Unfortunately we live in a consumer society with a multitude of websites full of people who seem to be trying to outdo each other. A 1.4 lens is seen as "not as good as" an f/1.2 lens. A Canon lens is seen as inferior to a Leica. A photograph taken with a $500 lens is seen as inferior to one taken with a $5000 lens. You know the drill. People start seeing things that don't exist. Where it all falls apart is when people talk about Hasselblads. Cameras don't create. Cameras don't light and cameras don't do post production (though I'm a minimalist in that department, preferring to get it right in the camera). Between you and Peter Coulson, - who once did a shoot with a Sony RX100 to prove the point - there's enough inspiration to forget the naysayers.

06:10 - See, the reason I can't make photos like Karl's is that I don't have access to professional-grade cardboard :-)

Thanks Karl. And for a lot of photography, one light but moved around and stacked in post allows many photographers to mimic the multi-light product shots

stop making excuses, start learning and start doing! The most important thing in photography. Doesnt matter is this portrait/sport/documentary.

Absolutely right. I love working with speedlights, I have 4 of them and I mainly use only one when I'm doing Portrait outdoors, two sometimes. They are light and portable. I also have 4 studio strobes, all new but I hardly use them. I also use the speedlight indoors. Using one light allows you to be more creative with shadows and makes you more attentive to the surrounding ambient light or lack off because you are forced to look to find additional light for rim lighting effects, better flow of light. I love your product and food photos in this video. I feel inspired I am going to shoot some shots indoors tonight. Thank you for the awesome talk/video. ❤🙌

Preach Brother Taylor, preach! There will always be doubters and in most cases they don't want to learn. It's far easier to complain, hate and troll. I follow several photography channels and even when they shoot different subject matter, I learn something from all of them.

Thank you. I am one of those lazy people who just have the basics sitting in the cupboard. Being told laziness is a sickness helps to get out of it. I needed this video!

Karl, I find your clips & knowledge inspirational. You remind me of my early photo roots with film in the late Sixties. I served my ‘apprenticeship’ in an old established properly run Camera Club in the west of Scotland, and like you at a young age - I could not afford to buy an expensive camera- let alone studio equipment. The Club studio was basic with a variety of No.1 & No.2 Tungsten Flood lights- I don’t think the brolly flash had even been invented. But it did also have a darkroom where I learned basics of ‘ D& P’. In competition I was up against Hasselblads - Nikon - Leica, Rollieflex and maybe one or two members using large format Linhof. All I had was my little 35mm Miranda FM - yet I managed to walk away at the Quarterly and Annual Competitions with four Silver Trophies. That was my proudest moment to look back on! I did not go on to a Pro Career like you which I regret. My early success was cut short by getting married. My enthusiasm melted away over the years and that was rekindled in the early Nineties when I went digital. I now have great admiration for your work and now (at 77yrs) trying to create a little home studio with small product photography- just for fun! Thank you so much for these invaluable clips- you are doing a great contribution to the art which most of us love!

Awesome awesome video. I am a professional photographer and I do some 1 on 1 teaching to beginner to advanced photographers. I totally agree that getting them out of the mindset of gear be in the answer rather than knowledge is something that I believe every for toggle for goes through. As they mature as a photographer they do eventually start to realize that it is their knowledge and the appropriate practical artistic use of lighting that is more important than the brand name on the light there using. Really really love all your videos I hope you and your family are safe and healthy and thank you again for all your insightful education.

Remind me when I was a live photographer in the past and I used a Canon 60D with an old zoom not really fast (like 3.5 to f5.8) and people was "Your photographies are really great, but it's because you have great gear". Yeah, Canon 60D and an old zoom are great gear... It's just because I learned, lot of practice, not the gear. It's exactly the same in studio now, with my mentor I learn so much about the light that I can do shots with one light and knowledge...

Karl..... As an amateur photographer, your words of wisdom really have propelled my work.

I bought your advertising DVDs about 5 years ago and they were a game changer for me! Your free KZfaq tutorials are fantastic and anyone serious about producing great imagery would do themselves a huge favor by buying/subscribing to your educational materials. Thank you for putting the work in to help make others better.

With any profession , it will always be knowledge with trial and error and hard work that brings out the perfection of the end product. Always remember that the ones that complain never put in the work and expect the end result to be perfect .

Hi Karl.Thanks so much for all your knowledge sharing.People who doubt your knowledge themselves donot know what they are doing. Photography is all about learning and trying things and photographers like you really help so many photographers around the globe to take that one step forward. So please forget all those people who have doubts about your knowledge as we know that you are one of the best photographer. Thanks again.... From A learner

Thank you for sharing your many years of experience and knowledge, which I have followed for the last 7 years of more. There are always going to be those people that try and knock others and let them as it only reinforces how good you are which this video and your others demonstrate. Keep up the amazing work.

