I'm new to lighting, what's the first thing I should know?
That's a question I often get asked from photographers that want to learn lighting and improve their craft. I've been shooting and studying photography/lighting/cinematography for 15 years now. I'll always be a student of this craft but have certainly acquired knowledge and experience over that time period. And more importantly, made many mistakes. Here's what I wish I knew about lighting/photography when I first started: