Outdoor Portrait lighting - On a budget. (With Examples)

I've been getting quite a few emails on my out door lighting techniques. So I thought I start a thread about it

As many of you may already know, I don't shoot with expensive lighting equipment (mostly shot with Alien bees and Photoflex) I think the most expensive lighting equipment I own are my 580EXII 's

For the sake of this thread, I'm going to refrain from posting shots that are heavily creatively photoshopped.

Most of my lights are positioned at a 45 degree angle from my models, and another "fill" light is positioned on the opposite side. The fill light are for subject separation with the background, mostly to add highlights to the curves of the subject so it is easily seen. I often will add colored gels to add a dynamic look to it. The Fill light are usually never diffused because of personal preference (I like the hard fill look).

Sample #1 - Light was positioned at shoulder height. Primary was a 650ws strobe @ 1/4 power - 2nd fill was 580EXII (non diffused) mounted on a hotshoe adapter from FlashZebra. Both are Pocket Wizard triggered.

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Good post M.

I'm sure many will benefit from images with descriptions of setups. Seeing a technique applied always helps the learning process.

Very nice shots also. I like your lighting.

TMR Design wrote in post #5942528
Good post M.

I'm sure many will benefit from images with descriptions of setups. Seeing a technique applied always helps the learning process.

Very nice shots also. I like your lighting.

Thanks

Mainly I wanted to show that lighting is not complicated. Often times when we read those thread where people start quoting numbers, fractions and equasions it sounds all so complicated, but in reality if you just go out and do it, its really easy

Hell I don't even use a light meter. I just use the shoot and chimp the histogram method

Mr. M, thanks for sharing such stunning beauties and your lighting technique.

Beautiful lighting that makes alot of sense to a newbie like me.

M Powered wrote in post #5942550
Thanks

Often times when we read those thread where people start quoting numbers, fractions and equasions it sounds all so complicated, but in reality if you just go out and do it, its really easy

Hell I don't even use a light meter. I just use the shoot and chimp the histogram method

x2

Thanks for sharing your images with such good lighting descriptions...certain​ly helps me.

Good post, now if you could make a tutorial for your skin smoothing technique

Franko515 wrote in post #5945353
Good post, now if you could make a tutorial for your skin smoothing technique

Completely agree!!!!

Besides that though, this post just made my night.

Very helpful thread with some great examples. Thanks for posting.

Mike

All great shots. If you've said they were lit by 10K Profotos, I would've believed it

Guess this was easier than I thought, no questions

M Powered wrote in post #5942550
Hell I don't even use a light meter. I just use the shoot and chimp the histogram method

That's my approach too, though I don't get out all that often, nor do I find myself setting up two or more strobes (though I really want to).

If I'd get all mathematical and use a light meter and slide rule, I might find that the shot is impossible, versus shoot and see what I got, tweak, do again.

Thanks for the OP, I like hearing about people's setups.

GSansoucie wrote in post #5947451
That's my approach too, though I don't get out all that often, nor do I find myself setting up two or more strobes (though I really want to).

If I'd get all mathematical and use a light meter and slide rule, I might find that the shot is impossible, versus shoot and see what I got, tweak, do again.

Thanks for the OP, I like hearing about people's setups.

I sometimes use upwards of 4-5 strobes and never felt the need for a light meter. Shoot and Chimp FTW!

thanks for post! once again i see one thoughtful light source would draw it well. sample 2 is great.

I remember reading about a trick where your aperture controls the background exposure and time value controls the strobe light exposure. Or vise-versa, or something along those grounds... anyone???