Uploaded June 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In today’s photo deconstruction I’m going to show you how I use complementary gels and 4 lights to create an image that really pops.
A lot of beginners starting out with gels just slap them on their lights and hope for the best, which generally leads to lack luster results. This is why it’s important to famliraize yourself with color theory and color harmony — which basically are a set of “rules” for how colors work together to create impact and mood in your photographs.
There are many different color harmonies you can work, here I choose to use complementary colors. I wanted to play with warm and cool tones and create contrast that would make the subject pop.
This image was taken during my Advanced Lighting Techniques workshop which teaches these techniques and many more.
As mentioned above, this image was lit with 4 lights.
The main light was a bare bulb with blue gel and 20 degree grid hitting the front of the set here. Light number 2 was a strip softbox from behind with a blue gel as a rim light.
Next, I wanted to add a bit of warmth and contrast, so I had added a 3rd light with an orange gel and no modifier and pointed it directly on the white backdrop. The idea here was to give the illusion of a sunset and create a nice gradient on the background.
The last light was directed at the subject from the left with another orange gel and 10 degree grid so that it looked like they were unified with the background.
Post Processing
Straight out of camera: 4:08
Overall, the biggest issue straight out of camera (4:08) was that I needed to bring up a little bit of fill to the shadows. I also popped the clarity and last but not least, I just cleaned up a bit of areas in the image with retouching.
I hope you can see the benefit of pre-planning your gel themed shoots by utilizing color theory. Everything here meshed well together and the end result was a high contrast image with a lot of pop.
Let me know in the comments if you've used color theory in your photoshoots! 👇
📸 Camera Settings:
✅ 1/200th
✅ f/8
✅ ISO 400
📸 Gear Used:
✅ Canon EOS R5: https://prf.hn/l/7oZobqW/
✅ Canon 24-70 2.8: https://prf.hn/l/QLjXpjz/
✅ Profoto D2: (discontinued, linking to new D3): https://prf.hn/l/K9ENnmk/
✅ Profoto 1/4' Strip Softbox + Grid: https://prf.hn/l/7gzpRAa/ https://prf.hn/l/jXO1wM9/
✅ Profoto 10 Degree Grid: https://prf.hn/l/kVkP9q9/
✅ Profoto 20 Degree Grid: https://prf.hn/l/ngQVpqz/
✅ Profoto Air Remote: https://prf.hn/l/Kz4yPNW/
✅ Avenger D600 boom arm: https://prf.hn/l/EJDBPD2/
✅ Savage C-Stand: https://prf.hn/l/kV0wEB3/
✅ TetherTools Tether Cable: https://prf.hn/l/vwzRaoJ/
✅ Rosco Creative Effects Gel kit: https://prf.hn/l/7gzpR9a/
🔥 To learn more color gels photography check out my class the Magic of Gels: https://lindsayadler.photo/gels
If you're interested in learning these techniques in person also be sure to check out my live fashion intensive: https://lindsayadler.photo/advanced-lighting-workshop
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👉 Portfolio: lindsayadlerphotography.com
👉 Instagram: instagram.com/lindsayadler_photo
👉 Facebook: facebook.com/lindsayadlerphotography
👉 Twitter: twitter.com/lindsayadler
👉 Education: learn.lindsayadlerphotography.com
Some of the links in this description contain affiliate links to partners.
In today’s photo deconstruction I’m going to show you how I use complementary gels and 4 lights to create an image that really pops.
A lot of beginners starting out with gels just slap them on their lights and hope for the best, which generally leads to lack luster results. This is why it’s important to famliraize yourself with color theory and color harmony — which basically are a set of “rules” for how colors work together to create impact and mood in your photographs.
There are many different color harmonies you can work, here I choose to use complementary colors. I wanted to play with warm and cool tones and create contrast that would make the subject pop.
This image was taken during my Advanced Lighting Techniques workshop which teaches these techniques and many more.
As mentioned above, this image was lit with 4 lights.
The main light was a bare bulb with blue gel and 20 degree grid hitting the front of the set here. Light number 2 was a strip softbox from behind with a blue gel as a rim light.
Next, I wanted to add a bit of warmth and contrast, so I had added a 3rd light with an orange gel and no modifier and pointed it directly on the white backdrop. The idea here was to give the illusion of a sunset and create a nice gradient on the background.
The last light was directed at the subject from the left with another orange gel and 10 degree grid so that it looked like they were unified with the background.
Post Processing
Straight out of camera: 4:08
Overall, the biggest issue straight out of camera (4:08) was that I needed to bring up a little bit of fill to the shadows. I also popped the clarity and last but not least, I just cleaned up a bit of areas in the image with retouching.
I hope you can see the benefit of pre-planning your gel themed shoots by utilizing color theory. Everything here meshed well together and the end result was a high contrast image with a lot of pop.
Let me know in the comments if you've used color theory in your photoshoots! 👇
📸 Camera Settings:
✅ 1/200th
✅ f/8
✅ ISO 400
📸 Gear Used:
✅ Canon EOS R5: https://prf.hn/l/7oZobqW/
✅ Canon 24-70 2.8: https://prf.hn/l/QLjXpjz/
✅ Profoto D2: (discontinued, linking to new D3): https://prf.hn/l/K9ENnmk/
✅ Profoto 1/4' Strip Softbox + Grid: https://prf.hn/l/7gzpRAa/ https://prf.hn/l/jXO1wM9/
✅ Profoto 10 Degree Grid: https://prf.hn/l/kVkP9q9/
✅ Profoto 20 Degree Grid: https://prf.hn/l/ngQVpqz/
✅ Profoto Air Remote: https://prf.hn/l/Kz4yPNW/
✅ Avenger D600 boom arm: https://prf.hn/l/EJDBPD2/
✅ Savage C-Stand: https://prf.hn/l/kV0wEB3/
✅ TetherTools Tether Cable: https://prf.hn/l/vwzRaoJ/
✅ Rosco Creative Effects Gel kit: https://prf.hn/l/7gzpR9a/
🔥 To learn more color gels photography check out my class the Magic of Gels: https://lindsayadler.photo/gels
If you're interested in learning these techniques in person also be sure to check out my live fashion intensive: https://lindsayadler.photo/advanced-lighting-workshop
----
👉 Portfolio: lindsayadlerphotography.com
👉 Instagram: instagram.com/lindsayadler_photo
👉 Facebook: facebook.com/lindsayadlerphotography
👉 Twitter: twitter.com/lindsayadler
👉 Education: learn.lindsayadlerphotography.com
Some of the links in this description contain affiliate links to partners.
