G&N Lighting Do & Donts?

[Kaben]

I have recently been been given teh opportunity to do a model shoot for a friend. She is willing to pay me, but i think she believes i have more experience of model shooting than i have (which is next to none) so i don't think i will charge her very much for my time, if at all. ( i wont tell her this, may just claim its mates rates)

I'm confident at setting up my equipment for other types of photography, such as sport and landscape, but as i have never actually shot any glamour/topless images before, i am unsure how to set up my lighting.

I read Strobist, but i don't see any specific guides for lighting female models in this genre of photography.

What i need are tips and guides on lighting that will flatter the subject and not make them look fat or have bad complexions etc. Almost more than "DO's" i need information on the "DONT's" so that i dont waste time on shots that make her look terrible. She is quite slender and attractive, so i want this to remain the case in the photo's i take!

If i can get this shoot to look good , i have a potentially very long line of customers from her friends and colleagues.

Can you guys share any tips or link any online rescources that would help me research my lighting for this?
I will be doing both indoor and outdoor shoots.

I currently have 1x 430EX II, 1X umbrella (shoot through and reflective) I will also be looking to pick up a cheap secondary off-camera flash such as a vivitar 285HV. I am also using Cactus V2 transmitters. I know i will probably need reflectors, but i may try and DIY these to keep costs down as im quite skint at the moment due to taxing, MOT'ing AND renewing my car insurance this month - nightmare.

Any help will be gratefully recieved!

Rob

[charlesu]

This is a big topic and too much to cover in a brief post. My recommendation is to practice doing portraits first. If you can make successful portraits you will have a leg up on things without the pressure of a naked model looking back at you.

[Kaben]

Thanks for the quick reply Charles, I understand that i am asking for it on a plate here and its not really that simple.
I will be shooting "normal" portraits like crazy for the next few weeks as practice.
My main concern is practicing the effects of lighting on naked skin, concentrating on breasts , thighs and midriff, so that i don't cause unflattering shadows etc.
I think i can comfortably light a a decent head shot etc, but its combining a well lit face with a well lit and complimentary body that scares me - especially as i have a limited amount of kit.

Are there any resources like strobist that focus on glamour/model/portrait shooting?

[charlesu]

Study the magazines and places like OMP and MM. You should be able to figure out the lighting by studying an image. You can reverse engineer a photo pretty well and then see in your minds eye what you might do differently.

Some of the best setups are also the simplest. One light with an umbrella or softbox will do wonderful things. You don't have to have 17 lights unless you are trying to duplicate the lighting of a complicated set.

[inthedeck]

I'm not sure if it's a possibility, but, maybe rent one lens for a day, or two. I don't know if the lenses you have are going to cut it, but, then again I've seen some amazing stuff with those two on crop bodies.

Lighting with flashes is my issue as well...even with softboxes, and umbrellas, it's a slight challenge (for me at least). See if you can find a place with a nice window to aid in your effort...it'll act as another flash would...and often produces some of the nicer images I've seen especially B&W nudes/boudoir type shots.

Good luck...and basically, just have fun with it. Not like you'd forget how to use your gear with a naked person in front of you. ;)

[Perry Ge]

I agree that this is way too broad of at topic, but there is stuff that can be said.

Generally short lighting will make a model look thinner (main light on the side of the face furthest from the camera). That's not to say that broad lighting (main light on side of face closest to camera) looks bad on a woman though.

I can't say much about full-body stuff though. I'm still learning too.

[Kaben]

I'm not sure if it's a possibility, but, maybe rent one lens for a day, or two. I don't know if the lenses you have are going to cut it, but, then again I've seen some amazing stuff with those two on crop bodies.
I have just purchased an EF 50mm f/1.8 II, not a superstar lens, but it seems to be pretty damned sharp and great depth of field. I might be able to borrow a 70-200 f/4 L from a friend, but i think that may be far too long as im not really after head shots in this shoot. What lenses would suggest?
Good luck...and basically, just have fun with it. Not like you'd forget how to use your gear with a naked person in front of you. ;) ahem, of course not.......:lol::o:lol:
Generally short lighting will make a model look thinner (main light on the side of the face furthest from the camera). That's not to say that broad lighting (main light on side of face closest to camera) looks bad on a woman though.

Thats exactly the kind of thing i was looking for, thanks! Just want to do her body justice!
Shoot date is looming so i will post back to let you guys know how it goes!

[inthedeck]

How much space you have? I think the MFD of the 70-200 F4L isn't too long...so, you might be able to get away with it.

I think the 50 would be fine...it'll more than handle it.

[SanJosePhotographer]

Here a couple of lighting donts.
1. Don't light from below . Pointing your lights upwards at your model is often referred to as monster lighting, it creates very ugly shadows.
2. Soft light is more flattering on a models skin than hard light. Hard light is created if the strobes are too far from the model. The closer the strobes are to the model the softer the light.
Here are a few more tips for soft light.
1. Bounce the lighting of a large white board or a sheet.
2. Shoot through diffusion material , You can rent a P22 for very little money, or you can by some sheer sheets to shoot through... Ive even seen people put white garbage bags over strobes (without the modeling lights on, dont want to melt) to add diffusion.
3. My personal favorite is to use GIANT lighting sources the bigger the better! Sorry if this is turning into more do;s than dont's.
I guess my last tip , or dont, would be to say dont be afraid to experiment with hard light. Hard light is very easy to control shadows. And shadows can really be your friend.
Good Luck.
W.
Photography Portfolio by Warren Lee (http://www.warrenleestudio.com)

[AxxisPhoto]

Study the magazines and places like OMP and MM. You should be able to figure out the lighting by studying an image. You can reverse engineer a photo pretty well and then see in your minds eye what you might do differently.

Some of the best setups are also the simplest. One light with an umbrella or softbox will do wonderful things. You don't have to have 17 lights unless you are trying to duplicate the lighting of a complicated set.

Amen! And....
Go get a good light meter! Never shoot w/o it.

[FrankieG]

I'll tell you how I learned. I told my very first model that I wanted to experiment with lighting so that I can justify the extra time it took me to create an attractive light concept. At this point she was very comfortable with the idea that it was going to take a little longer and she felt excited by the fact that I wanted to make her pictures look different. I always say try and take a negative situations and make it positive. BTW I shot some of the best images of my life that day.

As for your dont's on the shoot

don't leave any other lights on other than the strobes
don't gock at her nude body
don't point out any flaws. Cover them up by changing the pose
don't use a wide angle lense. that will put you too close for her comfort
don't ask her to undress all at once. Make it interesting by removing one article at a time.

This list can go on for ever but I am sure you get the idea.

Good Luck!!!

[jcornelius]

Hi all, I'm just getting into shooting models also. You referenced OMP and MM. I figured out OneModelPlace, but what is MM? Thanks a lot.

[Kaben]

Thanks for all the help guys, i have been practicing on anyone who will remain still for long enough and things are coming along nicely.
My shoot has been postponed to early January as the model is unwell, but as soon as i have the shots i will post some to show what your words have helped create.

Kaben

[sydev]

Rob (Kaben) Hi

I thought you might find this website useful.

http://www.studiolighting.net/quick-start-guide-to-the-one-light-setup/

I got no relationship to this website BTW.