Sunlight and studio lights are two of the most used light sources in photography. Yet, there are other sources that give off light as well, and not only can they illuminate your subject but they can also create atmosphere and mood. Candlelight is a versatile light source that you can creatively use to show off your subject.
Use a tripod – since this is a low light situation, you will be using a slow shutter speed which will increase the chances of the appearance of camera shake. To avoid this, use a tripod or set your camera on a steady surface. Another advantage of using a tripod is you can tweak your setup if needed without you having to reposition your camera and adjusting focus all over again.
Use only one candle – having only one candle for your light source means it has to be sufficient to illuminate what you want to be seen. You might have to do several test shots to adjust your exposure settings, as well as position the candle in a strategic manner. Having the candle close to the subject will give stronger illumination. Try placing the candle near a white wall or sheet so that this wall will act as a reflector and add more light to the scene. One candle gives the impression of intimacy or secrecy.
Use many candles – a lot of candles can provide drama and give the impression of passion. You can create more even lighting by spread out the placement of the candles. If you intend to show dramatic shadows, place more of the candles at just a certain area.
Use background for context – images that include candlelight are usually simple and uncluttered. If you want to place the subject in relation to its surroundings, you can set up the candles to light as much of the scene as possible. For example, a romantic table top setting would benefit with the use of candlelight.
Adjust exposure settings – candlelight is not that intense or bright so in order to have adequate lighting, you have to adjust your exposure settings accordingly. A slow shutter speed will allow large amounts of light in the sensor but might also catch the motion of the candle flame. A big aperture means a big lens opening which will also allow more light to enter the lens. An ISO with a smaller number means less noise but it also means less captured light. On the other hand, a higher number will mean more light and a more grainy result. Understanding reciprocity and the exposure triangle will help you decide what settings to use.
White balance – if your camera’s white balance is set to ‘auto’ it will try to correct the warm color cast of the candlelight. Experiment with the different settings such as ‘tungsten’ or ‘indoor’ until you reach the desired result.
Use off-camera flash – an off-camera flash can brighten up other parts of the scene which can’t be reached by candlelight. Covering it in a colored gel can also add an interesting color cast.
Composition – creative composition can really spice up your shot. Candle placement, deciding whether to include them or not in the frame, using candles in unusual ways, the shape and color of the candles, having the candle itself as the subject, any of these can be used.
Create mood – the warm glow of candlelight can certainly add to the mood of the scene. It can be used to give a romantic atmosphere or you can go the other way and use it to create a sinister and spooky mood.
Tags: ambient light tips, available light tips, candlelight photo tips, candlelight photography, candles lighting photo tips
perfect shot in using different apertures, but the end result will be well worth it.
the problem with noise in the image will start to affect your photograph. To avoid this, lengthen the shutter speed to a point. This will require you to use a tripod to stabilize the camera for a clearer shot.
Take pictures of the food – Thanksgiving is well known for its dinners and people go out of their way to make sure the Thanksgiving meal is perfect in every aspect. There are staple dishes such as the roasted turkey, the pies and the mashed potatoes. Brush up on your food photography techniques and take photos of the meal that has been lovingly prepared. You can get close and shoot the textures and details of the golden turkey or step back and include the entire dinner table in your shot. These food shots can then be included in your stock portfolio if you are a member of a stock site. 
There is a high demand in photographs of different cultures, races, genders and creed, young or old, happy or sad. There is a consolidated universal need for such images. Clients prefer candid images to show the more authentic side of everyday life all over the world. Remember that candid does not mean ‘snapshot-ish’ but rather an unposed and more natural feel. When photographing people with recognizable faces, make sure you get model releases to be able to use the images commercially. Being in a natural setting would be ideal, but if you will be working in a studio with models, pay particular attention to details. Make sure that clothing, make-up and hairstyle complement each other and drive home the message you want to convey.
ocean levels. Another asset of using strobes is that they can show off the subject’s real colors. One of the properties of water is it lets the blue end of the spectrum pass through deeper than all the other color wavelengths, which makes underwater scenes acquire a blue cast. Strobe lights, with their complete light spectrum, can illuminate the subject or scene and present all the colors as they really are, without the predominant bluish color cast. Strobes can also act as 
fill light by lighting up the foreground or the dark areas of a subject while ambient light illuminates the rest of the scene.
to the subject. This lessens the appearance of visible particles (a.k.a. backscatter) in the water which can cloud up the image. Two strobes are ideal to lessen hard shadows that can appear if only one strobe were used. Using a pair of strobes on either side of the subject will provide more even lighting. Have one of the strobes provide lesser output to show a light shadow that will give the impression of depth. If the two strobes were giving off equal light output, the subject can come out looking flat and bland. 
whales, they might not be near enough for you to illuminate them with strobe lights. There are also times when ambient light will light up a bigger area than your strobes can cover. If you have strobes, you can use these as fill light in key areas such as the foreground. 
is calm and flat, and the sun is high in the sky. Shafts of light become visible and the effect can be quite dramatic. When shooting cathedral light, move out of the path of the light and face it instead so you can capture its full impact.
