First glamour/lingerie shoot... help!!

Hey guys,

Long time lurker and first time poster recently I've developed an interest in glamour/lingerie photography and have stumbled upon a fantastic opportunity to get started... A very attractive amateur model and a very cool, bright apartment in Paris. Dayum! Trouble is I have two weeks til the shoot and need to get my indoor lighting tactics down pat :-O I am going to be shooting with my trusty 40d and 17-55... Sadly it's all I have for the next few months until I bite the bullet and get my hands on the 5D/24-70 combo I've always dreamt of. Unfortunately this opportunity won't exist in two months as ill be back in Australia dreaming of such a situation.

Now I have a 430ex speed light and am willing to buy stands/umbrellas/remot​e flash triggers etc if you think that's how I should go?? Is it? I like a natural look, not soft, but not crazily studio like either.

Please go easy on me and refrain from saying I'm crazy and have no chance of getting a decent shot with this gear... I know it's going to be tough but the model is super easy going as am I... We have all the time in the world to play with settings and create something resembling 'magic'.

What would you buy / what setup would you run with?? Any advice would be much appreciated

Ps. I have the 50mm 1.8 but could swap it for the 1.4 if even that change in lens is worthwhile?

Can you get any snapshots of the apartment before the day of the shoot? Take a couple of wide-angle shots showing off what you have to work with, which direction the windows are facing, etc - and we can maybe give you specifics.

You can emulate a big light source by bouncing off the wall.

http://www.flipkey.com​/paris-condo-rentals/p118938/

Hope this helps!!

Oh yeah, i also I have a stofen onnibounce fitted to my 430ex...

Photography lighting is best when the light is not at the camera position and the direction and softness can be controlled independently.

I would get:
1 light stand
1 umbrella
1 flash/umbrella clamp like http://www.amazon.com …eywords=flash+s​tand+clamp
1 flash trigger like http://www.amazon.com …r=1-44&keywords=ettl+cord

With this gear, you will have your 430 on a light stand with an umbrella and trigger. The most important step after this is to practice your lighting techniques with a friend or even stuffed animal to get better long before you see the model. When you make time to pre practice, you can get very good results.

I would recommend starting at ISO 200, f4, and 1/125 and then adjust the power and position of the flash to your taste. Your 17-55/2.8 lens is very nice and do not worry about changing lenses to keep it simple. Having a collection of sample Victoria's Secret photos on your phone, tablet, or small photo book will help you both with composition and poses.

When you have access to cool space with big windows, regular sun can provide for some nice photos without additional lighting. Just use a higher ISO such as 1600 and Av Mode f2.8 to shoot the model near the window. Also, you can position the model with her back to the window, light her front with the flash and let the sun light the back and hair of the model.

Good Luck-
Scott

sspellman wrote in post #15714098
Photography lighting is best when the light is not at the camera position and the direction and softness can be controlled independently.

I would get:
1 light stand
1 umbrella
1 flash/umbrella clamp like http://www.amazon.com …eywords=flash+s​tand+clamp
1 flash trigger like http://www.amazon.com …r=1-44&keywords=ettl+cord

With this gear, you will have your 430 on a light stand with an umbrella and trigger. The most important step after this is to practice your lighting techniques with a friend or even stuffed animal to get better long before you see the model. When you make time to pre practice, you can get very good results.

I would recommend starting at ISO 200, f4, and 1/125 and then adjust the power and position of the flash to your taste. Your 17-55/2.8 lens is very nice and do not worry about changing lenses to keep it simple. Having a collection of sample Victoria's Secret photos on your phone, tablet, or small photo book will help you both with composition and poses.

When you have access to cool space with big windows, regular sun can provide for some nice photos without additional lighting. Just use a higher ISO such as 1600 and Av Mode f2.8 to shoot the model near the window. Also, you can position the model with her back to the window, light her front with the flash and let the sun light the back and hair of the model.

Good advice, and I'd possibly, well definitely, add a foldable reflector to that list. People underestimate what a huge difference they can make to the look and feel of a scene. Especially if you using a one light set up, an reflector gives you a lot more control.

Wow, many thanks guys!! Actually they were the responses I was hoping for! Jut this morning I'd realised I wasn't going to get away with no umbrella set up so have started the hunt. Unfortunately from amazon uk it won't reach me in France until the day I head for Paris :-/ I'm hoping my local camera shop has some compact cheap options.

I've ordered the canon trigger, again before I had seen your post... It's an expensive option but it does retain the ETTL capabilities for a novice like me! I hope I can find an umbrella/stand/clamp tomorrow so that I can get enough practice in!

Final question - you mention raising ISO to 1600 to shoot near the window ... On my 40d it'll probably be a tad noisy, but also would the ISO really be that high with a wide open aperture?? I've never taken a photo in that condition so it comes as a surprise

Thanks for the tips!!!!

This site has been a tremendous help to me in getting started with off camera flash.

http://strobist.blogsp​ot.com/2006/03/lightin​g-101.html

Holy crap!!!! So I've fired off my first shots this weekend taking my 430 off camera with my canon wireless transmitter and using a lasolite umbrella/stand setup... Wow!!!! Why have I taken so long to enter this world of photography!! Off camera flash is so much fun!!!! Seriously... Your advice has greatly improved my chances of really nailing these photos - which, in fact have been delayed 2 weeks so more time for practice

I'm now toying with a few ideas... I've been reading everything I can get my hands on - including all of the site linked above and wonder if perhaps I should be adding more to my equipment list of mastering what I now have??
Ex. Is a lasolite ezybox a worthwhile addition?? Or should I just leave the black cover of the umbrella half on when I shoot through to get a slightly more controlled light source??
Also is a second flash worthwhile?? I notice most photos use two or three ... But this might compilation things for a beginner like me??

And what about a snoot?? For real artistic style lighting?? I suppose I can get similar results by really dialing down the power of the flash with my shoot through and also playing with ambient though...

Oh this is so exciting!!!! I have truly found my passion

Jez

Lighting is a great discovery. For your next tools to use with small flashes I would focus on a larger bounce umbrella diffuser like a Softlighter, a grid(similar to a snoot) and gel system, and then a second wireless flash for use as a hair/side/background light.

http://www.amazon.com …=1-3&keywords=softlighter

http://www.amazon.com …1-19&keywords=flash+rogu​e

First off I want to say I'm jealous! That apartment is amazing looking! And off camera flash is a lot of fun. It lets you get a bit more creative with your shots, something outdoor photography doesn't allow. I wish I could do more of it myself! But without a studio it's tough. Goodluck on your shoot (if you haven't done it already)

Very good advise here that I plan on using myself

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=yor-XpqOYPY

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=ivMTju8QqUs

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=z4IbB1RyKB8

I would recommend using a 50mm instead of a 17-55mm to shoot your session. You will need an umbrella if you don't have a soft box.