Studio Shooting Methods

[Tareq]

Hi all,

Let's get into details directly:
I have got a studio background stand and 3 different colors backgrounds [White, black, and soft or light gray], now which one do you prefer to use mostly?

I have small umbrella [White with Black Backing - 32"

] and small softbox [45x65cm], and one reflector [5-in-1 42"], how can i use them for better results? i always got something wrong, either unwated shadow, or hotspots, under/over exposure ...etc.

If above are not good enough to work with in studio lighting, so give me better accessories or tools to work with [i hope you stick with Hensel brand], but just recommend me if really i need to upgrade or replace.

I use that studio upstairs Hall in my house, the dimensions are not so great ideal but enough for a while [5m(W)X8m(L)X3.5m(H)], white painted walls.

just to be so clear i have only 2 lights [see my sig.]

[Tareq]

I shoot my daughters, and one adopted son.
My wife may contribute to be a model but very rarely and private for me only.

[Curtis N]

It would be a lot easier to help if we had some sample shots to look at. Upload a few and tell us what about them you don't like.

[dchen99]

I'd like to see your sample photos too.
My guess is that you need a third or 4th light as hair light or background light. I have 4 strobes (would love to have Hensel but they are out of my reach at this moment), the typical setting is main + second + hair + background. I shoot many on black too, my black background is a velvet fabric so very minimal photoshop is needed. Make sure to add hair light to outline 3 dimension of the model.
Didn't see it in you list, I'd also suggest you invest a light meter (such as Sekonic L-358) which is a great help to get exposure right.

[Tareq]

I will post some samples soon when i come back, i will go away now.

[Tareq]

ok, here are some samples for one kid

1.
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/7130/81788924kf7.jpg

2.
http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/4905/66270288hb2.jpg

3.
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/7595/10196750yk5.jpg

4.
http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/334/11281515ff8.jpg

5.
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/8920/29048320ol0.jpg

6.
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/3170/22138603gn6.jpg

7.
http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/4764/63710554uc2.jpg

8.
http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/1682/57387291lx9.jpg


All images are just convert from RAW without any pp and resized[saved for web].

[Tareq]

2 more ;)

1.Color
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/8701/pp1lg1.jpg

2. B&W
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/2867/pp2yz3.jpg

[Curtis N]

Tareq,
Tell us what you don't like about these. What would you like to change or improve?

[Tareq]

Tareq,
Tell us what you don't like about these. What would you like to change or improve?

First of all, are those good lighting or not?
second, what enhancements can i add to those photos if possible?
Third which is important, what pp can i do to those photos to bring them out or popping or say even want that glamorious effects or more fashioned lighting on them.

[Tareq]

I shooted kids until now, but my wife may wear some clothes to do few fashion style shots for me, and i can't post her shots for some reasons so i want to learn on kids before.

[Tareq]

Resurrecting this thread again :D ;)

I got my Octabox today, so now i have 2x lights, 1x octabox, 1x small softbox, 1x normal Economy Umbrella, 1x 42" reflector.

Now if i want to shoot just headshots and say mostly 1/3 or half body only, how can i use my lights? If i use 1 light as main then i have 1 more light to use either for fill or for hair or for background, now i am sure the reflector is the best for fill, so i have only 1 light to use it either for hair or for background, what will you do in this case?
If i use one light let's say for hair, then how can i light the background if i want really white bright overexposed background, i don't want to use photoshop to manipulate the background if i can't separate the hair perfectly so i want to do it from the beginning, and if i will use my light for the background then i am sure many will tell me to use a light for the hair for 'punch', so how can you solve this conditions?

I will add more lights later but still there are time before i get another lights and now i am working with above stuff.