Well said Karl, so true and so important to take on board.

Thanks Karl, you’re my hero!

Invest in your learning before your gears. That's ultimately the one most crucial lesson I've to remind myself of! At the end of the day, what makes outstanding Photography is knowledge and creativeness. Thanks, Karl for this essential lesson.

I am just starting out in photography and just discovered your channel and you are fantastic! Rant all you want... just don't stop sharing your information! This 1-light video has given me confidence to continue practicing. Thank you!

I quite agree, Karl. I have worked in another area of education and training. It's the skill and competence of people that matters most. Thanks for the video.

And this is why Karl Taylor is one of my favourite photographers on KZfaq.

Another video full of wisdom and truth..... one wonder why people never seem to get the point... it's a never ending story that never seems to end somehow. Thanks Karl for putting things straight (again).

This is the best demonstration of skill. The best investment in my skills I ever did was school and then an internship at a commercial studio.

Excellent, sir. Working in a small studio, with a small budget, has forced me to learn to get the most out of a little. And, as it turns out, some of the images that come out of here with the best compliments are those shot with a single light source (and perhaps a reflector made from foamcore I got at Walmart). Understanding light and pushing creativity will trump gadgets almost every time. Bravo on helping us all see that!

This is the best photography video ever made......!!!!!! David Rodigan would be proud of the Microphone Skills.....!!!

I‘m really enjoying the time I have these days and invested in a one-year subscription on your website. I am really happy with what I learned so far and can‘t wait to get back into the studio and test out a lot of stuff!

i learn much better by doing. i have a difficult time watching a video and trying to mimic what im seeing. i am suffering from some memory issue too (unless its just that i learn better by doing, than watching). i love your presentations and your topics. not sure why ive never subscribed before now!

You didn't need to explain anything Karl. Just watching one or two of your tutorials should be enough evidence for anyone who "really" wants to know your worth. As for the naysayers, best response is ignoring them altogether. Keep up the great education. I learn a lot from you.

Good job Mr Taylor. I personally don't have a lot of equipment but I always say that it's not the camera but rather it's the photographer that makes the photo awesome. Having the equipment does help but it's not always needed.

Excellent!! Study and practice, practice, practice. Very clear statement that of yours. Thanks

Myself as a beginner photographer over one year always think and have a mindset that one light is key, that mindset is based on sun light, sun is only one, that is why I never complain whenever I can only shoot with one light only, because I also never complain when I have one sun. The maximum of lighting that I can use are 2, but mostly only one light.

You are absolutely right, being able to create a photograph with a single light depends a lot on the knowledge and creativity that you have acquired over time, thanks for your video, I am a big fan of your work as a product photographer.

what a great statement and so true 👍 the comparison between the six-light and the one-light lipstick photos is a great example I`m only an enthusiastic hobby photograoher who has to be economical with the money, so I use elder speedlites and mainly different self-made diffusors, sometimes I use only a small LED flashlight + camera shutter mode "B" to light my homemade product or table top photos shot on rainy or stormy weekends for instance

Excellent..I love the cut of your gıb sir! I've alway's found ıt amusing that a lot of photographers bang on about the equipment they have..and you can't take decent pro shots without it..eg. one of my favourite lenses cost me 100 pounds..it's paid for itself a 100x over..I'm not a studio photographer but İ've always thought with the rıght knowledge you can do it with one light...good stuff Karl..

Brilliant Carl..! And well needed too! More rants please and don’t hold back. There are still lots that need a damn good telling haha. Amazing work as always! Very inspiring buddy 😊👏🏻

Well said. Best thing I did before signing up for your courses was to read Light: Science and Magic (such an eye opener) and then try to work out the examples using a single speed light and whatever modifier(s) I had on hand. Now when you talk about light in your courses , I can at least understand what is going on.

Thanks Karl for this lesson 🙏

Fab stuff right on the money im guilty myself of not pushing the gear as far as it can go and needing to push myself even further with light experimenting and practicing way more and its something I am still working on for sure and making some good inroads. I recall you created a great video demo of a shoot with budget speedlites and a consumer dslr - I wonder if a reboot version of that for 2020 could make for a further compelling video further demoing your knowledge trumping whatever cost of gear.

Love it, glad you are saying this, it needs to be heard. Thanks for all that you share

What an eye opener this exalant video could turn out to be for many people including myself! I believe your analysis is spot on for many and to have it delivered in the way you delivered it, to the point and straight out of the box and why not. Nothing wrong with a bit of shock phycology loved it. Again, wonderful content and has given me hope and encouragement in wht I attempt. At seventy four I can confirm that it is never too late to learn! Thank you.

