Gaffer

Many portrait photographers exclusively use available light. That's great, but too limiting for me.

1. Sometimes the perfect location is a dense forest or sunken waterfall where there is no light to be had.
2. What if I need to do a studio shot without a north-facing window or on a rainy day?
3. How do I shoot 70 families over three months and make them all look the same?

I make my own luck — I pack flashes. (Look, they're available right there in my bag.)

I love having the control of bringing my own light. Give me any old clunky camera: as long as I control the lights, I can make you look exquisite.

Even better: put a strobe on a pole, hand it to a friend, and now I've got a voice-activated lightstand. Time for the word of the day.

gaf·fer
n.

1. Chiefly British An old man.
2. Chiefly British A boss or foreman.
3. An electrician in charge of lighting on a movie or television set.