Lighting Dramatic Team Portraits with Matt Hernandez

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Gear Used:
7′ Parabolic (Silver) –

Talented sports and portrait photographer Matt Hernandez offers some fantastic lighting tips in this video on capturing professional team portraits.

Matt captured these dramatic team portraits with a strobe modified by a Westcott Parabolic Umbrella. These large umbrellas are essential tools for photographing groups as they create a very broad, even light source.

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14 Comments
  1. khiem do says

    Why dont you show the side lights on this video? What kind of side lights are they?

  2. Samuel Magana says

    Excellent! If you only have two strobes would you try and hide the second one behind them? Or maybe over them from atop?

  3. Radium Photo says

    Hello. Just bought that umbrella after watching this video. What wattage strobe did you use? Thank you.

  4. Clint Goulet says

    Nice job Matt, impressive, professional and informative.

  5. Jeff Bianchi says

    Matt What sense are you shooting with.

  6. ross beattie says

    Just gained a subscriber…. very informative

  7. Steve Hansen says

    Great videos and very helpful, but there are still a fair number of questions. What watt seconds are those lights? I'm looking at buying some with 600 watt seconds and I wonder if that is enough. Also, would love to know what you do post processing. Many of your photos seem to have a fair amount of post processing. Are you using Capture One Pro to start off and then export to Photo Shop? Would love to see a video on your work folow. Thanks!

  8. Teddy Thor says

    I love this video!!! i just love it !!

    i have a quick question. i am a student photographer and im shooting a college swim team which has about 50 people
    they want the photos to be taken at the pool.. i shoot with 7d mark 2 and i do have the paul c buff with an 47 inch octobox.. should i add two more sizd lights and do what you did in the vidieo?

  9. crazay42 says

    I love your work and videos, I hope you keep coming out with more. You don't ramble on or waste time etc. Thank you, you've helped me a lot.

  10. Peter Peterson says

    I used that umbrella for one team picture and never again. Found it too specular and just harsh and ugly light. Went back to my Westcott 7ft shoot thru umbrella. I like it because it also seems to light up my background much better. I've never been a fan of those dark backgrounds. Have had too many schools complain about dark backgrounds in my area of the country. But its fun to see how others are doing sports teams.

  11. Mike Failla says

    It looks like you're using Einstein strobes. Is there any reason why you are using the CyberSync trigger instead of the Cyber Commander? Also, do you use a light meter?

    Thanks.

  12. Mark Kline says

    what lens did you use or like to use for these type of group/sports images?

  13. pscully1969 says

    Great results. 🙂 That parabolic looks like it can cast some serious light.

  14. Ritchie Deel says

    Are you metering those side lights Matt? If so what were they metering at?

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