As a photographer, Zack Arias is a name you must know. He is a photographer, teacher and author who is known for his candid take on the state of this industry that we all love. Every time I have come across him – as a public speaker at a conference or randomly on the streets of a city – I am always left in awe of his humility and his generosity towards photographers.

Several years back when Zack was on the road, visiting city after city teaching his simple approach to off-camera lighting to photographers who were either confused or scared of their strobes, I managed to attend first his workshop in Boston and then later in New York City. These were the famous OneLight Workshops that I may have referred to here on this blog from time to time. I can honestly say that Zach was one of the first people to demystify off-camera lighting for me. If you went to his workshops let hear a collective “Amen” below in the comments because I think only you folks know what I am talking about.

Instead of dreading my Nikon SB-900's, I embrace them, play with them and treat them as toys. I keep making creative mistakes and learn from them. It's really the very foundation of Zack's teaching, I believe. Now, my memory is fading so forgive me if I get my facts all tangled up. Either the workshops came first or his OneLight DVD came first, but having experienced both, I felt I was in lighting heaven. Again, if you attended a workshop and own version 1.0 of the OneLight DVD, please comment below. I want to know who you are.

Zack just announced a new project called DEDPXL that I want you to look at if you are serious about embracing off-camera lighting.

Zack also announced OneLight 2.0 (though this time it will only be available as a download). Check out the intro video below for it. From what I can tell, DEDPXL is both a store and a school. The first assignment and all those that will focus not so much on technique but in guiding you to see better. If you are serious about constantly improving your photography, I would take Zack up on this monthly assignment and join the Flickr group to post your images.

The video is 7 hours long! I thought version 1.0 of the OneLight DVD was exceptionally produced and I am willing to bet this new version is going to rock your socks off. [I do not make a dime for saying so … just passing on a resource you shouldn't miss.]

Right now, OneLight 2.0 is available for pre-order at the crazy low price of $50. I recall the original DVD costing $150 or so and was still a great deal. So, if you are looking for a great resource to learn off-camera lighting, THIS IS IT. The full video download will be available on March 31st or soon after.

So, you are probably wondering if I am going to buy the new version of OneLight. Is that your question? You bet I will because with me, the learning never stops. How about you?

If you have been an avid reader of Tiffinbox, you've read David Jackson‘s popular guest posts.

If you haven't, here is the first one and here is the second one.

Dave is an award-winning advertising, commercial and entertainment photographer based in Appleton, Wisconsin. He and his crew are known to make graphically intense portraits for bands and businesses. He has the ability to sculpt light and create images that pop. Take a look at some of these images!

I first learned about Dave through Zack Arias. It's true, long before I became a friend, I was a fan. I watched and read Dave's whimsical blog posts and loved how his personality came through in every single one of them. He is definitely not afraid to show his clients who he truly is. Lean and tall, with a glowing beard and tattoos, he has an august presence about him. When you get to talking to him, you immediately see how humble, generous and really gentle this guy is.

In the last two years, I have flown out to Appleton, Wisconsin twice, to learn from Dave. I discovered through the course of his workshops that just observing wouldn't cut it. He expected me to play and learn and make mistakes and ask why. We listened to Dave for a bit as he showed a few lighting scenarios and explained how he approached a specific project. Then it was up to us to roll up our sleeves and work.

Dave is clear that the intent of his workshops aren't to leave with a set of “portfolio” images but feel really comfortable taking those first steps towards creating your own back at home. Both the workshops ran long, only because Dave wanted to be sure that all of the attendee questions were answered and that he had truly helped everyone out.

I can tell you that my lighting has improved dramatically since signing up with Dave. Please be sure that he didn't pay me to say that. Take a look at my work and follow me on Facebook where you will see my personal experiments with lighting.

As a busy studio that's nabbing all kinds of awards for their work, it's awfully difficult to get Dave and company to teach a workshop outside of Wisconsin. As I said above, I had to fly to Appleton, Wisconsin! In rare form, Dave is coming to teach at Inspire Photo Seminars in February.

Since he is going to be in Sturbridge, Massachusetts already, he figured he would give those photographers in the New England area a chance to sign up for his workshops closer to their homes – Breaking the Rules Workshop and F/What? Workshop.

You'll notice there is an option to register for both days and save a bundle. If you are new to off-camera flash lighting, you may want to consider the one-two-punch. However, if you are comfortable with your f/stops, shutter speeds and ISO's, then skip the first one and sign up for just the second. Either way, I know you are going to come away learning something new that you will use on a daily basis in your photography business.

So, register here and now. [There is a good chance I will be assisting Dave during his workshops in Sturbridge, MA, so if you do register, please say hello!]

As a creative person in business, I am sure you strike that fine balance between craft and commerce. Most of us toil on the craft but forget that what we love doing can and also should earn us a living wage.

I've been listening to a few industry leaders who not only talk-the-talk but also walk-the-walk. Their solution is this: approach your genre of photography with a system in place.

You see, when you have a process to follow each and every time you photograph someone, you actually gain a creative edge, not lose it. Stay with me for a moment.

Here is what happens at least for me. I've noticed that the more I follow a script or a series of steps consistently, I am able to gain on time which in turn allows me to “play” and be creative even more. It's a win-win scenario that finally dawned on me.

Now, I've found one big stumbling block for photographers is the use of off-camera flashes. When photographers state that they are “natural light” photographers in their website biographies, I have to wonder if they are simply declaring that they: a) do not own a flash or b) do not feel they can learn flash photography because they feel it is too complicated.

For those photographers who wish to specialize in high school senior portraits, it is now even more important to know and use off-camera flash. Why? Very simply your clients are expecting their images to pop and there is really no other way to not only enhance their experience working with you, but also see that the final images are so very different than what their friends in school have received from your competition.

