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Profoto Academy: an invaluable resource

Posted on Jan 18, 2021

Improve your photography skills by enrolling in the Profoto Academy, a dedicated and invaluable resource that benefits, helps and inspires photographers of all levels. Sign up to take your photography to the next level.

SPONSORED BY PROFOTO

Profoto is a world leader in studio lighting, with an innovative product portfolio that’s second to none. It’s one of the reasons why Profoto kit is the first choice among discerning photography enthusiasts and professional image creators.

For evidence of Profoto’s innovation, you need look no further than the A-Series flash system, which redefined portable lighting. The latest arrival is the A10, which, like its predecessors, features integrated Air TTL, is powered by a rechargeable Li-ion battery and accepts magnetic-fitting dedicated lighting shaping tools. The A10 has also gained Profoto AirX, which enables connection to your smartphone.

The potential of the A-Series has been massively expanded by the launch of the OCF Adapter. This innovative device enables the whole Profoto range of OCF light-shaping tools to be used, so there’s now no limit to your creativity with the world’s smallest studio lights.

Then there are the Profoto B10 and B10 Plus. These battery-powered flashlights offer impressive outputs – 250Ws and 500Ws, respectively – in amazingly compact body forms, comparable in size to a fast aperture camera zoom lens. Their rechargeable Li-ion batteries provide great shooting capacity and both units are fully compatible with Profoto’s collection of light-shaping tools. Their size, feature set and flexibility has transformed how photographers work on location and when time’s at a premium.

Profoto products are designed to be easy and fast, allowing the photographer to concentrate on getting the perfect shot.

The inspiration behind the Profoto Academy is not just to help Profoto owners get the most from their kit, but also to educate and inspire aspiring photographers of all brand loyalties to appreciate how to use and shape light for the ultimate result. Put simply, the academy aims to help you become a better photographer through the use and control of light.

Profoto Academy offers online videos lasting up to an hour, focusing on four subject areas: weddings, fashion, portrait and light shaping. They are presented by Profoto teachers, who are expert imaging professionals, world-renowned in their respective fields. The images featured here are from videos featuring leading UK photographer, Hannah Couzens.

Profoto Academy on location
Location shooting with studio-quality lighting has been made super easy and quick with Profoto lighting kit

When you sign up for the Profoto Academy, in most cases you enrol on a course: a series of three or four structured videos featuring the same photographer. Every video is self-contained and made to the highest production values, featuring real-life shoots with advice offered in a simple, readily digestible, step-by-step format.

After each video course, you can download a PDF guide to keep and refer to when you start applying your new-found skills.

When you have completed all the courses in the series, there’s a set photo challenge for you to put into practice what you’ve learnt over the series. You have complete freedom in the setting up of your assignment, so you choose the subject and location, and all you have to do is apply what you have learnt over the series in your own unique style. Later, you can upload a finished image and get your work assessed and reviewed by the experts at Profoto.

Within two weeks, you will receive a detailed review of your work, plus a score out of 100. If you score 60 or more, you become a Certified Image Creator. However, if you score under 60, take on board the feedback you receive and try again.

Hannah Couzens photographs a subject for Profoto Academy
Let the Profoto Academy help you create great pictures out of quite ordinary, real-life situations. Here, Profoto ambassador Hannah Couzens is in action

There is an extensive collection of courses and series on the Profoto Academy, some subject-led (such as Fashion Lighting or Family Portraits), while others are technique-focused, such as How to Mix Flash With Ambient Light or How to Light a Background. There are plenty of inspirational options to consider. From Blur to Bokeh is a series on creative fashion lighting, while Shape Light in Colour is all about how to use filter gels to get stunning results.

Visit the Profoto website and hit the ‘Academy’ tab to learn more about the teachers featured in the academy videos and which subjects are covered. There is a detailed description about each video course or series, so you can see the level of expertise they are aimed at and what equipment is featured.

Finally, it’s worth mentioning that the Profoto Academy has a 100% satisfaction guarantee and if you’re not completely happy with it, your money will be refunded in full up to 14 days after purchase.

Profoto

If you need to know more about Profoto’s lighting products or the academy, please visit the profoto.com website. For any queries, you can contact the UK Profoto team via email at [email protected]. Profoto equipment is available to purchase online from certified dealers’ websites.

To find an authorised dealer, visit Profoto’s dealer section. For the Profoto Academy, visit Profoto’s academy section.

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