Trying out a new lighting layout...

Looks kinda flat. Major hot spots on cheek and forehead.

I'm trying to get the Over-Under lighting down, so it should be a little flatter. 42" reflector underneath, with a 580exII, diffusion panel pulled, generic omni bounce to get as even light as possible coming out of a ~12" Lumiquest velcro on soft box. Was going for almost even, but not quite flat. Starting to feel like a proper softbox or softbox and strobe might be needed for look I want.
135L, f5.6, ISO 100 1/125 ETTL +2/3 stop

If I try this again later today, any suggestions for adjustments to make with the gear I've got? The only thing I can think of is to bring everything closer, go to an 85 or 50, and maybe dial back the flash exposure comp.

If by "over-under", you mean clamshell, a proper soft box or beauty dish will help. You'll get less hot spots, and the shadows will fall a little more pleasantly.

If you go to my site, all of the headshots there are done with a clamshell setup, using either a gridded soft box or a beauty dish as the upper modifier with a reflector below.

chris_holtmeier wrote in post #16350998
If by "over-under", you mean clamshell, a proper soft box or beauty dish will help. You'll get less hot spots, and the shadows will fall a little more pleasantly.

If you go to my site, all of the headshots there are done with a clamshell setup, using either a gridded soft box or a beauty dish as the upper modifier with a reflector below.

Yeah, clamshell to me, just because of where I first saw it, always makes me think of a over under and sides lit, like Peter Hurley's head shots, and I'm looking to make something a little bit softer.

Guess I need to keep looking at a proper softbox. I'm going to try and give a 2nd go witht he same equipment and see if I can balance it out a little better, if the results are an improvement I'll post here.