Morgan - 1 year old (C&C)

Did her shoot last night. It was close to her bed time but I managed to get some smiles out of her.

I shot on a pink background, took out some red in the photos. I don't have a real lighting kit. I was using a 580 ex ii and reflector with a tungsten fill light behind me.

Any advice, critique, tips??

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The problem you're having is that the color temp of your flash is not the same as the tungsten fill light. A mixture of color temps is never good as it means you'll never get a white balance correct for both. So what you have is highlights which are too cool and/or shadows which are too warm. I would take away the fill light and just try with the flash and reflector. It may mean you have a greater lighting ratio but it will be better than the wonky WB you've got going on now.

Overall, the result is dramatically washed out with pinks. In the top one, the background's almost glowing around her head - decidely distracting - then turns grittier and grungier towards the bottom. Maybe you know all that, but just seeing it with a fresh pair of eyes - so to speak - thought I'd pass on the perception. I've nothing to add to usukshooter's analysis of why or how to improve it (more a natural-lighting landscape guy ).

Cheers,
Tony

usukshooter wrote in post #11338455
The problem you're having is that the color temp of your flash is not the same as the tungsten fill light.

good call and good eye!

Makes for an interesting light though similar to having a window with natural light on the right and lamp on the left. Also the tungsten fill is a little hotter than I would use in relation to the main on the right side.

Thanks for the feedback! I did do some without the fill light and couldn't get anything right. Then I tried bouncing off my off white walls and using the reflector to fill. I think I need to do a lot more playing around.

The color of the background in the one with the purple shirt is dead on. The background is a coral color but more on the pink side.

One day I'll be able to afford a kit or be able to take my 580 off camera. Thanks for the feedback. I'm going to play around some and see what else I can come up with.