Where did I goof?

Not long ago I had a family session that was a first for me 3 times over: first family group of such a large size, first family session of African American ( or black American, or People of Color,whichever you feel most PC ), first time using OCF for family session.

This image I am posting is SOOC and representative of the problem I saw in many of my shots-- the shadow on faces. I had two flashes, camera left & right. Did I have them too far to the sides and not enough to the front? Any other suggestions to improve very welcome!

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It's really not that bad, but shooting black people wearing white shirts, or white people wearing black shirts is not easy. You kept good detail in their clothing, the skin looks properly exposed.

Looks as if you had the flashes too far to the side and thus created strong shadows from the frame they are holding. I think frames are best left to PP. This way you can size them, etc.

Also looks as if you are in direct sun which is usually a losing battle unless you can underexpose, either with an nd filter, or have more powerful lights.

Group shots always present lighting challenges. Throw a picture frame between your flash and your subjects and it becomes a nightmare.

Group shots are a time to keep the lighting simple. One light above the camera works best. Make that a big umbrella if you can, or hotshoe flash if you must.

When you minimize the technical challenges, you can concentrate on the important stuff that Mom will actually notice, like getting a smile out of young teenagers who are just too cool to have their picture taken.

Exposure looks good and it is not that difficult this situation. Use your histogram for the whites shirts and the rest falls into place.

I noticed the frame is not parallel to your camera. Right side is closer by quite a bit so depending on the flash positions may have caused the shadow on the right. Also it looks like the flash on the right was more powerful but you may be trying to get some interesting light.

Next time find a tree branch and hang the fame from it with fishing line. Position your camera so it is parallel to it and then bring the people in. Easier than trying to control people. Don't have the flashes so far apart. Not sure if they were bare or you used and umbrella or something.

You may consider one flash with or without an umbrella/softbox centred up high and aiming down. You can try putting a reflector parallel to the ground between the flash and the people.

Thanks, guys! Let me try to address some of the remarks:

No, we were in shade, not sunlight. I do think I had the flashes too far apart, not close enough to me/camera.

By "one light above camera" do you mean an OCF positioned pretty much even with me/camera and up? I was worried about the flashes being too high and casting shadows under eyes, but I probably over-compensated by having them too low.

Good catch on the frame not ebing parallel to the camera. I'll have to watch that next time. I don't think the flashes had different settings, I think I checked to make sure they were evenly set. I was using shoot through umbrellas.

Michelle, what lights are you using? For groups like this where you arent really looking for creative side shadowing your best bet is one big light source reasonably close to the camera axis, or at most two soft lights close in pointing straight at the group. If you have a portable studio strobe of any sort take a look at the PLM's by the alien bee folks, you can fire them with speedlights as well, but I havent tested them for efficiency.

Michelle Brooks Photography wrote in post #12670821
By "one light above camera" do you mean an OCF positioned pretty much even with me/camera and up? I was worried about the flashes being too high and casting shadows under eyes, but I probably over-compensated by having them too low.

That is what the reflector is for.

Michelle Brooks Photography wrote in post #12670406
Not long ago I had a family session that was a first for me 3 times over: first family group of such a large size, first family session of African American ( or black American, or People of Color,whichever you feel most PC ), first time using OCF for family session.

This image I am posting is SOOC and representative of the problem I saw in many of my shots-- the shadow on faces. I had two flashes, camera left & right. Did I have them too far to the sides and not enough to the front? Any other suggestions to improve very welcome!

This is the problem that most (if not all amateurs) have problems with..... dual lighting. Common sense says to place one light to the left and one light to the right. Well, this is what you get when that happens, especially when you do not use modifiers that "soften" the light..... You get "Cross Shadowing". If you are going to use dual lighting and choose to use the "copy lighting" technique (this is a lighting technique that was used to do copy work as well as photographing paintings and other works of art to transfer them over to the photographic medium back in the ole' days) then make sure that you use medium to large size modifiers on the lights so as to "soften" the cross shadowing to whereby you really don't see it.

Michelle Brooks Photography wrote in post #12670821
By "one light above camera" do you mean an OCF positioned pretty much even with me/camera and up?

Yes. An umbrella or softbox right behind you (or right beside you), just above your head. This won't cause dark eye sockets but it could be problematic with the way that frame was positioned. If the frame was a bit higher it would work fine.

Another vote for a larger, diffused light source just above camera position. 99% of the time it's the best way to go.

The Loft Studios wrote in post #12671037
This is the problem that most (if not all amateurs) have problems with..... dual lighting. Common sense says to place one light to the left and one light to the right. Well, this is what you get when that happens, especially when you do not use modifiers that "soften" the light..... You get "Cross Shadowing". If you are going to use dual lighting and choose to use the "copy lighting" technique (this is a lighting technique that was used to do copy work as well as photographing paintings and other works of art to transfer them over to the photographic medium back in the ole' days) then make sure that you use medium to large size modifiers on the lights so as to "soften" the cross shadowing to whereby you really don't see it.

Are the shoot through umbrellas I used not considered medium to large modifers? thanks for the info!

Oh, and I was using my 2 580EXIIs.

TMR Design wrote in post #12671333
Another vote for a larger, diffused light source just above camera position. 99% of the time it's the best way to go.

Thank you!

TMR Design wrote in post #12671333
Another vote for a larger, diffused light source just above camera position. 99% of the time it's the best way to go.

x3

i like the KISS ( Keep it simple stupid) meathod. 64" paraboic would work awesome on her example. BTW stupid was no way directed at michelle. We like what michelle and her husband do. My wife and i are a husband wife team as well.

Wow. Thanks for the question and the answers. I learned a lot of useful stuff here.