Light It, Shoot It, Retouch It (2nd Edition): Learn it all, from lighting with flash, to the camera settings and gear, to retouching in Lightroom and Photoshop

by Scott Kelby

Learn all three aspects of what it takes to create stunning portraits—lighting, shooting, and retouching! Scott Kelby, the #1 best-selling author of photography technique books and Editor-in-Chief of Photoshop User magazine, has reinvented how flash lighting books are written by finally revealing the entire process from start to finish. You see everything from the complete flash and softbox setup (including all the gear used), to the shoot (including all the camera and flash settings), to the all-important part that most books don’t dare include—the post-processing and retouching in Lightroom and Photoshop. This book also breaks new ground in the visual way it teaches you exactly how and where to set up your flash. There aren’t any sketches or drawings—you see the actual lighting setup, taken from above during the live shoot, so you can see exactly where everything’s positioned (the subject, the photographer, the lighting, the background, you name it—you see it all). Plus, you’ll see side, over-the-shoulder, and more behind-the-scenes views (with all the exact measurements), so you can absolutely nail the lighting every time. Scott has trained thousands of photographers during his Light It. Shoot It. Retouch It. LIVE! seminar tour and he’s taken that incredibly popular style of learning and put it into book form. Now you can have a real-world reference for getting the same looks today’s clients are clamoring for. You’ll • The step-by-step setups for creating the most-requested and sought-after lighting looks using flash. • How to get more out of one flash than you ever thought you could (this is worth it alone!). • How to control and shape the light from your flash without breaking the bank. • The camera settings, the gear, and the flash power settings for every shot. • The retouching techniques the pros really use today to make their subjects look their very best. • How to retouch hair, eyes, lips, and skin, plus lots of other little retouching tricks that make a really big difference. • The measurements for everything, so you know exactly how far to position the flash from your subject, and your subject from the camera, and how high to position each and every light. It’s all there, so you can’t miss. • A host of insider tricks, invaluable shortcuts, and kick-butt special effects to give you a real advantage over the competition.
And, the entire book is written in Scott’s trademark casual, step-by-step, plain-English style. There’s never been a book like it and you’re going to love the results you get from it.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1: Beauty Look Clamshell Lighting
Chapter 2: Dramatic Portrait
Chapter 3: Simple One-Flash Look
Chapter 4: Location Flash with Backlight
Chapter 5: Contrasty Side Lighting
Chapter 6: Corporate Headshot (Male)
Chapter 7: Corporate Headshot (Female)
Chapter 8: Window Light + Flash
Chapter 9: Sports Look
Chapter 10: Fashion Lighting
Chapter 11: Gel Color Effects
Chapter 12: Rim Lighting
Chapter 13: One-Flash Location
Chapter 14: Compositing Portraits
Chapter 15: Sunset Location

Genres: Photography, Nonfiction, Reference

296 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2011

About the author

Scott Kelby is an American author and publisher of periodicals dealing in Macintosh and Personal Computer software, specifically for design professionals, photographers, and artists.

Kelby is editor and publisher of Photoshop User and Layers magazines, president and co-founder of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP) and is president of Kelby Media Group, an Oldsmar, Florida-based software training, education, and publishing firm.
Kelby is a photographer, designer, and the award-winning author of more than 40 books.

Reviews

[Reemooh Ram · Rating 5 out of 5]

كتااااااااب بطل تطبيقات ودروس تصوير وورش فوتوشوب
الكتاب ثمييييييييييييييين 👌🏻

[Dave Edens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a prize for winning my local groups World Wide Photo Walk this year. At the time I had no studio lighting equipment and was not sure how much use I would get out of it, but new the writing would be classic Scott Kelby so there had to be something in there for me. Turns out nearly every chapter has something every photographer can use. There are loads of tips in the retouching sections for any type of shooter, and some of the lighting tips help make you more aware of light in general.

If you've gotten any of Scott's previous books, you know the quality will be there, so get off the fence and grab it.

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read but great as a reference to return to frequently when I get more lighting equipment.

[Aziz Jaà]

thanx

[Martin Iotchev · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a beginner, then this book is probably a 5/5 since it shows you a lot of light setups at once and how to shoot them. If you have more experience, you've probably seen most of these already.

My main issue with the book is that it should not be a book at all, but rather a series of videos. The retouching part would be a lot easier to follow and understand and faster to digest. That being said, there are some good tips and tricks in the book.

[Middms Mokhtar · Rating 5 out of 5]

الكتاب ممتاز

[Zaza Wgarger Taza]

Xxxxxxxxcccg

[Idelise Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative, made me comfortable in understanding and working / controlling light.

