Help with catchlights...

Guys,

Here's my first attempt at my new Firefly BD/octambrella(made that up).

Looks good at least for me since i'm new to studio lighting type of thing.

never mind the backdrop, i know it's messy. Will mist that with water and use hair blower later to make it tidy.

My question is... how will i position things to avoid so much crowded catchlights.

here's my setup.

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Your catchlights are a reflection of your light sources: the 2 strobes and the silver reflector.

To eliminate the reflection from the silver reflection you might want to try using something white rather than something silver as your reflector.

You might also consider angling your main light down a bit and start without the umbrella. I think you will find that the shadows under the nose and chin created by the main light will be sufficiently filled in by a white reflector; if not move the umbrella to just above your camera position so it hits both sides of the face evenly with flat lighting.

Thanks Rich, i will experiment with your suggestions. Really appreciate it.

here after some movements and changing the reflector to a white reflector.

Looking much better! I'd also suggest you try experimenting with a few other things:

Raise the light a little to create loop lighting (the nose shadow drops down a little)

Try shooting without the reflector to have more contrast

Try putting the light a little more to the side to create more dramatic lighting

Put the umbrella directly over your camera or really close to your side with the power about 1 stop less than your main light to fill in and lighten some of the dark shadows created by your main light

Turn your head more and take pictures of your head from the light side and the shadow side

Lose the fill umbrella and the bottom reflector. Change position of light like previously mentioned. Use a flat reflector on a stand on the shadow side of the face. Feather the light so the outer portion of it catches your subject and the rest hits the reflector for fill. I typically angle the top of the reflector away from the subject and the botom towards, so it blasts light up under the chin and nose. Control contrast ratio by angle and or distance of reflector. The reflector should be to the side of your subject and 90 degrees to the background. Turn the head ever so slightly towards the key. You'll get one catch light.

Thanks guys... i will try all that. I appreciate it.