Your tutorials are the best I have found in 12 years of using a camera! Bert Fedor - Birmingham, AL
Isn’t it funny how you can just spot pro-caliber photos? They stand out. They POP in some special way.
It's not about the camera. And it's not about Photoshop tricks or about running some fancy Lightroom preset. No, it turns out that professional photographers get that look again and again in one very specific way:
But in the past, "adding light” required expensive, cumbersome studio gear that only the pros could afford (and which required a crew of assistants to take on location).
Today, off-camera flash allows you to quickly and easily create professional-looking lighting—with a small kit of gear that fits in your bag.
But the right know-how is essential. There's a dizzying array of complicated flashes, flash triggers, light modifiers and gadgets out there, all claiming to be indispensable. This course will cut through the noise and show you the handful of truly essential, inexpensive items that I've settled on after nearly a decade of off-camera flash photography.
You'll also see exactly how I use it all in real-world shooting situations—ranging from headshots and portraits to fashion, locations, architecture, and even product photography.
So come join the off-camera flash revolution, and instantly give your photos that unmistakeable, polished, jaw-dropping "professional" look.
Click to watch. Actual course videos are full-screen HD quality.
How to Choose the Right Gear
Don't waste your money. I've spent my own time and money so that you don't have to! Let me guide
you
to the best products and best practices that I've discovered in nearly a decade of off-camera
flash
photography.
How to Shoot at Night
Take beautiful night portraits using background lights for a glamourous bokeh effect. Also learn
which
flash triggers can help you focus in the dark.
How to Photograph Objects and Products
Master the art of tabletop photography for selling on eBay or simply capturing beautiful
objects. Learn
how to create a pure white background and how to use multiple flashes for a more professional
look.
Create Beautiful Headshots with Shallow Depth-of-Field
Master the art of daylight portrait photography using High-Speed-Sync to control your shutter
speed,
allowing you to use wide apertures for blurry backgrounds, even in full sunlight.
Light People Full-Length with Speedlights
You don't need a big studio strobe to light subjects from head-to-foot, even outdoors in
daylight. With
the right light modifiers and the right technique you can do it with just 2 speedlights.
Use Colored Gels for Drama and Mood
Learn how simple colored gels can transport your photos to another world, or add excitement to
any
event—plus, which gels I always keep in my camera bag and why.
Go Mobile with Your Portraits
See how a small softbox carried by an assistant can free you to take fast, mobile portraits of
individuals or couples, on the fly, in any setting.
Create Drama with Flash Backlighting
This simple trick for event photography can make any event look more exciting, but you need to
know
exactly which flash triggers to use for the best effect.
Understand Hard and Soft Light
Learn what makes light "hard" or "soft" and see exactly which light modifiers can give you the
power to
create beautiful, portable light that is flattering to your subjects.
How to Remove Your Own Lights from Your Photos
Did you ever see a photo and think: "Where can that light possibly be coming from?" Sometimes
the
photographer has tricked you by removing lights in post-production. Learn the clever trick that
allows
you to do this easily in a few seconds.
How to Use Handheld Flash for Better Event Photography
Learn which flash triggers give you the best of both worlds—allowing you to switch instantly
from
on-camera flash to off-camera handheld flash for better event photos.
How to Overpower the Sun with Speedlights
Learn how you can completely control the sun—even at noon—using nothing but speedlights. You can
even
underexpose the background and overpower the sun using nothing but flash. No studio strobes
needed!
How to Choose the Right Flash
Learn which flashes to buy—and
which
ones are unsuitable and a waste of your money.
How to Save Money on Gear
Learn which manufacturers are
producing
top-quality lighting gear at bargain-basement prices, and how to get a pro look on an
amateur
budget.
How to Avoid Embarrassment
Learn how you can practice and
test
your
lighting setups in advance, so you don't embarrass yourself in front of clients.
How to Gain an Unfair Advantage
Learn my secret
off-camera-flash
tricks for event photography that give you an unfair advantage over any other photographers.
Their
light simply won't be able to match yours.
Are you ever frustrated when you watch fancy photography videos shot in mansions or in vast, expensive studios full of expensive studio gear—in other words, in conditions that you can't hope to replicate? I know I am.
That's why I shoot where you shoot. I want you to be able to get the same results that I get (or better!). And that's why all of my photoshoots are done in my own small apartment, or in public spaces just like the ones you have access to.
Sure, I could afford to rent a studio and rent expensive studio gear for these lessons—but how would that help you?
I keep it simple, so that you can create the same results in your own real-world settings.
For the same reason that I shoot in simple settings that you can replicate at home, I also show you the mistakes I make during my photo shoots for these lessons.
Sure, it's embarrassing to show you what goes wrong when I shoot. I do a lot of dumb things, many of them repeatedly (as you'll see in the videos). I feel like an idiot when I share all those errors in public.