[Katsu · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is not about a studio, not about a light and not about shot. It is ONLY about Retouch.
And it would be OK if title suggests that. But it doesn't. Subtitle suggests that this book will learn you how to make photo starting from empty studio. So unfortunately this is also a lie. Lights configuration is shown and no decision process or any kind of detailed explanation why is no mentioned. Also there are no information why this frame was chosen for further retouch.
I expected also lights and frame explanations so I'm disappointed but retouch also is not interesting...
Yes, there are some tips and tricks but same things are repeated over and over again. And no this important or hard ones but such like instruction of creating new layer or how to open given tool...
This book also maybe considered as an databases of Photoshop shortcuts. And always both versions, Windows + Mac OS. It would be better and simpler if there were some translation at the and and no over and over again the same shortcuts (plural because always Windows and Mac OS). And as I said, easy things are repeated, hard one unfortunately no...
If you are looking for PS tips and tricks for portraits it may be useful but for sure it is not what is in title. I am no ever an inch closer to knowing how to build studio than I was before reading this.
If you are interested in lightening techniques better read for example McNally's books.
It is first book of Kelby I have read. I will consider reading another one, but only because I heard a lot of good about him. But based on this book only I would never read any of his other books. For now he is for me a retoucher not a photographer - he prefers to make average photo and retouch it than make it good at first.

[Sarah Whisted · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book will come in more handy for me further down my journey to photographer. Perhaps it's a little beyond my current status. I don't have a lot of the suggested equipment and apparently have a lot more to learn about my camera's functions before I can put them to use properly. I also do not have photoshop as an editing means (I bought a separate book for the program I do have). Still, I think the set-ups will come in handy one day and at least now I know what kind of equipment I should be investing my money into.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the seminar based on this and the book is a wonderful "how-to" guide. There were this ideas presented here that myself and a friend were surprised and amused to find the teachers in our photography school would never consider... Or would down right say would never be acceptable "in the real world".

Scott Kelby may first and foremost be a marketer, but in the world of photography he has his finger firmly on the pulse of popular techniques and trends.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this extremely useful for step-by-step post-processing guidance in Photoshop. The "retouch it" was more helpful to me than the "light it" and "shoot it" aspects, but it will be different for every reader/user. The eBook is fantastically well organised - it's clear a lot of thought went into producing it. It's one I'll refer back to, I'm sure.

[Rebecca Bridges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scott Kelby books are always so easy to follow along with and "Light It, Shoot It, Retouch It" is no exception! There are some great techniques laid out "step by step" for even the most amateur photographer.

[Reem Alshaikh · Rating 5 out of 5]

كتاب ليس للقراءه بقدر مايجب ان يملكه كل مصور محترف
لمعرفه الاضاءاه والتعديل والتصوير
كتاب جدا رائع سيلازمني دائما من حيث التطبيق والتفاصيل
من المواقف الطريفه ان لم اكن املك مبلغ الكتاب ولكن اكتشفت بعد شرائي لعده كتب ان سأحصل على كوبون بسعر الكتاب فكان من نصيبي
وتستعيره صديقاتي المصورات

[Dicky stefanus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really nice. He can combine many gears, and really offer great tips how really to do it (based on the experience). Like the part to get a studio light with wheels. The language is easy to comprehend, and its make the reader wonder where is d next book about.

[Dominic Forbes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to follow. Mainly about Photoshopping after a shoot. The lighting set ups aren't very detailed in a technical sense but good food for thought if you have the equipment. I use PS everyday and learnt several new techniques.
A good introduction and easy to see how to delve further elsewhere.

[Michel Guindon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic step by step guide

This book is a fantastic step by step guide to get you started. With this as your jumping off point your creativity will be able to expand upon the use of these techniques.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent for understanding lighting placement and how to touch up after and it doesn't require a major investment in equipment.

[Jakenv · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kelby books are always informative. Would recommend to any new or semi experienced DSLR users who want to rev up their ability while processing is an additional bonus.

[Ahamd Mesallm · Rating 4 out of 5]

اذا كنت محب لتصوير الأستديو فهذا الكتاب سيساعدك على فهم توزيع الأضاءة و معالجة صورة البورترية بالفتوشوب

[Fatima Al Shabeeb · Rating 4 out of 5]

أحببت تفاصيل الشرح المرفقة بالصور والمعدات ومراعاة سكولبي للبدائل الغير متوفرة

[Ahmad Aea · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing book

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was well written and had a lot of useful information. I was hoping for more on how to decide settings and how the camera and light work together.

[محمد كامل]

كتاب اضاءه تصوير تنقيح