Vlog University Notes
It was great to see you at Vlog University! Here's all the links, notes, products and more that I promised to share.
Sections
Social
Find me as @PhotoJoseph everywhere, including…
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Lighting Techniques 101
How to make the most of what’s available
- Outdoors
- Full sun = shadows, squinting, BAD
- Shadow better but cool color temperature
- Overcast days best, but can be flat
- Indoors
- Overhead lighting is nasty
- big window, diffuse with curtains, Sheets
- Bounce of walls
- Sheet can also bounce
- CHALLENGE: sun moves so light changes
- Size is relative!
DIY lighting tricks
(learn lots of DIY Photo tricks on my LinkedIn Learning course)
- Clamp lamps and LED bulbs
- Homemade diffusion panels with Dural-Lar and screen window repair kit and double stick tape (but compare the cost to 5-in-1 reflectors)
Lights used/discussed in the demo
✅indicates I had it with me at VlogU
Flat Panels
- ✅Small RGB panel (7” x 5.2”): Nanlite Mixpad 11 Bi-Color RGB Panel (15-2005) $129
- Brighter version of panel above (7” x 5.2”): NanLite MixPad 27 Bicolor + RGB Hard and Soft Light LED Panel (15-2006) $355
- ✅Laptop-sized flat panel light; the one I use on my desk (13.6” x 12.2”): NanLite LumiPad 25 High Output Bicolor Slim Soft Light LED Panel (11-2002) $109
- Bigger version of the above flat panel; great for lighting people (16” x 26”): NanLite Compac 100 5600K Slim Soft Light Studio LED Panel (12-2008) $289
- ✅Even bigger version! A couple of these huge flat panels could light a whole set (20” x 32”): NanLite Compac 200 Dimmable 5600K Slim Soft Light Studio LED Panel (12-2010) $549
COB (chip on board) modifiable lights
- ✅The cutest little light with impressive brightness: Nanlite Forza 60 LED Monolight (12-2022) $289
- ✅Parabolic reflector for the Forza 60: NanLite Forza 60 Softbox (SB-FZ60) $179
- ✅Battery grip for Forza 60: NanLite Forza 60 Battery Grip (BH-FZ60) $49
- Big brother to the above, similar size to common Aputure 120 lights, but considerably brighter: Nanlite Forza 300 LED Monolight (12-2001) $999
- Parabolic reflector for Forza 300, but it's Bowens mount so see the next link, too (47”): NanLite Para 120 Softbox with Bowens Mount (SB-PR-120) $169
- (search) “Bowens Mount modifiers” — anything Bowens will fit the Forza 300! Search link prices vary
Ring Light
- ✅Ring light with iPhone mount: Nanlite Halo 16C RGB Ring Light (15-2013) $199
- Reflector
Online Training
- The DIY Photographer on LinkedIn Learning (free trial)
- Photography 101 on LinkedIn Learning
Building your Home Studio on a Budget
Cameras
- LUMIX G7 (recommended first “real” camera, with clean HDMI and 4K recording) $497
Lighting
(see Lighting class above for lots of lighting links)
Microphones
- Great wired mic that works on phones and (with RØDE SC3 adapter) cameras: RØDE SmartLav+
Acoustics
DIY panels