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Wedding, corporate and commercial photographer Simeon Quarrie, already an enthusiastic user of Profoto’s B1 lighting kit, recently had the chance to take the B2 with him on a destination wedding in Cancun, Mexico, and he was delighted with the extra options it offered him. “I work with flash on every wedding,” he says. “I started working with Profoto packs a number of years ago with the 7B, and it provided me with an aesthetic and a feel to my work that helped me define a style. From there I moved on to the B1 and that’s primarily what I’m still using, though from now on I’ll use it in tandem with the B2. When I shot in Mexico, I often shot with both packs together, and I did the same with a shoot just last week in India, but the B2 is so flexible and powerful I can also see me using it on its own. “What I love about the B2 is its size. Because it’s so small, when I’m travelling to a destination or I’m on location, it’s great. Getting this through an airport is easy: I’ve got a backpack with the Off-Camera Flash Pack in it, a head, a spare battery and my camera, all inside the same bag. That’s nuts! I love the fact that I can also fit lightweight modifiers in the bag as well, and carry the entire system with me.” Simeon also loves the fact that the B2 is so versatile. “The amount of power this baby outputs gives me options,” he says. “Working with this is so similar to the way that you might be working with on or off-camera flash with a speedlight, but this unit not only has so much more power but it also gives you access to the full gamut of Profoto modifiers, which I think is key. There’s also the fact that it offers TTL, which again is similar to speedlights, and it’s a non-scary introduction to bigger flash packs.” The compact size of the B2 is a big plus for Simeon, and its lightweight nature opens up new possibilities. It’s less of a strain to carry about, is easier to hold at arm’s length on a stand for overhead lighting and, even with a modifier in place, it’s not top heavy. “Now, when I’m working with a small head, I’m happier to get my lights up higher,” he says, Simeon Quarrie CASE STUDY
“and for people to hold it over a client, because there’s no strength required. “The fact that it’s so light also means that I can travel around with it a lot more. When I was working with the 7B, and then later the B1, I would think to myself ‘ should I take it? ’ Size does come into play and it’s not always practical. The B2 Off-Camera Flash Pack is so compact that I can keep it in my bottom drawer next to my hard drives; it’s the same size. It just sits there, so if someone asks me if I have time to do a quick shoot I can just say yeah, bring it out and use it.
“I absolutely love the B2,” sums up Simeon, “and I would definitely recommend it for someone who’s a stand-alone wedding photographer and wants to work with something that’s small, that they can move around, and be versatile with. You can maybe get a shot of the cutting of the cake and can then move it around for the first dance. “Because it’s so small, you can easily cover things such as bridal preparations. Not working with a big light and a big pack and yet still having all these options is incredible.”
π To find out more, go to www.wearevivida.co.uk.
IMAGES Taking the Profoto B2 to a destination wedding offered photographer Simeon Quarrie a great deal of versatility. Thanks to the kit’s compact size, low weight and ease of use, even holding it aloft over the happy couple held no fear.
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Issue 18 | Photography News
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