Four Looks, One Gray Background : Take and Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey

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If you work in a small studio and have only one color background, which should you choose? Photographer Gavin Hoey is here to convince you that gray is the top color background and he proves it be demoing four simple lighting tricks that create very different background effects.

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Photos by Gavin Hoey

Like, share, and comment on the video below…let’s get the conversation started!

If you have questions, please share them below.

42 Comments
  1. vanessia1999 says

    I know this video is a few years old. But what is the name of the light meter you used and brand? Looking for one as yours that is easy to use.

  2. Brian Kenneth Kondas says

    Gavin what do you think about a white background using color gels to change the color?

  3. HW Photography says

    Wow. It’s incredible what you can learn just by watching other people work for a few minutes. This was so informative and helpful. Thank you for sharing this!

  4. Jamil Gotcher says

    I'm shooting on a black background tomorrow but I was wondering if I could just use my grey background, that way I could do some shots on black and some on grey? Yikes, I might try to do a test today so I'll be ready tomorrow.

  5. Isara Wabi-Sabi says

    Thank you so much for this help.

  6. thewaldenthree says

    Green screen vs Gray for background image substitution? Video vs still methods?

  7. Iam Zelix says

    Thanks for the great informative video Gavin. I'm going to give this a try today.

  8. ELLIOT STERN says

    Incredibly helpful Gavin. Thanks.

  9. Melissa Hall says

    Thank you! I'd love to take an entire flash course from you. I don't understand using a light meter or flash yet :(, but I'd love to set up a small home studio to capture my children before they are grown!!!

  10. dragonfist25 says

    Wow this was so helpful. I just ordered a Savage sky gray background. I can't wait to try out these tips.

  11. GlobalMagicNation says

    Can this work with just a soft box without a speed light?

  12. Cristabel Sosa says

    what kind of paper was used as a backdrop? where do u get this?

  13. Carla Baltazar says

    I learned so much, thank youu

  14. Julian Garrett says

    In making the grey background go black, can this be done with a speed light and an umbrella or will this only work with a soft box?

  15. Leon O says

    Great Tip, will get Gray! Thanks!

  16. Anthony Leurs says

    Thank's Gavin, great video for showing how the inverse square law works.

  17. ktsimage says

    Wow man, the end result is like a magic.

  18. Varient vlog says

    Very Good tips

  19. John Posey says

    GREAT

  20. awal alsabah says

    Wooow i love that ..i wish i can put 100 like👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

  21. Theddtincmusicp says

    Ok, so im confused, do you have a light in the softbox? Or is it a flash?

  22. sharik shabbir says

    Amazing

  23. Denker says

    you are great!

  24. Kuba K says

    what is the power of a lamp with a honeycomb?

  25. Andy White says

    What light meter are you using in this video? I’d like one that wirelessly controls my Flashpoint R2 (TT685N) like that.

  26. Josh Mandeville says

    Does this work with continuous lighting? At least the black portion?

  27. Leonides Quiason says

    I do not understand why somebody would dislike this video. Was there something wrong in what he did? Did he share any false information?

  28. Niel Lambrechts says

    Loved the photo with the rid reflection in the glasses, thanks for your easy to understand video!

  29. Ken Cox says

    Hay another great video can I ask that when you mention another video you link it in description, I am trying to find the one about how to make white backgrounds really white, and well there are lots of white background videos showing up 🙂

  30. Anderson Alves says

    🙂

  31. Phanit Savannareach says

    you're the best Gavin

  32. jumaigac says

    which grey back drop are you using

  33. Mutaher Ahmed says

    thanks for information but your model is damn ugly 😛

  34. Jan Broos says

    I could see how the back light was set. To the left sight or to the gray background

  35. Warren Ally says

    What if I dont have light meter, what would be the best starting point to know the proper amount of light that my flash should deliver?

  36. Ian & Kristen Nelson says

    Great video Gavin! Well done as always!

  37. Mark Harris says

    I watched this when it first came out, now I only travel with my grey backdrop and a set of gels. One thing I’ve learned though, when working with linen and gels is to leave space between your subject and the background. I’ve noticed you can pick up the texture of the linen with a strange grey tint to it if your subject is too close to it, especially if, like me, you work with small still life subjects.

  38. Anastázie Taskina says

    I LOVE YOU, THANKS!

  39. Zatoichiable says

    Is the principle applied similarly for continuous light and video shots?

  40. JOSHUA KISUULI says

    Hello Gavin, I appreciate your videos. I have an indoor night event and I only have a speedlight and an Xplor 600 as light sources. So this video helps me work with what I have. I do not have a flash meter though. What type were you using in this video? Thanks.

  41. BLEK_SIDE says

    Amazing Video

  42. Ifiyenia Spiliotopoulou says

    Great! I like the way you hang your camera on you…

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