And of course, I could edit all the mistakes out, like most instructors do. That would certainly be better for my ego. Or I could repeat these techniques over and over until everything was flawless.
However, my goal in teaching is not to make myself look good, but to help you learn.
So I intentionally capture these video lessons while I'm still learning each new technique—before it becomes flawless and perfect—while I'm still in "beginner's mind" as they say in Zen—so that I will encounter the same obstacles that you will.
And then I leave those mistakes in the final videos, and I analyze them, explaining what went right and wrong—so that you can learn from my mistakes without having to make them all yourself..
This course is a sequel to my original off-camera-flash course, "How to Shoot Professional-Looking Headshots and Portraits on a Budget with Small Flashes."
That course is still 100% relevant, and I use its techniques all the time, but flash trigger technology has changed radically in the intervening years, so I felt it was time for an all-new course showing the power and advantages of the new generation of TTL flash triggers.
Do you need to watch that original course before this one? Not necessarily.
But you might want to get both of them, because I demonstrate very different lighting techniques in each one. I also teach some basic concepts (like my "Four-Step Formula for Setting Your Flash Power") in the original course that I don't bother repeating in the sequel.
If you'd like to watch both courses, you'll received a discounted offer for the other course immediately after you purchase either one, so it's easy for you to get both. For now, just purchase this one, and then watch for that offer.
Bob Weidner, Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania
"This is THE course I have been waiting for for soooooo long. It was worth the wait."
This is THE course I have been waiting for for soooooo long. Perfect! I watch videos from everyone out there, both on YouTube and some that I've paid for. You are the best by far hands down. You speak clearly. I am the lead photographer at my university (I loved your Event Photography course, too.) I will be recommending your course to the other photographers on my team. It was worth the wait.
Sebastian Michaels—World-Renowned Photoshop Instructor
"An entirely new realm of photographic possibilities!"
Finally a photography course to get EXCITED about. The techniques laid out in this course not only deliver immediate (and truly dramatic) results, but also will change how I’ll be shooting serious photos the rest of my life. Phil Steele can teach like few others. Whatever your experience, the material here will open up to you an entirely new realm of photographic possibilities.
Steve Burn, Toronto Canada
"Fanstasic! I learned something from every video...and feel renewed confidence."
Hi Phil—another fantastic course—well worth the wait !!! I learned something from every video, and feel (once again) a renewed sense of confidence to raise my own photography game! Particular favorite videos were #15 (Colored Gels) and #21 (Overpowering The Sun).
Your teaching style is terrific as always, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the course. I can’t wait for the next one!
Nancy W.
"Just what I needed...simple and to the point...well worth the money!"
I just want to say how happy I am with your “Advanced Off-Camera Flash” course. It is just what I needed. You are one of the best photography teachers out there. I have purchased some of your other courses in the past and they have been great, but you really hit the ball out the park with this one. What I like about your training is you keep it simple and to the point. Your illustrations are wonderful and really make the topic very clear. Thank you for taking the time to put together this fantastic course. It is well worth the money.
John Quinn, S.J.—Photography Instructor, Loyola High School, Los Angeles
"A wealth of technical expertise...explained in a very easy-to-understand way."
GREAT JOB! Kudos on making this course "up close and personal." It has a wealth of technical expertise...explained, illustrated, and demonstrated in a very easy to understand way. I loved the removing-the-lights trick. Including some of your "mistakes" makes this much more helpful for the real-world photographers who are going to implement this vast amount of knowledge. Thank you so much!
Denise Balog, Oklahoma, USA
"I recommend it 120%...One of the best decisions I have made."
This course is awesome! Your willingness to share your MISTAKES while photographing is why I would recommend your courses 120%!! THANK YOU!! As a growing novice, I have made these mistakes and have beat myself to pulp! Halfway through this course I was so impressed that I stopped and purchased your “Event Photography” course right there and then! Learning from you is one of the best decisions I have made.
Sue Masterson—Ballarat, Australia
"I just needed someone to explain in my terms how to use these flashes!"
Phil, I have had three flashes couple of years, and they have just sat there doing nothing. I just needed someone to explain in my terms how to use these flashes, and your course certainly is doing that. I love that you show us that everyone makes mistakes. I never know if what I am doing is right, and this course is pointing me in the right direction. I also love the in-depth retouching explained so well. Thank you!
John Steel, Rochdale, UK
"Another informative, clear, and easy-to-understand course."
Another informative, clear, and easy-to-understand course. I like the manageable “chunks”, which allow you to digest and understand each section, before moving onto the next. The easy, relaxed teaching style aids concentration, and you avoid getting bogged down in jargon. Showing your mistakes was a great idea, not only showing you as “human” but also a great learning tool. This course is up to, if not exceeding, the high standards of your previous courses.