There are lots of resources now to learn flash photography. But there is finally a useful guide book that will walk you through a system to use studio strobes or off-camera flashes, especially if you are photographing high school seniors.

Jen Basford, Edmond, Oklahoma based high school senior portrait photographer is an industry leader in her niche. Not only does she have a busy studio, she also founded Seniors Ignite, a conference for senior portrait photographers. Next year's venue is at the very swanky The Westin Lake, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jen is no stranger to Tiffinbox either. You can read her posts “3 Marketing Ideas For Senior Portrait Photographers” or “Are Senior Portraits Your Target Market?”

It is Jen's system that you will learn about in the Fashion Lighting Guide For Senior Portraits. If you ever felt like tapping a pro to ask them “how” they light or pose their high school senior clients, this is the guide book to get. It's available between Monday, September 16th and Sunday, September 22nd. Check the timer below. If you see all zeroes below, the deal is gone and Jen tells me she isn't bringing it back anytime soon (if at all). This isn't some pushy sales ploy trying to get you to buy it. If you feel that you need it after reading this mini-review, I trust that you will jump in and buy it before the buzzer goes off and disappears. So, are we cool?

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In the 71-page Fashion Lighting Guide For Senior Portraits, Jen offers us a peek into over 20 of her go-to lighting setups. She walks you through indoor and outdoor shoots. The guide is peppered with examples of her work, so just as soon as you see a lighting setup, you see a series of examples that show you how Jen was able to accomplish this.

Each lighting scenior includes the detailed setup, a few comments from me on the setup, and several posing ideas using the actual lighting.

The bonus? All of this is also available for your iPhone or iPad, so you could take the guide with you on shoots and refer to it as you photograph your high school senior clients.

Now, Jen's clients are almost all high school senior girls. So in the event Jen publishes an update to this guide, I have just one request: let's see some examples of how she would light and pose high school senior boys as well.

This deal is pretty sweet, but I am going to make it even sweeter for you.

Not only will you get yourself an excellent go-to guidebook, but if you buy it using my affiliate link (that supports this blog), I'll create a private Facebook group where you can upload images you've learned to create from the guide, for individual critiques by me.

You want in? So, here is what you need to do:

1) Buy the guide today for $149
2) LIKE the Tiffinbox Facebook Page
3) Forward me your receipt (showing your name)

I'll add you to the exclusive group. Please note that I need at least 10 people to sign up before the timer goes away. And, the learning can go on! How does that sound to you? Sound off below!

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Buy the Fashion Lighting Guide For Senior Portraits Now!

If you have read David Jackson's two mega posts on Tiffinbox, you already know what his photography and lighting workshops are going to be like: Raw and real.

Haven't read the posts yet? Here you go: An Open Letter To A Photographer and On Chasing Rainbows And Unicorns.

I have had the pleasure to visit his Appleton, Wisconsin studio twice in one year – once to attend his Breaking The Rules workshop and the second time to attend his then new f/what? workshop.

“The Breaking The Rules workshop is essentially designed to give emerging photographers a fresh, new start on re-evaluating the way we approach creating dynamic images by examining the struggles faced in finding our unique voices.”

“Whether you’re looking to expand your current approach to location lighting or create dynamic lighting effects, we will move toward re-inventing the way we use studio strobes to spark a new level of creativity in our portrait shooting process.”

If memory serves me right, at both workshops, the number of students were limited to between eight and 10. The level of instruction and demonstration was high. I recall working late into the night until David had answered everyone's questions about photography, business or lighting. We also played a lot. By that I mean, we experimented with lighting scenarios. If something didn't work, we moved quickly to some other set up that did. We were challenged. We were asked to discuss our “why's” and “how's.” On the whole, a lively group of people joined me; all inspired to make better images for themselves and their clients.

David and studio manager, Trevor Nackers, made me feel at home. There was always something to munch on, when I got hungry. The lunches were simple and fast, but healthy. The dinners were truly communal and welcoming as well.

I've been asked before why I attend so many workshops. Trust me when I say I am hyper-selective when I choose to go to one. I've done my homework. I've often reached out and badgered the workshop instructor with questions (just as David!) and I've made darn sure there will be a return on investment. From what I experienced in the two workshops I have attended, David put his heart and soul into making this a successful workshop for each attendee. If you have specific questions about lighting, David goes to great lengths to address them and provide you with a solution. One isn't left wondering about how to approach a portrait session.

The other bonus is meeting other photographers. Often they become friends of mine who contribute to Tiffinbox. Amanda Reesburg and Brett Stoddart are both fine examples.

It was also such a thrill to meet and get to know Brandon and his wife (and photography blogging phenom) Jamie Swanson.

Ok, so you are probably wondering why I decided to post this now. Here are a few reasons:

1) In my opinion, beginner or advanced photographers can always learn to light better (read this interview with Joe McNally about why lighting matters the most to us) and this is an awesome opportunity

2) David and his crew have incredibly large hearts and want to help you become better photographers today

3) The cost of each of these workshops – $250 – is laughably low (and yes, I have told David this), so you are getting tremendous value. Sign up for both and David's going to save you an additional $50!

4) These workshops will be the last ones David is offering for 2013

5) Tiffinbox is sponsoring / partnering with David and will be responsible for the bagels and cream cheese for both workshops (how appropriate, eh?)

Please know that I am not getting paid to promote David's workshops. In fact, I am planning to be at the June 10th & 11th workshops and am footing my own bill to get there. So, yes, not only is Tiffinbox sponsoring the workshops, but I am solely responsible for my hotel, flight and rental car. I intend to be at the workshop only as an observer/participant. It is one of the handful of workshops I truly believe in and I look forward to seeing you there. If you are interested, register for them here.