Simple Lighting Setups for Portrait Photography: Just One Light Needed!

Creating professional portraits doesn’t require a complex setup—just one light can do the trick. In this video, I’ll show you three simple lighting setups using a softbox or umbrella, demonstrating how to balance flash with ambient light outdoors and build soft, flattering light indoors. These looks are achievable with gear you already own, and I’ll break down each scene step by step so you can replicate them yourself. We'll start with a high-speed sync setup outdoors using a 3-foot softbox to freeze action and balance flash with ambient light. Then we’ll move into the studio to tackle full-body lighting with smaller and larger modifiers. In the second look, I show how light placement and modifier size affect exposure—measured by stops—using a light meter. And finally, we recreate soft, natural window light with a 6-foot Octabox, proving that quality light can come from a single source. And remember—if all you’ve got is a 3- or 4-foot umbrella, you can recreate every one of these looks. It's not about the gear—it's about how you use it. Want to learn more? Dive deeper with these related tutorials ⬇️ High-Speed Sync 101: Everything You Need to Know!    • High-Speed Sync 101: Everything You Need t...   Full Body Photography Lighting: Master Essential Studio Techniques for Perfect Portraits    • Full Body Photography Lighting: Master Ess...   🎓📸 Academy - https://johngress.com/academy/ One Light Handbook - https://johngress.com/lightinghandbooks/ 🎯 GEAR USED IN THIS VIDEO: Canon R5 Mark II Amazon: https://amzn.to/4cJZyir B&H: https://bhpho.to/3Yc4YyB Canon BG-R20 Battery Grip for EOS R5 Mark II Amazon https://amzn.to/3B3Bg5f B&H https://bhpho.to/3XJFyaT Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.0 Amazon https://amzn.to/3vkEWbE B&H https://bhpho.to/426bKEM Canon RF70-200mm F4 L IS USM Amazon https://amzn.to/2Z4GOd5 B&H https://bhpho.to/3HkgKNY Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM Amazon https://amzn.to/3tHbPxm B&H https://bhpho.to/3L6f1Na Elinchrom FIVE Amazon https://amzn.to/3Um6V61 B&H https://bhpho.to/3LcypYZ Elinchrom Rotalux Deep Octabox (100cm / 39”) Amazon https://amzn.to/3fRG5AH B&H https://bhpho.to/3oSg0cy Elinchrom Rotalux Deep Octabox (70cm / 27.5”) Amazon https://amzn.to/3IxitgV B&hhttps://bhpho.to/3AIN1uy Elinchrom Litemotiv 120cm Parabolic Softbox Amazon https://amzn.to/3AumKiy B&H https://bhpho.to/41JKL1V Elinchrom Indirect Litemotiv Octa Softbox 190cm (75”) Amazon https://amzn.to/3GZa45L B&H https://bhpho.to/3oOM4Oq Kupo Big Boom Amazon https://amzn.to/3YHNBFU B&H https://bhpho.to/3Aj3wk5 Studio Titan Rack & Pinion Geared Crank Stand STA-06-200 Studio Titan https://studiotitanamerica.com/collec... B&H https://bhpho.to/44Bj1y9 Studio Titan Camera Stand STA-01-360 MK2 B&H https://bhpho.to/3cf4RfL V-FLAT WORLD Foldable V-Flat 2.0, Black/White, 2-Pack Amazon https://amzn.to/3EL5UCj B&H https://bhpho.to/41lKOmU V-Flat World https://bit.ly/3fXqaid ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:49 - LOOK 1 – TRIATHLETE OUTDOORS (HIGH-SPEED SYNC) 03:55 - Look 2 - Full Body Portraits 06:09 - Look 3 - Recreating Window Light 07:21 - Final Thoughts Click here for a full list of all the gear I use in the studio - https://johngress.com/gear/ Disclosure: This description contains affiliate links. If you use them, I may earn a commission — at no additional cost to you. #OneLightSetup #PortraitPhotography #StudioLighting #SimpleLighting #HighSpeedSync #LightingTechniques #PhotographyTips #FlashPhotography #Elinchrom #PhotographyForBeginners #LightingModifiers #SoftboxLighting #OutdoorPortraits #FullBodyLighting #LightingDiagram