Bikini shoot at the beach

[danielyamseng]

What is you guys preferred setup for shooting at the beach?

For me I'll either meter the model and let the background overexpose or get average meter reading and then use the flash to fill in.

In any method, the model skin just look washed out and lost of details.

In some part is properly exposed while other is over exposed. i.e the body is properly exposed while the shoulder and part of the arm is over exposed.

Would using a multi spot meter to average out the reading would help(which I doubt so becuase I already bracket my shot with little success in nailing down the exposure)

[breathless]

If you want to keep detail in the highlights, expose for the highlights.

If you have extra help, and equipment, you can try balancing sun with flash - model in shadow or in full sun.

[danielyamseng]

Thus anyhow I need to have a reflector instead of a strobe under the harsh sunlight?

[yogestee]

Thus anyhow I need to have a reflector instead of a strobe under the harsh sunlight?

A reflector is easier to control although you'll probably need an assistant to hold the reflector..

[Jason@MS]

if the suns high, getting a scrim above the model wouldnt hurt, to take the harshness out of the light.

apart from that if your shooting on a beautifull day, with an external flash my advise would be to shoot as small an aperture as you can, providing the flash unit you have is capable up to that power aswell.

[fashioneyes]

Skims are great if u have assistants

Ideally with speedlite assistance ... I underexpose the BG by one stop ... thus getting a deep blue sky ... and then let the ETL expose subject correctly