Prep me for my first headshot

I've got some stuff arriving this week which of course I don't know how to use. So that my first experience with studio strobes isn't abject failure can you guys give me the photography 101 lowdown on setting up a two light headshot?

Here's what I have: Canon XSi, Benro Tripod, two Calumet Genesis 200 en route, a Sekonic 308 light meter, and Cactus V4s to fire everything. For the time being, I'm going to be using my gray home theater projector screen as a background for my headshots (this is all academic, no "clients" at this point).

Should I setup one light at the typical 45/45 for main and the other behind the camera for fill? Or put the fill light on the opposite side at 90 degrees from the model for side fill?

Like I said, what's kind of the first light setup a budding photographer would learn before running off and experimenting?

Stickies at the top

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=138912

Any modifiers for these lights? I'd start by playing around with just one light, positioned at 45 and use the meter to get the exposures right. Then introduce the fill light and try a few different positions with it and use a 2:1 main:fill ratio to start, noting the exposures and shadows.

bobbyz wrote in post #8479839
Stickies at the top

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=138912

Thank you for the resources. I have not read through all of that.

sdipirro wrote in post #8479851
Any modifiers for these lights? I'd start by playing around with just one light, positioned at 45 and use the meter to get the exposures right. Then introduce the fill light and try a few different positions with it and use a 2:1 main:fill ratio to start, noting the exposures and shadows.

The lights come with 45" white umbrellas that can also be shoot through umbrellas.

For ratios the 2:1 is f-stops right? So if I'm at f/11 on the main, I'd want to be at f/16 on the fill? If I'm at f/16 on the main, I'd want to be at f/22 on the fill. Correct?

You've got the ratio wrong and the lights backwards.

For a 2:1 ratio, the key and the fill should be equal.

Key and main are synonymous right?

For a 2:1 that doesn't mean that one should be 2x brighter than the other?

imahawki wrote in post #8480322
Key and main are synonymous right?

For a 2:1 that doesn't mean that one should be 2x brighter than the other?

It's a 2:1 ratio as the areas of the face being lit by the key & fill combined (for example - f/8 + f/8 = f/11) will be 1 stop brighter than the shadow areas which are being lit by the fill alone (f/8 ) You'd set your camera aperture to the combined reading (f/11 in this case).

So from a procedural perspective would I:

1) turn on the main light, take a reading on the highlight side
2) turn off the main light, turn on the fill light, take a reading on the shadow side
3) adjust either the main/fill or both to get the desired ratio
4) turn both lights on, take a reading to get my camera setting, and then fire away?

If the main and fill are correctly placed for a head shot and metered at f/8 then as Hermes has said, the highlight side of the face is receiving 1 part of light from the main light light and 1 part of light from the fill. The shadow side of the face is receiving only 1 part of light from the fill.

That represents a 2:1 ratio with the fill at 1 stop less than the main.

This thread over the Monte Zucker forum will show things with pictures.

http://forum.montezuck​er.com/index.php?act=S​T&f=11&t=8344&

I always liked Monte and that's a good thread. I'm not sure it's the best for someone that is looking to be 'prepped' for their first head shot session but the information and images are a great learning resource.

TMR Design wrote in post #8480723
If the main and fill are correctly placed for a head shot and metered at f/8 then as Hermes has said, the highlight side of the face is receiving 1 part of light from the main light light and 1 part of light from the fill. The shadow side of the face is receiving only 1 part of light from the fill.

That represents a 2:1 ratio with the fill at 1 stop less than the main.

OK, NOW I've got it, I wasn't picking that up the first time. Thank you.

Keep in mind that these are just starting points and you'll ultimately want to do things according to your own tastes. I don't think I've ever used a 2:1 ratio in a real shoot as the heavy fill light just seems washy and artificial with no character or definition to me, at the same time there are probably photographers out there who never use anything else.

Agreed Hermes. Even though it's still somewhat generic, a more common setup and ratio would be 3:1.

I know it can be confusing but in a 3:1 ratio you've got your fill at let's say f/5.6, delivering 1 part of light to each side of the face. The main light is metered at 1 stop over the fill (f/8 ) and is therefore showing 2 parts of light on the highlight side of the face. Those 2 parts plus the 1 part from the fill gives you 3 parts of light on the highlight side and 1 part on the shadow side, thus making it a 3:1. This creates more contrast and makes for a much more interesting image. If you were to increase the contrast between highlight and shadow you can create some drama and some really nice effects. Many photographers will go as far as 4:1 or 5:1 for high contrast and drama.

See, now I'm getting it. And yes, I understand its a matter of style/taste. I just wanted a starting point.