How to Use One Light Overhead in Your Portrait Photography 

One of the best photo instructional videos on RU-vid. Easy to understand, very specific detail video shots, great example photos and no detail left untold. I would rather have sensual voice then someone screaming in a high pitched voice in a 15 min. video that could be done in just a couple of minutes.

I so admire your ability to create solid content in such a brief space. Happy your instruction is as minimal as your lighting.

Could not appreciate your videos more! While everyone is talking 30min without having something to say you keep it simple with stunning results. Thanks!

Very simple, straight to the point. Thanks man. I just started my photography journey and plan to become a top photographer.

I love that your videos are simple and get right to the point. I also enjoy how calming your voice is. It's never enjoyable to have a RU-vid tutorial shouting at you.

Everything presented in this tutorial is excellent, straightforward without pretentiousness. Simple, informative and insightful. Plus, your voice is easy to listen to, buttery and smooth. I wish more tutorials were this helpful and enjoyable.

Simple and sweet.

Beautiful work Jeff! So simple but so masterful.

Love your work and you make this lighting stuff so easy to follow! Thanks for another great video!

Hi Jeff, thank you so much for this. It was short, sweet and straight to the point; and was exactly what I needed to watch before my first commercial portrait shoot this weekend as I'll also be using a one light and backdrop setup. Thanks also for sharing your exposure settings. Cheers 🙏

As I strive to find my signature style, which I am very close, I re-watch your videos. I enjoy simple lighting for my portrait work. Your videos always give me a point of inspiration. I think it does one good to watch videos multiple times... Thanks as always.

Short and clear. Just what we all need

Jeff I've just started working on lights and portraits. You tutorials are a great help!!

Awesome!! Love your videos.

2 minutes video. Right to the point. Very informative... That's the kind of videos we enjoy.

This was very helpful. So, simple and minimalistic, yet resultsling consistent and beautiful results .

Thank you Jeff for posting these videos! I am learning more from your channel than I am from my college photography class. Keep up the good work!

thanks very much for the tips Jeff! I'm big fan of your work, specially with a single light source.

Gracias por compartir tu conocimiento, sin duda se obtienen muy buenos resultados y retratos geniales. Saludos desde México.

Jeff, thank you for this video plus all the work you do. Great walk through and instructions. I know it may have been a 2017 video, but it's right on time for me.

My favorite kind of lighting. And if you move your model slightly to the side you will have more of a Rembrandt light.

I hadn't considered one light overhead for portraits and you've given me some great ideas. Thanks!

very nice and simple video... very well delivered.. and I actually like your voice.. very calming..

Love this setup, thanks for sharing!

I try to watch your videos since gives a lot tips and great content. Thanks.

I love this setup, thank you Jeff.

Thank you Jeff, great video.

Thanks for this! I pretty much only work with one-light setups when applicable, I'll definitely add this one to my arsenal!

I've just started to dip my foot into the OCF pool and appreciate the output from using just 1 light. I'm going to try this Sunday night and see what results I can produce. Appreciate your efforts and Ricardo Montalbán voice [minus the accent] 😉

Thank you, Jeff Rojas

One of the best videos I must say. SIMPLE & BANG ON

Great tutorial as usual! Aways enjoy and learn some new tips from you, Jeff. Thanks for sharing!

Simple but in-depth learning process, thanks Jeff!

Thank you

Thank you Jeff. Enjoyed the video very much. Can't wait to try the setup.

as always, great video... always like the way you explain things. Thanks Jeff

Love this! Actionable, succinct and to the point.

Fantastic work. Your videos are incredible. Thank you.

Appreciate your straight to the point informative short video!!!

aaah aah aaah aaah aaah love the voice

Just discovered your channel. Your minimalist approach is awesome and inspiring. Thank you

Beautiful work and love how brief and direct you are with the info in your video. Excellent sir. Thank you.

That was great. All the crucial information, a really practical, goodlooking set up, and all done in 2:13. Exemplary.

Man you rock!! I really like your work 👌🏻

This video was so relaxing

Merci

I am inspired ! Thank you

Great

Thank you for sharing!

This really give me hope to set up my home studio. Thank you so much

Super tips and I need to find male model to test these out. With you like I notice that your subject is just on end of the light. This looks like a very deep narrow light. Thank you so much really great.

Brilliant tutorial !

Great video. Thank you Jeff.