Duane T. Bruning
"I learned so much more than I could from books or seminars!"
Your courses are well organized and deliver the proper content in the right amount of time. I love the fact that you teach it from the beginning of the shoot (planning and gear explanation) to the end product ready for the client. I find it helpful to know that even as a professional that you can make mistakes as well! I have learned so much from your training courses that could never be accomplished by reading books or attending seminars!
Bob Weidner, Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania
"This is THE course I have been waiting for for soooooo long. It was worth the wait."
This is THE course I have been waiting for for soooooo long. Perfect! I watch videos from everyone out there, both on YouTube and some that I've paid for. You are the best by far hands down. You speak clearly. I am the lead photographer at my university (I loved your Event Photography course, too.) I will be recommending your course to the other photographers on my team. It was worth the wait.
Sebastian Michaels—World-Renowned Photoshop Instructor
"An entirely new realm of photographic possibilities!"
Finally a photography course to get EXCITED about. The techniques laid out in this course not only deliver immediate (and truly dramatic) results, but also will change how I’ll be shooting serious photos the rest of my life. Phil Steele can teach like few others. Whatever your experience, the material here will open up to you an entirely new realm of photographic possibilities.
Steve Burn, Toronto Canada
"Fanstasic! I learned something from every video...and feel renewed confidence."
Hi Phil—another fantastic course—well worth the wait !!! I learned something from every video, and feel (once again) a renewed sense of confidence to raise my own photography game! Particular favorite videos were #15 (Colored Gels) and #21 (Overpowering The Sun).
Your teaching style is terrific as always, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the course. I can’t wait for the next one!
Nancy W.
"Just what I needed...simple and to the point...well worth the money!"
I just want to say how happy I am with your “Advanced Off-Camera Flash” course. It is just what I needed. You are one of the best photography teachers out there. I have purchased some of your other courses in the past and they have been great, but you really hit the ball out the park with this one. What I like about your training is you keep it simple and to the point. Your illustrations are wonderful and really make the topic very clear. Thank you for taking the time to put together this fantastic course. It is well worth the money.
John Quinn, S.J.—Photography Instructor, Loyola High School, Los Angeles
"A wealth of technical expertise...explained in a very easy-to-understand way."
GREAT JOB! Kudos on making this course "up close and personal." It has a wealth of technical expertise...explained, illustrated, and demonstrated in a very easy to understand way. I loved the removing-the-lights trick. Including some of your "mistakes" makes this much more helpful for the real-world photographers who are going to implement this vast amount of knowledge. Thank you so much!
Denise Balog, Oklahoma, USA
"I recommend it 120%...One of the best decisions I have made."
This course is awesome! Your willingness to share your MISTAKES while photographing is why I would recommend your courses 120%!! THANK YOU!! As a growing novice, I have made these mistakes and have beat myself to pulp! Halfway through this course I was so impressed that I stopped and purchased your “Event Photography” course right there and then! Learning from you is one of the best decisions I have made.
Sue Masterson—Ballarat, Australia
"I just needed someone to explain in my terms how to use these flashes!"
Phil, I have had three flashes couple of years, and they have just sat there doing nothing. I just needed someone to explain in my terms how to use these flashes, and your course certainly is doing that. I love that you show us that everyone makes mistakes. I never know if what I am doing is right, and this course is pointing me in the right direction. I also love the in-depth retouching explained so well. Thank you!
John Steel, Rochdale, UK
"Another informative, clear, and easy-to-understand course."
Another informative, clear, and easy-to-understand course. I like the manageable “chunks”, which allow you to digest and understand each section, before moving onto the next. The easy, relaxed teaching style aids concentration, and you avoid getting bogged down in jargon. Showing your mistakes was a great idea, not only showing you as “human” but also a great learning tool. This course is up to, if not exceeding, the high standards of your previous courses.
Duane T. Bruning
"I learned so much more than I could from books or seminars!"
Your courses are well organized and deliver the proper content in the right amount of time. I love the fact that you teach it from the beginning of the shoot (planning and gear explanation) to the end product ready for the client. I find it helpful to know that even as a professional that you can make mistakes as well! I have learned so much from your training courses that could never be accomplished by reading books or attending seminars!
Bob Weidner, Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania
"This is THE course I have been waiting for for soooooo long. It was worth the wait."
This is THE course I have been waiting for for soooooo long. Perfect! I watch videos from everyone out there, both on YouTube and some that I've paid for. You are the best by far hands down. You speak clearly. I am the lead photographer at my university (I loved your Event Photography course, too.) I will be recommending your course to the other photographers on my team. It was worth the wait.
If you're unsatisfied in any way, I'll gladly refund your full purchase price with no questions
asked!
You have no risk!
Remember you can watch the videos online immediately,
or at any time that’s convenient for you,
forever. You own it!