Outdoor Portraits shooters - how often....

Do you use a flash/strobe?

I'm curious what percentage of your typical OUTDOOR session incorporates some type of artificial lighting?

Do you use speed lights or strobes?

Finally, what is your "go to" modifier for outdoor lighting.

I don't want a million "it depends" scenario questions. This is a general question about your typical usage and the modifier you tend to grab the Most, when shooting outdoor individual portraits.

I most often use a 430EX with stofen on a light stand. When I need more power and more directional light control, I use an AB800 with MiniVagabond.

I use flash so much, I'm terrified to shoot without it. So 100% of the time, indoors or out.

I alternate between a battery-powered monolight and a speedlight with ETTL triggers.

I tend to like harder light outdoors, so I usually use a 24" softbox or a beauty dish. I'll use those modifiers to light an individual or entire family.

I almost always use flash for portraits as its rare when you get great light for a prescheduled session. I have a set of alien bees and a speedlight set. I prefer to use the strobes as I can use larger modifiers for softer light. The speedlites are handy if you need a smaller setup.

Here in Thailand we have an abundance of amazingly beautiful girls that love to pose. Needless to say I shoot at least 1 weekend a month, maybe 4-5 models each time. I always use a light modifier. Typically I have a yn-468 on a light stand with an umbrella as it's light and portable (a huge issue when the average ambient temp is 36c and I have to trek to the other side of town via public transportation). I do use ambient lighting in some shots, but I always carry and use the flash/umbrella.

So to answer your question:
Yn-468 with umbrella - 80-90% of all outdoor portraits (but with me for portraits 100% of the time)

10-20% natural lighting, with that highly leaning towards 10%.

I like to use an umbrella as just a flash on a stand is a bit harsh. Umbrellas are cheap, light and portable.

I really can't see shooting outdoor portraits without at least a flash. When I first started shooting I tried just fast glass, but I was disappointed with shadows and lack of pop.

For a typical portrait session outdoors I would just use natural light and move the model to where the light is naturally best. This allows me to shoot quickly, change locations quickly, and keep the flow of the shoot moving along.

If I want to have the model in a specific location (like like in order to get a specific angle or background) and the light is not good I will add reflectors and/ or flash.

When I use artificial light, it will normally be a single flash on a light stand - or, if I'm lucky, a VAL - with either a Sto-Fen diffuser or LumiQuest SoftBox III. I'll add reflectors/second & third flashes as needed.

I've even used my reflector as a "wall" to bounce off of.

subscribing. interested on this as well.

sspellman wrote in post #15120367
I most often use a 430EX with stofen.

Why do you use the stofen most of the time? It seems like the times when it would be of any benafit would be the exception rather than the norm for outdoor work.

It all depends on how you set up your shoots though which is why I ask. If the correct elements are present it I can see how it could be a benafit.

I also prefer to shoot with natural light outdoors - simpler, quicker, more spontaneous and easier to concentrate on composition.

doidinho wrote in post #15121245
Why do you use the stofen most of the time? It seems like the times when it would be of any benafit would be the exception rather than the norm for outdoor work.

It all depends on how you set up your shoots though which is why I ask. If the correct elements are present it I can see how it could be a benafit.

There's an Arboretum in my neighborhood that is infested with "portrait shooters" running around outdoors with Stofens on their hot-shoe mounted flashes .

doidinho wrote in post #15121245
Why do you use the stofen most of the time? It seems like the times when it would be of any benafit would be the exception rather than the norm for outdoor work.

It all depends on how you set up your shoots though which is why I ask. If the correct elements are present it I can see how it could be a benafit.

From my experience: Especially when working in close to the subject, a StoFen does a quite admirable job of softening the light for something that is so cheap and compact. However, getting to even moderate shooting distances relegates it to a power-sucking addition that is better left in the bag.

Buchinger wrote in post #15120349
Do you use a flash/strobe?

I'm curious what percentage of your typical OUTDOOR session incorporates some type of artificial lighting?

Do you use speed lights or strobes?

Finally, what is your "go to" modifier for outdoor lighting.

I don't want a million "it depends" scenario questions. This is a general question about your typical usage and the modifier you tend to grab the Most, when shooting outdoor individual portraits.

Probably 85% of the time, I start with natural light. Usually there's no real need to break out the big guns, and I'll do a whole shoot without them.

For the rare instances when I need my strobes (Einsteins), I set them up with either a big octa for single subjects or a big white PLM for couples or groups. But it's such a huge PITA that I really try to avoid it at all costs.

joe

All my outdoor portraits use flash unless they are too far away to be any good.

I use either bare straight on flash with an opaque material over the flash to lower the intensity of the flash, or a Lightsphere II pointed straight ahead. If I need softer light I will use a white shoot thru umbrella.

LoL Funny this thead popped up. I shot a young girl that I had previously worked with. Last session, every shot was with a strobe and I had some many keepers. This time, I tried all natural light and I think I like.... one shot? Maybe..

So lesson of the day, take/use your strobe stupid! (me, not you)