My first go with studio strobes...

Well I dived on in and got a pair of Studio Strobes after working with only natural light until now, so as a test we got a couple of friends around for a family shoot.

I metered by taking a full frame shot of a grey card on Program, then took several shots with the strobes until I got the histograms to match. Final setting was key strobe on 1/2 power, fill on a little over a quarter, shutter 1/250 f/8 ISO100, both strobes are rated at 200w/s Key strobe was at 45deg (right) to subject, fill was just to the left and behind myself. Lens is my old trusty 28-105 USM, not L glass but nice and sharp when stopped down

We only have a black backdrop for now, still have to sew up the beige one.

Anyway the shots, the only PP is some tidy up of the seams in the backdrop in the first shot:

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My daugher Elizabeth (can't get her out of that Snow White dress ) - she is only 2 and three quarter years old, loves the camera though!

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Man, my wife used to be a Pro-photog...weddings and portraits and such. It was these kinds of family shots that would just put her over the edge. Seemed like there was always someone who would not smile. If it wasn't the kids it was usually the dad.

not knowing about strobes..

But i like the second the best, it seems to be the one on right is a bit strong. Things look a little white , like maybe a different colour temp setting would have been the way to go or something. For two and three i guess the fill strobe might have been better lower and at less of an angle. Like i said im not hot at all with strobes , but just looking at the result.

The first image seems a tad soft. Othewise I think you are well on your way.

Brice

I too am not a studio lighting expert but in my humble opinion these are wonderful. They are well exposed and the lighting seems to flatter their faces. Nice.

lighting looks fine to me and they make good shots imho, might want to straighten the floor next time to get rid of the ridges in pic 1.
Rob.

Thanks guys for all your comments

Funny that, one of the people I shot I said (in the nicest possible way ) not to bring her husband as he is incapable of smiling and would be wasting my time, she knew exactly what I meant!

Thanks the second one is my wee girl! Yes I agree the right is a little strong, I was constantly having to adjust the heights and angles to deal with subjects of different heights, colour temp is OK, as I set it manually with a grey card. A flash meter would go a long way to ironing out some of my lighting fun, it was just extra $$$ I couldn't afford at this time.

Yep, will have to photoshop that out, hard to keep on top of that with kids running around etc, trying to work out a way of fastening it to the floor so that doesn't happen.

Hi,

That being said , of course ,when i see my first attempt at most everything I would not be in a position to post them. Also I dont know much about studios . The tiny crits aside, they are cool photos I can imagine photographing the baby is an exercise in patience and "cooche coos"

Lighting looks pretty good. What stobes did you get?

Our grandaughter who is 3 is the same way shes always got on one of her 6 dress up outfits snow white barbie tinkerbell its always something.


Sonya