Uploaded May 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
It's common to only be given a few minutes to shoot portraits of celebrities, musicians, and other subjects. This video demonstrates how some planning, preparation, and having an assistant or two can yield multiple high-quality photographs from eight visually different setups all in under five minutes. Working this efficiently will definitely be noticed by these types of clients and subjects, and will often lead to getting hired again by them for future shoots.
The photographer in this video is Jeremy Saffer, who has been shooting portrait photography for over 20 years. He has photographed Johnny Depp, Metallica, and Slayer, to name a few. One of the keys to Jeremy's speed is using continuous LED lighting instead of strobes, and the Nanlite PavoTube II 30XR LED Tube Lights and the Forza 300B II Bi-Color Spotlight are some of the tools he relies on for mission-critical shoots like this one.
Notice how in setup #3 Jeremy asks his assistant change the PavoTube II 30X tube settings from 5600K to the Fire pixel effect. This happens almost instantly because the assistant controls the tubes wirelessly using the free NANLINK app from their smartphone. Also notice that most of the lights on set that can be run on batteries are running on batteries. Not having to worry about AC cables being dragged across the floor saves time and lets you move quicker. All of the lights Jeremy uses in this shoot have the ability to run on batteries.
Lights, modifiers, and accessories Jeremy used in this shoot:
PavoTube II 30XR LED Pixel Tubes – nanliteus.com/nanlite-pavotube-ii-30xr-4-rgbww-led-pixel-tube-with-built-in-crmx
Nanlite Forza 300B II Bi-Color LED Spotlight - nanliteus.com/nanlite-forza-300b-ii-bi-color-led-spotlight
Nanlite Para 90 Quick-Open Softbox - nanliteus.com/nanlite-para-90-quick-open-softbox-with-bowens-mount-35in
The mount Jeremy uses to attach the PavoTube II 30XR’s to the stands - nanliteus.com/nanlite-pavotube-single-t12-led-tube-holder-with-swivel-ball-joint-and-5-8in-baby-pin
Nanlite Forza 60C (the light that created the circular red background) - nanliteus.com/nanlite-forza-60c-rgblac-led-monolight-kit-includes-battery-grip-and-bowens-s-mount-adapter
Learn more about Jeremy Saffer here (taking one of his workshops is highly recommended):
jeremysaffer.com
If you’re curious about the band that was photographed in this video, you can check them out here:
deadlandsband.com
Very special thanks to the band featured:
Deadlands (youtube.com/@UCJTJTtl2n2TtpDQebYfO48w )
deadlandsband.com
They're on tour soon so catch them if you can!
deadlandsband.com/tour
Follow them!
instagram.com/deadlandsband
tiktok.com/@deadlandsband?_t=8ai0zdgupqw&_r=1
Photo Crew:
Photographer - Jeremy Saffer (instagram.com/jeremysaffer/)
Assistants - Tara Leary (instagram.com/thetaraleary/), Kate Monahan (instagram.com/kate_e_monahan/), Madeleine Budd (instagram.com/madbudd/)
Video Crew:
Director & Producer - Kelly Mena (instagram.com/kelly_mena/)
Cinematographer - Ally Visuals (instagram.com/allyvisuals/)
Production Coordinator - Talisa Velez (instagram.com/filmbytv_/)
Location - Uptown Shots ( @uptownshots1411 instagram.com/uptownshots/)
Special thanks to Saramonic for the audio (saramonicusa.com/)
For everything Nanlite:
nanliteus.com
Follow us on social!
instagram.com/nanliteusa
youtube.com/channel/UCGRPfrV2hSuBmUllQpP7Gbg
facebook.com/NanLiteUSA
…and be sure to subscribe to this channel for more helpful videos like this one!
It's common to only be given a few minutes to shoot portraits of celebrities, musicians, and other subjects. This video demonstrates how some planning, preparation, and having an assistant or two can yield multiple high-quality photographs from eight visually different setups all in under five minutes. Working this efficiently will definitely be noticed by these types of clients and subjects, and will often lead to getting hired again by them for future shoots.
The photographer in this video is Jeremy Saffer, who has been shooting portrait photography for over 20 years. He has photographed Johnny Depp, Metallica, and Slayer, to name a few. One of the keys to Jeremy's speed is using continuous LED lighting instead of strobes, and the Nanlite PavoTube II 30XR LED Tube Lights and the Forza 300B II Bi-Color Spotlight are some of the tools he relies on for mission-critical shoots like this one.
Notice how in setup #3 Jeremy asks his assistant change the PavoTube II 30X tube settings from 5600K to the Fire pixel effect. This happens almost instantly because the assistant controls the tubes wirelessly using the free NANLINK app from their smartphone. Also notice that most of the lights on set that can be run on batteries are running on batteries. Not having to worry about AC cables being dragged across the floor saves time and lets you move quicker. All of the lights Jeremy uses in this shoot have the ability to run on batteries.
Lights, modifiers, and accessories Jeremy used in this shoot:
PavoTube II 30XR LED Pixel Tubes – nanliteus.com/nanlite-pavotube-ii-30xr-4-rgbww-led-pixel-tube-with-built-in-crmx
Nanlite Forza 300B II Bi-Color LED Spotlight - nanliteus.com/nanlite-forza-300b-ii-bi-color-led-spotlight
Nanlite Para 90 Quick-Open Softbox - nanliteus.com/nanlite-para-90-quick-open-softbox-with-bowens-mount-35in
The mount Jeremy uses to attach the PavoTube II 30XR’s to the stands - nanliteus.com/nanlite-pavotube-single-t12-led-tube-holder-with-swivel-ball-joint-and-5-8in-baby-pin
Nanlite Forza 60C (the light that created the circular red background) - nanliteus.com/nanlite-forza-60c-rgblac-led-monolight-kit-includes-battery-grip-and-bowens-s-mount-adapter
Learn more about Jeremy Saffer here (taking one of his workshops is highly recommended):
jeremysaffer.com
If you’re curious about the band that was photographed in this video, you can check them out here:
deadlandsband.com
Very special thanks to the band featured:
Deadlands (youtube.com/@UCJTJTtl2n2TtpDQebYfO48w )
deadlandsband.com
They're on tour soon so catch them if you can!
deadlandsband.com/tour
Follow them!
instagram.com/deadlandsband
tiktok.com/@deadlandsband?_t=8ai0zdgupqw&_r=1
Photo Crew:
Photographer - Jeremy Saffer (instagram.com/jeremysaffer/)
Assistants - Tara Leary (instagram.com/thetaraleary/), Kate Monahan (instagram.com/kate_e_monahan/), Madeleine Budd (instagram.com/madbudd/)
Video Crew:
Director & Producer - Kelly Mena (instagram.com/kelly_mena/)
Cinematographer - Ally Visuals (instagram.com/allyvisuals/)
Production Coordinator - Talisa Velez (instagram.com/filmbytv_/)
Location - Uptown Shots ( @uptownshots1411 instagram.com/uptownshots/)
Special thanks to Saramonic for the audio (saramonicusa.com/)
For everything Nanlite:
nanliteus.com
Follow us on social!
instagram.com/nanliteusa
youtube.com/channel/UCGRPfrV2hSuBmUllQpP7Gbg
facebook.com/NanLiteUSA
…and be sure to subscribe to this channel for more helpful videos like this one!
