Fake Executive shots

I'm just practicing some executive shots. Any suggestions/tips appreciated. I know the background is kinda crappy. I just need to get out the creases when I hang out that piece of felt. I like to hear about the lighting and pose and anything else. Please feel free to rip it apart, I do not mind.

Lighting is pretty much the same in all shots with two D-lite 4: one 39 octabox camera left above subject pointing down about 45*. White deflector below face and to the left of the subject. The other light is bare behind subject pointing in background with wide angle reflector that came with the Dlite4 kit.

1

They all look nice and crisp to me, only thing would be to ease off on the vignetting if you are going for those corporate shots. Your suit is bleeding into the vignet.

I like the fist one compared to the others They are all wonderful shots.

Bond_Savingsbond wrote in post #14244609
They all look nice and crisp to me, only thing would be to ease off on the vignetting if you are going for those corporate shots. Your suit is bleeding into the vignet.

I like the fist one compared to the others They are all wonderful shots.

I'd say the hair is a much bigger issue than the suit. Make sure the hair stays separated from the background. Other than that, not bad.

Needs a hair light.

Yeah, I thought about the hair light, but unfortunately, I am out of lights. I was going to use the other Dlite 4 for hair light and use a 580ex1 for background light. However, I can't trigger all with sky port currently, so hair light was left out. I was thinking of going the butterfly lighting but not sure if that will work for an executive shot. Will have to try that next. Thank you all for your comments and input.

zyndurai wrote in post #14244707
Yeah, I thought about the hair light, but unfortunately, I am out of lights. I was going to use the other Dlite 4 for hair light and use a 580ex1 for background light. However, I can't trigger all with sky port currently, so hair light was left out. I was thinking of going the butterfly lighting but not sure if that will work for an executive shot. Will have to try that next. Thank you all for your comments and input.

If you're in a studio a hair light for sure.

I never use a hair light on location I just make sure the spot I have on the B/G is the right pattern to keep the hair from blending in.

Ah, I forgot to mention, it will be on location, so no studio. I was simulating on location shoot.

Mayhaps pick a different color background so the hair stands out? Dark background won't lend itself well to dark hair if you have a dark background.

You can use an optical slave (www.flashzebra.com has them for reasonable prices) to trigger your 3rd light for hair.

zyndurai wrote in post #14244740
Ah, I forgot to mention, it will be on location, so no studio. I was simulating on location shoot.

Just make sure the spot on the background goes up high enough on the B/G and its bright enough to give you the right amount of separation.

You can pick up an optical slave for about $10 that fits in a hot shoe.

If you have only two speedlites, you can use one as key and use a reflector for fill and then use the second flash as a hairlight for separation.

With three lights and a reflector you can do hair, background, key, and [reflected] fill.

Or, as others have said, light your background behind his head instead of shoulders.

A little to hot and red IMO. I would have bagged lighting the BG and used the other light for a hairlight camera right. Also feathered the main towards camera a bit.

You need a hair light more than you need a background light. Let the background go black, light the hair.
Exposure is too hot.

Hmm....I am surprised to seeeople say the exposure looks hot. But I am viewing on my iPad, so who knows.

I looked at the numbers in CS5, they're hot, doesn't matter the monitor, the file says they're hot.

you mentioned 580ex1, I assume you have it in hand? does it have a slave option? no need to buy additional optical slave or skyport receivers if it does have this option.
both of my monitors looked hot as well
1st not as much but 2 and 3 are more w/hint of red tint