture and Focal Length • 00:12:05 - Working with Backlighting and Opposite Sun Directions • 00:15:02 - Switching to Manual Mode for Flash Consistency • 00:17:44 - Capturing Full-Body Detail & Frame Variations • 00:20:54 - Brainstorming the Basketball Hoop Idea • 00:24:38 - Setting Up the Viltrox Flash Max Output (1/1 Power) • 00:26:13 - Executing the Thumbnail Concept Video Clips • 00:30:54 - Muscle-Ups for the Shot: Climbing the Hoop • 00:33:43 - Real-Time Lighting Adjustment: Cutting the Flash for Natural Light • 00:35:45 - Creativity Mindset: Being Induplicatable in Your Art Style • 00:37:09 - Final Thoughts: Eliminating the Gap Between Idea and Execution