Neon photography has been popular recently. Neon photography is characterized by the use of ultraviolet light, as well as custom neon signs. Photos are brighter and more appealing when they include neon signs of different sizes, colors, and shapes. Late evening is the best moment to shoot since neon lights are more effective in the dark. Follow my tips for photography with neon that can be useful when shooting your first-night photos.
20 Tips for Neon Photography
Here are some suggestions to help you get the most out of neon lights photography and take amazing pictures.
Tip 1. Get Information on Neon Photography
Neon photography is described as a street-style portrait made using a neon light source. These photos are usually captured outdoors, but photographers may also design the lighting for studios.
Urban neon photography
Photographs taken at night are unique due to their charm and appeal. Common objects, that you don’t notice during the day, acquire new features and a new look. You begin to notice familiar urban objects and scenes differently. They’re stunningly visible due to the evening lighting (or absence of it). Neon city photography requires the utilization of long exposures. There are a variety of approaches and techniques for capturing various objects and kinds of objects. There is no need to fret about changing the brightness and sun.
Neon portrait photography
Due to the distinctive look of the megalopolises, this is a popular trend in modern photography. It’s not possible to not arrange a photo shoot in this urban style at night in the evening when the entire place is illuminated by neon lights of different shades. Many photographers also organize the necessary lighting in their studios to shoot incredible neon portraits.
Neon sign photography
Custom neon signs have become a frequent choice for photographers as well as passers-by since the beginning of their existence. The neon sign was frequently referred to as”a “living flame” by the first people to notice it. However, it’s quite difficult to come across original signs. If you’re looking for photography of neon signs, take your camera during evening walks, going to the films, or going to the movies. You may stumble upon incredible lighting in a shop window or the sign of a tiny cafe in the most surprising locations.
Tip 2. Shoot at the most suitable Time
Decide on the best time for your neon lighting photography. If you’re just attracted by the signboard, then almost any time will work for you. If you are looking to take pictures of the surrounding area, then Blue Hour is the best option. This is the 10 minutes after sunset or 15 minutes before sunrise. In such conditions, you will have enough light to ensure that surrounding objects can be seen. It’s dark enough that neon signs still appear great. If you just require signs, complete darkness is ideal. Night photography lets you look at textures that aren’t quite as interesting in the sun.
In these conditions, you’ll have enough light to ensure that surrounding objects are visible. However, it will be dark, so neon signs will still look great. Complete darkness will be ideal for situations when you need only signs.
Tip 3. An experiment in Deserted and Quiet Places
You don’t have to concentrate in noisy areas if you have trouble concentrating. Instead, look for peaceful spots to take photos of neon lights with no distractions. Be prepared for neon signs to be found in busy and noisy places. This is one of the biggest disadvantages of neon street photography. What to do if you do not want to shoot amid a crowd of people who are rushing and pushing? Spend a little more time and find an interesting neon sign hanging away from the busy and crowded streets. You’ll have all the space you need and be free to explore as much as you can.
Tip 4. Photograph Models
You could come up with an amazing idea by inviting models to shoot under neon lights. Request a model to sit down in front of a sign that is blue that says “slow down”. Reflectors can be utilized to avoid shadows around the face. Also, you can employ a reflector for lightening specific areas of the photo during photo editing. Neon portraits are the bright and unique images of portrait photography. When taking pictures of neon signage, pay attention to certain colors and forms of lighting. If you plan to shoot portraits, I recommend you go through the course How to Shoot Portraits in Any Location with Frank Doorhof to get started taking stunning portraits and headshots for the first time.
Tip 5.Portrait Pro Lightroom Presets
Photography from the top allows you to record the subtle changes in light and shadow.
If you shoot from the bottom, you may visually lift the subject within the frame or increase its size and significance. But this angle should not be used for portraits using neon photography. It will result in a funny face and a huge neck and chin.
If you take your photos at the level of the ground, then you’ll be able to capture a picture where you can breathe life into an inanimate object.
Level shooting can be done when the camera is placed in a side-by-side position with the subject. Such a view is considered to be neutral and natural.
Tip 6. Benefit from Environmental Light
Even the smallest of changes in lighting could affect the final result. If you shoot at night or dusk it is essential to use every light source. The subject should be bright so that you can see less blur in your photos of neon. Make sure the light hits the side of the model, instead of the back. To solve this problem simply instruct the model to move slightly in the right direction.
Tip 7. Use Special Lighting
Any neon sign of any size could provide ample light sources. A sign that is even a foot in size can be used to illuminate models for portrait photography. They could be as easy as “Pizza” and “Open”. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different ideas, and you could create some real masterpieces. It is possible to use neon lighting to improve the lighting and color of your night-time portraits.
Portraits Lighting the Shot
Before starting to work with lighting for photography, I suggest reading this book, in which you’ll learn the basics about lighting and equipment for studios that are useful for getting the perfect light for your photographs. READ THE book
Tip 8. Add Suitable Props
I suggest using various props for photography using neon. For instance, it could be a prism. A prism is a great tool to add subtle effects to your photos. The light that is reflected off it positively affects the image. CDs are a good choice for similar purposes.
- I suggest that you learn more about the crystal ball technique and how it can be utilized to create photos using neon.
Tip 9. Shoot RAW for Saving Image Data
While some prefer JPEG files, I suggest using RAW files. It will save more data and get better quality. This format will also make it easier to modify your photos. You won’t be able to skip this step of work due to the various brightnesses of neon lights. You must know how to edit neon light photos. The size of RAW files is a significant disadvantage. These photos consume lots of space on your memory card. It is important to note that before processing your photo you need to convert RAW images.
Tip 10. Apply Split Toning
This is a well-known effect that was widely employed in the early times of film. Split Toning involves the tinting of shadows in black-and-white pictures in one color and light areas in another. Make sure that the contrast is appropriate to the colors. Use basic knowledge of color theory for your neon photographs. Do not forget about the saturation of the shadows. Keep in mind that the light highlights are always light and yellow. The deepest shades are the darkest blue.
Tips 11. Be Careful with Filters
Filters are not something that professional photographers consider seriously. Filters are an excellent tool if you want to lessen the blur in your images. You can use the ‘Fade tool to smooth out shadows that are noisy and create the illusion of a more clean image. “Exposure to the correct” technique is frequently employed in photography using neon. The essence of this trick is to take a brighter picture than you need and then reduce the brightness. It is also possible to reduce noise. Be careful not to overdo it while photo editing. This should not be overlooked.
Tip 12. Learn to Study Your Camera
It is important to know the strengths and weaknesses of your camera. Certain models can produce overly sharp images, while others may underexpose the images. Some cameras have applications that allow you to adjust the various settings of neon photography and others aren’t equipped to do so. For amazing photographs try your camera out and discover as much you can about it.