What an amazing tip 🙏🏼 thanks a lot for it 🤗🙏🏼👍🏼

thank you... I will try that setup

this is awsome..usefull tip..thx

ALWAYS appreciate your work and your one-light tips. I only have umbrellas with flash. Would you recommend using a reflective umbrella or shoot-through using a single flash? If you are liking the reflective umbrella, shoot bare or add a diffusing material to it? The 42" reflective umbrella has a silver interior. Max height for me is 8-1/2' for ceiling. Thanks again.

Fantastic

Really great video. Helpful and clear. Thank you!

wow.mounstruo....el mejor

love it man, i only have one light with a 48" octabox modifier and I will be trying this top-down angle/approach as soon as possible. heck even right now with a self portrait

Love it. Are you using and small diffuser panel inside your main light.

Nice shots! I was surprised not to see a grid to that softbox!

Thank you Jeff! :)

Wish you great success this year. Hope to see a video if not busy from you by fall. Take care.

you are amazing

thanks for sharing, very useful tutorial!

Beast..!!

Wow never try it this way ... Will definitely give this a try sometime man! great tips!

i loved it, Jeff, thanks for sharing! what would be the difference between the Westcott 59" and this Phottix Hexa-Para Softbox 59 in terms of shaping/lighting?

Love the retouching as well so natural looking, you got to do more of your retouching videos PLEASE :)

I tried this today after seeing your video and I got a few cool self portraits 😊 thanks

Awesome stuff Jeff. Perhaps in the future if you had the time you could do a video outlining the difference between the parabolic & octaboxes that you use. Thank you for sharing !

Another fantastic video Jeff. Thank you. I'm interested to see that you use a Canon 7dmk2 for these shoots? How come? I'd have thought that you would prefer a full frame camera like the 5d series? Many "experts" say that the 7D2 is primarily a sports and wildlife camera and not the best tool for portraits, yet you get fantastic results with it.

Thanks so much for the video, Jeff. In addition to the inner diffusers, do you use a deflector also? And are you using bare bulb for your strobe? Thanks in advance.

great - thank you :)

Very nice informative video @jeff. I noticed at the end of the shoot you had the 7' parabolic umbrella.. I would really appreciate a tutorial on that, with the diffusion material and without. Especially for full body fashion on a white seamless, for a clean fashion shot. Would that be possible to see? Thank you Jeff

Hey man I love your work! I think you are one of the best and honest teacher out there. I need to ask you. Where is the best place/site to buy backdrops. And also what size is best for portraits?

Hey Jeff, great work mate. Question, if you were shooting a wider scene on location in a lounge room, where the subject is full length with space around them (so quite wide), how would you go about lighting the subject and the room itself?

very nice! it would be nice how that works for a longer shot , is it good on a full too?

Hey Jeff, I love your work . Would a 4foot octagon softbox work as well? Thank you

great vid

LOVE these portraits so much! I have a modifier like this, but it's larger, and I only have 8' ceilings, so I can't use it my home studio. I bought a big Paul C Buff parabolic umbrella that's mounted to a boom (at my size, it takes two people to get the thing in place overhead). Will that have a similar effect if I put my model just on the edge and do everything else the same? BTW, thank you for these awesome tutorials. You explain things so simply. I've always enjoyed watching your videos.

I love this lighting setup, however, I often get a hot forehead. Wondering if you might have a suggestion.

Hey Jeff, what type of background (paper or vinyl) do you use, also any specific color?

I've shot in that studio a couple times!

I love your voice...

Very useful for teaching

Great setup! Will try it soon myself. Question- given the low power you use and proximity of the light - would you even need the background? I’d imagine it might be black anyways?

thanks for this video. please keep me in mind if you need an unpaid assistant for the weekend or to shoot one of these tutorials

really nice

Jeff, Just keep up shooting, it´s awsome! Greetings from Copenhagen Denmark :-)

Hello! I really like your work, i wanna know if this method will also work with black skin...

Recommend lens. Thank uoi

Great video! Love it! But it's a Deep Octa that you use? What do you think about the new Phottix Deep Octa Raja 80cm for this portrait or maybe Softbox Raja 105cm is better?

Nice work! Do you recommend this with women as well?

Amazing video! Will this work for a standing full body portrait?

Jeff, do you have a target f-stop that you like to use as your starting point? I was taught to shoot at the highest sync speed of the flash and get a black frame. Then introduce the flash so It's only lighting the subject. Is this a good practice?

you're simply the best

Thank you Brooooo.I have any good Pictures taken with your Tips!!!!Wohooooooooooooooo