New to Off Camera Flash with Model

Hi all,

I'm new to using off camera flash and haven't done much with portrait/model photography in general. Any C&C would be greatly appreciated.

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Its nice, my preferance would be more subject and less foreground. That would also let you get your flash a bit closer for softer light on the subject, but its easy to make those observations after the fact.

Yes, definitely more subject. There's too much rock and sky that really doesn't add much to the photo. I suspect the lighting might be a little harsh on her face. What was your setup?

gonzogolf wrote in post #10442454
Its nice, my preferance would be more subject and less foreground. That would also let you get your flash a bit closer for softer light on the subject, but its easy to make those observations after the fact.

Great! Thanks. For some reason I tend to think the further the flash the softer the light will be. I kept it a little wide to try to get more definition in the clouds.

But I guess I need to remember I'm doing a portrait shoot and not a landscape shoot.

PhotoCupcake wrote in post #10442621
Yes, definitely more subject. There's too much rock and sky that really doesn't add much to the photo. I suspect the lighting might be a little harsh on her face. What was your setup?

Noted and thanks for the comment. I was just using a 430ex triggered by RF-602 held by a friend. I also had another strobe (cant remember nikon model as it was borrowed) kinda behind her to try to dampen the shadows but it didn't work too well.

Interesting idea. However, and ever how, I would have preferred a less wide view with more of the focus on the model. As it is it looks like a "how I did that" type of shot. I would also have aimed for a lower shooting angle.

Well for one, I am a belly dancer so I loved the subject. I would have liked to see more of her though

I liked the lighting etc. Just get in a lil closer

Bioshock wrote in post #10442634
Great! Thanks. For some reason I tend to think the further the flash the softer the light will be. I kept it a little wide to try to get more definition in the clouds.

But I guess I need to remember I'm doing a portrait shoot and not a landscape shoot.

The Apparent size of your light source determines its softness. Apparent size is the combination of actual size (bigger is softer) and proximity (closer is softer). The sun is huge, but its so far away that it makes for a hard light. A 45 inch umbrella is softer at 3 feet from a subject than it is at 15 feet.

Thanks everyone for the tips. Here is one other I did during the same shoot and actually got in closer to my subject. (But probably could still get in closer?)

I like this one better.

The second one is much better. Much more natural. Love the colors and the DOF. Nice job.

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