Thanks Karl, for almost 5 years im following your advise through youtube

It's exactly what you say! Keep experimenting, keep trying and don't be afraid to fail in order to succeed! This is, in my opinion, the best way to gain knowledge 💪🏾

Excellent video to teach and advice to the photographers about the one light photography. I will try and practice to do the best of my knowledge. Thanks a lot.

Amazing stuff as always. I wish I could get a daily motivation audio clips from Karl, whenever I wake up ;-)

Good job Karl! You're the best 😍

Recently I had a shoot inside of a small student accommodation room. I had no gear, only my trustworthy a7ii. I borrowed 2 tiny LEDs and a black sheet for the background. I'm still impressed with how much I could achieve with it. Granted I had to do moderate post processing, but nothing I wouldn't do even if I had professional equipment. It's always good to be reminded that we don't have to fall down the rabbit hole of shiny and newer tech.

You are passionate about what you do and it shows. Thanks for all you do to help amateurs like me to become better.

I agree with you in every word you said. I personally don't have even a speedlight but I'm not so concerned about that too much. What I'm concerned about is the ideas I should have and find a way to achieve me. Gears just make things easier and the work more efficient.

Great video. When doing food photography I only ever use one light, but lots of reflectors (white foamcore) and black scrims. Sometime, no light other than window light.

It's a good reminder of what's important.

Best video i have watched in a while. Thank you for the honesty.

Keep cool Karl. Heads up to you for just not ignoring the trolls. I use the same Cam gear since 13 years and only updated lights, since battery beats cables outside for my work. However thanks to you and other Pros tips on techniques my results became better and better over the years to the point where it feels exciting and effortless at the same time. I felt I could always check out your teams channel for guidelines and check out one way to go about it. You provide high class education and don’t hide knowledge but on your level it requires attention from the students and some just don’t want to go there. All the best.

The side by side at 8:16 really demonstrates the utility of reflectors and flags because when I first got to that point in the video I said "wait a minute, if it's one light how'd he get the background like that without another light?". I imagine if it's not shaped from a flag, it's the edge of the the light source from how it's directed.

Brilliant Karl, it was such amazing insights. You are right, an excuse will never give room for growth. Thanks:)

Word! The best video on KZfaq! Finally the ”secret” recipe to become a successful photographer that actually works 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Absolutely agree! The knowledge is the most important, and the equipment it will be a tool to completely both. Thank you Karl, for you explain so clear the way of Photography. Congratulations for your channel. Antonio Moreira from Porto/Portugal

nice video. I'm very grateful to this pro that gives his time to create content to help other photographers. im 60 now and i have start taking pictures in my teen years. in my personal experience the most important part, hands down, of a photographer kit is the lens or lenses. you can have three Broncolor strobe and a shit lens your pic will look bad. you can have three ikea lamps and a top of the range prime and your pic will look good (if you know how to set up your lights, that is). I cannot even begins to understand why anybody would hate this guy. He makes free contents from you from which can learn and gets hate in return? lol. crazy and sad.

marvelous! I was always worrying about lights and equipment.

Great job Kyle ,Keep up the great work !!!👍🏽👏🏽

Yes, it is Knowledge and the willingness to Try. thank you Mr. Taylor

Love it! So true. You do phenomenal work, keep it up! You have to love the people that always complain, haha

I love your ranting!! That's a great teaching for people who only see limitation of $$$ in producing great photo. A great chef can make great food with a cheap wok! It's the same thing as in photography.

Per me sei uno dei più grandi fotografi al mondo, penso che sei un grande professionista, sia nell'eseguire le foto, sia nello spiegare come si fa, per me sei stato uno dei grande aiuto per poter realizzare le mie foto grazie ai tuoi perfetti suggerimenti, quindi ti dico grazie, grazie e grazie!!!!

Hi Karl, I have taken your online courses, and I have no doubt that you can produce excellent pictures even without light. I have learn so much from your online trainings. unfortunately due to some cost constrains, I could not continue. PS. I usually do not comments on social media, but for this could not resist. Keep doing what do best. Your work speak itself.

Living in a cardboard box outside the corner store is my secret weapon in photography.:) Kidding, spot-on video...

I love it! thank you for sharing your knowledge of lighting!

