Twenty twenty five is now three months old and is playing out well, but it is also in stark contrast to this time last year. These past few years I have rekindled my love of photography and I have been fortunate to be able to dial up the focus year on year but I’m not sure I’ll be able to top 2024. I began the year with a lot of enthusiasm which was strange given I was suddenly out of a job, one I had had for ten years. But that’s me, glass is half full.

I seized the opportunity and booked in a number of photography trips. However, two weeks into this new life and I was offered a 3 day a week contract. I had promised myself I would take a break (I’d had two jobs in twenty years) and I also had said I wouldn’t take the first job that came along.

But it was a great role and I really liked the team and project AND they were fine with me working around my planned trips. It wasn’t long before that became a full time job and I love it. But that has meant that my day job takes focus and this year I have had fewer opportunities to shoot. That being said, the studio time I have had has been very productive, each one special and a reminder why I love the creativity that photography affords me. This is the story of the three awesome shoots I have had this year.

A tutorial on how to create the perfect one light setup for hard lighting. This post contains portraits, behind the scenes photos and a walkthrough of the kit and the settings I use to achieve great results.

I first used this set up when working as an assistant back in the 90’s. It was a common way to do castings, a simple white wall and bare head positioned above the model would provide a consistent way to showcase the talent.