[Az2Africa]

Hi Tareq. I know we both shoot with Hensels. Here is a simple 2 light setup I use for shooting Executives for their company websites. The setup here is, 1 light without a modifier on the background f5.6. 1 light w/ medium softbox to his left 1meter away with the back edge even with his ear at f8.0. 1 white reflector to his right directly across from the light and about 75cm from the subject and a silver reflector on the posing table in front, just out of view.
It's not a perfect setup, but if you are shooting 30 people in one hour, it requires no changes for the next person. I also take my first and last shots on a grey card in the scene.
It is also a good setup for shooting guys with no hair because you don't get a "shiney" spot .:D
Your shots are looking good, but I think a reflector about 50cm under his chin will take out some of the shadows in his eyes.

247898

[Tareq]

Hi Tareq. I know we both shoot with Hensels. Here is a simple 2 light setup I use for shooting Executives for their company websites. The setup here is, 1 light without a modifier on the bacground. 1 light w/ medium softbox to his left 1meter away with the back edge even with his ear. 1 white reflector to his right directly across from the light and about 75cm from the subject.
It's not a perfect setup, but if you are shooting 30 people in one hour, it reruires no changes for the next person. I also take my first and last shots on a grey card in the scene.
It is also a good setup for shooting guys with no hair because you don't get a "shiney" spot .:D

247898

and with Bald people you don't need hair light.
I posted few shots of my daughter on my another studio thread using 2 lights as well with the reflector.

But my question is: if you use black background and shooting let's 1 or 2 people with black hairs, how can you manage to light them using only 2 lights in addition to a reflector? and if i want to use white background to get the nice shiny blown white what you will do then? I have small softbox that i can't use it as main for 1 or 2 people properly, so now i got large Octabox.

Nice shot of that model anyway.

[Az2Africa]

You can use the Octobox and reflectors on the subjects, but you will have to aim the 2nd light at the background and set it a couple of stops brighter to get a blown out white.
Here is a setup from the Canon show at PMA using a Beauty dish only. You could remove the shadow with a background light.
PS Since Canon let us shoot this and it is not being used comercially,I hope it's ok to post. If the mods think it should not be posted, let me know.

247907

[Tareq]

You can use the Octobox and reflectors on the subjects, but you will have to aim the 2nd light at the background and set it a couple of stops brighter to get a blown out white.
Here is a setup from the Canon show at PMA using a Beauty dish only. You could remove the shadow with a background light.
PS Since Canon let us shoot this and it is not being used comercially,I hope it's ok to post. If the mods think it should not be posted, let me know.

247907

Thank you very much :-)

I will give it a try and see what i will end with.

[Tareq]

Now as i may get more light(s) later, so what modifier is recommended for background or hair? softbox, umbrella, barndoors, snoot, something else .... etc.

[Az2Africa]

I would probably use a 10 or 20 grid on the hair light.

[Tareq]

I would probably use a 10 or 20 grid on the hair light.

and where you would place that grid on?

[TXLEBER]

and where you would place that grid on?

I just ordered my grids from Alienbees. Here's the link (http://alienbees.com/hg4x.html) pictured w/ the grids mounted to the metal reflector on the strobe. I ended up getting a 20 degree grid and a barn door attachment to experiment w/ hair lighting.

[Tareq]

I just ordered my grids from Alienbees. Here's the link (http://alienbees.com/hg4x.html) pictured w/ the grids mounted to the metal reflector on the strobe. I ended up getting a 20 degree grid and a barn door attachment to experiment w/ hair lighting.

Thank you very much :-)
I will get 2 grids anyway, but in Hensel there are many reflectors, so i don't know which reflector i should get? and i will add barndoor just as backup, maybe using it later if needed.

[Tareq]

those are the reflectors i found for my lights

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/242297-REG/Hensel_5061_9_Grid_Reflector_Medium_.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/242293-REG/Hensel_5060_9_Grid_Reflector_Small_.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/242281-REG/Hensel_504_7_Grid_Reflector_for.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/242333-REG/Hensel_9601_12_Grid_Reflector_for.html

The grids can be selected easily after i select the proper reflector.

[<AkulA>]

and with Bald people you don't need hair light.


I lol'd!! :D

[Tareq]

I lol'd!! :D

;):D