Thanks for your amazing work and explanations ! The problem for some people is that they can't just buy knowledge and master it instantly so they get bitter, that's fine for us who are ok to learn the slow way :)

If they change the camera and they fail, it was a lack of lights. If they buy lights and they fail, it was the studio. If they change their studios and fail, it was the model or the MUA. The problem may be that many believe that by knowing the exposure triangle they already know everything. If we give an F1 car to anyone with no experience and explain all the functions, even if they learn them very well, they will still lose the race. I can certainly say that you can have a lot of equipment and yet you still have to plan your shots and organize yourself to be successful, not all shots are the same, you have to think and that's why most fail. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge.

i love your stance on the subject. 100% true

What do you have to concider to photograph with a medium format camera or smaller format

Thank you for this post! I myself ranted on a another post somewhere else a short while ago how fed up I am that people have to get the latest and most expenensive gear to improve their photography. CRAP! I said that photography comes down to understanding light, composition and getting to know the gear that you have. I got slammed for the comment. Sad really. Thank you Mr Taylor for all the effort you put in training and educating anyone that wants to improve and learn.

cheers for this video! one question regarding the 6-light vs 1-light version of your photo with the lipsticks: can you match the 1-light version even more close tot he 6-light version in post? how close can you really come with adding reflections and the light patch at the bottom in post? my guess is: very...

Thank you for this video and for all the efforts and passion you put into educational content. I've always thought that knowledge and experience come first. God bless you.

Sir Karl, you're the absolute best.

Could not agree more with you Karl! Well said!

When i started with commercial photography i did a lot of editorial stuff. I literally said to myself i would use mainly one light and master it by doing so day in day out. I still mainly use one light, i started with a cheap falcon eyes battery powered light and nowadays i use the b10x plus. If you start out with one light you will really get a feel for how to blend ambient light with flash light. It's the same as when someone starts out with photography, i would recommend them using prime lens instead of a zoom lens. Keep it simple, don't give yourself too many options that will distract you. Try to master 1 focal length and or 1 light. When you feel like you understand this than go to the next phase and start adding more lights or different focal lengths. Gear is just tools, if you give a builder a consumer drill instead of a professional drill then he can still do the job.. The same goes for camera's and lighting. It might take a bit longer to get to the same result but it will get the job done, and clients won't even notice this. I see so many other photographers being so focussed on gear, it really annoys me most of the time.

Thanks Karl! Some great motivation seeing what's possible

Thanks Karl, always enjoy your work mate.

you have got all my admiration and support!!!!

Great video, and very important message!

You hit the nail in the coffin 👍👍👍

learning by doing and keep practicing is the key.

Just Saw ur work since yesterday shall take jyst a worf to define it .. Devine...shall learn frm ur tutorials & best u suggest is to Try & Practise thanks a ton fr that...am ur new fan frm different part of the world ...India

The best honest advice I ever had. And you are right, I admire your honesty, because you could try to promote your equipment for sponsorship. Thank you

Great tutorial! Thankyou! Upgrading? I'm still working with the RB67 and a Canon snapshot digital as my 'Polaroid'. Why? I invested in my lighting first and a pair of mannequins!

Glad i watched this video. Was thinking of upgrading my Sony A6000 just for IBIS and continuous eye AF but after watching this video the thought came to me that photographers had been taking fantastic photos without these features way since the dawn of time so why can’t I???

great video karl! TRUE i only have one light for years 😂

Karl is a Jedi master, the force is strong with him 😀

I know people who have really great equipment and their output is flat and lifeless. I really liked this video, because I know it’s all about knowledge and creativity. Salute.

I loved this video!

Hiya Karl - brilliant video and thank you for sharing - now subscribed :-) I am 68 and normally photograph wildlife, especially birds, but after buying a Nikon SB700 last year, I was looking for inspiration and now I have found it - thanks mate. Stay safe.

I have learned a lot from your videos. Will watch more. Thanks.

You are a huge inspiration, thank's !!

I can never decide if I like the videos where you do your full setup pro photography or the ones where you fettle something together from Ikea more! 😂😂

Exactly what i needed to hear! Thank you!

One light one word ...Awesome Thank you

I totally agree with everything you've said. Invest on yourself.

So very ...motivated speech ...speech is very motivated to repair myselves... rather than waste money by buying expensive gear......

Hello Karl, you are absolutely right. The camera and light are just tools to get the job done, it’s the creators imagination and creativity that creates the image. An average canon dslr and some basic light are 100 times better today than they were 20 years ago. And people took some amazing pictures back then. But then again, people really needed to understand the basics of photography, because there was no looking over your shoulder to check the scream to see if your picture was ok, you didn’t have a delete option or an option to take 1000 pictures and then see which one was best. You had to wait to develope your filmrol. It’s like with any profession, a programmer can program on any computer, a good carpenter can make anything with a limited amount of tools. I’ve never heard a carpenter say “if only I had a better hamer 🔨, then I could built a nicer home”. If you can’t take a picture with basic camera, then you will never be able to take a picture with a 5000 euro camera..

Thank you!! Karl.