First On Site Portraits

[RRitch]

Our church baptised 17 kids on Sunday, and they asked me if I would be the photographer for the ceremony. After I agreed I found out that not only did they want me to shoot the actual baptism, but they also wanted me to shoot formal portraits of all 17 kids before the service. I had to shoot 17 kids in just over 20 minutes so they could be ready for the service.

I have a basic strobist setup that I have been playing with that I used for the portraits. I have 2 flashes, lightstands, 45" soft white bounce umbrellas, PC cord and hotshoe adapters. The flashes are a Sigma 500 DG Super (main) and a Quataray QDC-900WA (fill). I did have a little bit of time on Saturday to setup my lights at the location and do some test shots. All shots were at 1/200 F:/8 ISO 200 with my XTi

I would really appreciate some feedback on one of the shots. This is actually my daughter who was one of the 17 being baptised. Oh and the church setup the backdrop, so I was not able to iron it ahead of time to get rid of the wrinkles. I will probably try to do something with it during PP.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2200/2380114780_2e9d8781fa_o.jpg




Here is a diagram of the lighting



http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3169/2380110562_fda646b2a1.jpg

[ticounne]

Hi RRitch,

I think the parents are going to very pleased, especially considering the time you had to set-up and the lack of control on the environment.

I personally would have liked a little more contrast between the main and fill to get less even light.

As for the wrinkles in the fabric, you can eliminate the worse by cropping the picture tighter all around.

Anyway, great job. We all get the last minute "surprises" and you still delivered.

Jean

[JakPot]

i agree, there isn't much contrast and looks flat overall. I'm sure you could enhance this in post and make it look better.

Great job with the amount of time you had for sure. were all the kids turned with their backs to the main light?

[RRitch]

i agree, there isn't much contrast and looks flat overall. I'm sure you could enhance this in post and make it look better.

Great job with the amount of time you had for sure. were all the kids turned with their backs to the main light?

The main light was to camera right hitting them from the side. I am still learning to use my lights, and I wish the main/fill ratio was better. I tried setting the fill to 1/4 but then there was to much shadow. I would have liked to been able to move my fill further away to help with the ratio, but the area that I was shooting in was small and there was no room to move it further back. In retrospect I should have either removed the cover from the umbrella and shot through it, or reduced to 1/4 and moved the fill closer. I will have to remember that next time. Each time I shoot I learn a little bit more.

[TMR Design]

Hi RRitch,

I'm curious as to how you arrived at that lighting setup. Were you advised to do that? Was it a guess?

There is a really excellent thread (very long too) that has samples, diagrams, tutorials and some great information about portrait lighting and learning how to light for portraiture in the ** IMPORTANT LINKS: Studio Lighting ** (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=138912) Sticky.

All of the threads in that sticky are excellent but the one I'm referring to was between myself and Scott Smith (LightingMan).

The thread is: Question about using Barn Doors on strobes (Question about using Barn Doors on strobes)

Don't get thrown by the title. Dig in and I can almost guarantee that you will learn and find the information presented quite useful.

[RRitch]

It was really a guess. I read as much as I could in the short time I had (mostly on strobist), but all in all it was a guess.

[SYS]

Try having your subject about 6 ft away from the backdrop...

[RRitch]

Try having your subject about 6 ft away from the backdrop...

I really wanted to do that, but the space that I was shooting in was too small. The church had already setup the area with the background before I got there so there was no good way to redo it and make it work better. With future shots, I will be setting up the area and the background so I will have more space, and also hopefully more experience with setting up my lights.

[bobbyz]

I am just a beginner but I am not sure about the main light position. It is not short lighting, looks more like kicker, side lighting to me.

Also looking at the diagram (not sure if it is on scale) the lights seem to far from the subject. I usually keep main light right outside my frame.

I also wish there was a catch light in the eyes.

Having single color bg would be better, IMHO.

[RRitch]

I am wondering if this setup for the lights would have been better?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2268/2380493250_a75682cc94_o.jpg

[TMR Design]

To be blunt, the whole lighting setup is configured in a very odd way. You have a main and fill light, subject, background and camera.

I can't imagine why you have your main light where it is and I'm sure that is not what is shown or demonstrated on Strobist.

Take a look at this very basic 2 light setup for portraiture. It's fairly standard and gets the job done nicely.

Regardless of whether you use umbreallas, diffusion panels, or softboxes the positions and concept are the same.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=193575&d=1185807421

[RRitch]

Robert,

Thanks for all of your help with this. Part of the reason that it was weird is that the background that they setup was in a corner, and there was not enough space left or right of the corner for me to put the kids. as a result I had to shoot straight into the corner. If I could have taken the corner out of play, it would have probably been easier. The second layout that I posted is similar to the one that you posted. I am going to play with that some and see what kind of results I get. Again thank you so much for all of the advice. I am usually a quick learner, but I am really struggling with lighting.

[TMR Design]

The second layout that I posted is similar to the one that you posted.

Not really. I realize I can't tell scale from the diagram but based on the diagram there is no reason for the main light to be that far from your subject. The fill is also so far over on the shadow side of the subject that it is not really serving the purpose of a fill light. The improper positioning is also demonstrated by the fact that you have 1 shadow coming off each side of the nose and this is what is giving the flat, bland look without much dimension and depth. Power levels seem to be somewhat even as well.

You use your main light to create the highlights, thus creating shadow, and using the fill to control the shadows. You've created what would be more appropriately called butterfly lighting and this is typically not very flattering for single subject portraits. Highlight and shadow are what create contrast.

Your fill light should be as close to the lens' axis as possible. A very common placement is just slightly to the shadow side of the subject and just above the lens, giving you enough room to stand at the camera without casting shadow or blocking the fill source.

On another note, I would not have the green material hanging as it does because where blue and green meet is right in the middle of the subject's head. That's a bit distracting and not a great compositional thing to do.

[slimninj4]

Listen to this guy, he knows what he is talking about. What I learned from that huge thread of lm and tmr is that you can do more with less. I do not understand why you have two backgrounds. Robert's diagram is good. Possible to use just a softbox as a diffuser too.

That background is really distracting, sorry. It looks like your lights are at the same power. Making your photo flat. I think you should of been closer to the subject with the main light. As Robert said the fill light is only to control the shadows as needed.

[RRitch]

Robert,

Thanks for taking the time to look at this and give some suggestions. I have not had time as of yet to fully read the threads that you suggested, but I have bookmarked them and will read them. I am going to try the lighting setup that you suggested as well. I just ordered a 30d last night that should be here by Friday :D so I will probably back burner this for a couple days while I learn the new camera. I will post some pictures once I get a chance to try it out.

[form]

Starting off the best typical lighting is probably loop lighting with the main at about 35-45 degrees from the camera position and slightly above the head (produces slight downward loop), and less powerful fill either in line with camera or to the side opposite the main.

Shadows produce depth. Experiment with light and shadow and see how the different positions for light make the images look more interesting, and what moods they convey.

Also, make sure you have a significant catch light in the eyes, or make one in photoshop. Make sure it corresponds with the main light's location.

For standard portrait backgrounds, try to avoid overtly intersecting lines.

Based on my own experience and viewing pictures, softboxes are great, and totally worth SOME extra cost over umbrellas because the light produces less specular reflection on skin surfaces than any umbrellas I've used; plus they're much more directional and controllable than umbrellas. I would love to replace a few of my umbrellas with hot shoe-fitting softboxes.