Beginners help with Yongnuo

[JohnBoyUK]

Hi all.

I'm a D750 owner. I've now got 2 Yongnuo 568ex to use with my existing SB-600 (which I've had since my D200) . I've got one set of YN 622n triggers and the 622n tx controller. I picked up a couple of stands, a couple of shoot thru umbrellas and a big reflector to have a play with the intention of following the strobist tutorials which I've seen recommended on here.

My wife has suggested I take some pictures of her friends who are coming to see us on Sunday with their new baby.
I dont have a background system but I've got a huge white wall in my house which I can use as a background so I was thinking trying my hand at some high key shots.

So got a couple of questions.

As I've got only one set of triggers, I'm assuming that I need to fire the SB-600 in a different way. Can I get it to fire when the others fire optically? I know I can fire it using the pop up on the D750 in commander mode but can I get it to fire in another way?

If I can get the SB-600 to fire, I'm thinking use my 2 568ex to light the subject, and the SB-600 to light the wall.
If I cant get the SB-600 to fire, whats the best thing to do? Use one light on the couple and baby, get my wife to hold the reflector to replace the fill light then use the other light on the back wall?

If I need to buy another set of 622s I will but they wont be with me for the weekend.

Oh, and one last questions, rechargable batteries. Eneloop or Eneloop Pros?

Any help gratefully appreciated! Thanks in advance.

 

[connersz]

That's fairly complicated what you describe there but it will be very difficult to adequately light a background with one flash gun for the purposes you require and I'm not even sure it will be powerful enough.

 

[Phil V]

For that task:
3 lights / White BG, I'd suggest 2 lights on BG and one on the subjects.

But I wouldn't be seizing the opportunity to try 'high key'* at this point. I'd be concentrating on nice pictures of the subjects.

If windowlight isn't good enough, what's better? Can you do that with one umbrella or do you need something else?

In short - in project terms you've jumped to a solution without thinking about the alternative solutions, or even considering the problem fully.

But as s straight answer, if it was me, I'd put the SB600 on the receiver in Manual mode and use the Yongnuos in optical slave mode.

* I wish people wouldn't use the term high key when they only mean 'white BG'

 

[JohnBoyUK]

Ok Phil, thanks for that, that makes some sense. Apologies, no further use of high key

I did wonder about using window light. I'll be shooting in my outdoor building which I use as my gym at the back of my garden. Its pretty much a square 8x5m shell, with a big set of bifold doors across the front. Every wall is painted pure white. If I move my treadmill and rowing machine out of the way, I think I would have a big enough space on the wall to get the 3 of them in with the bifolds to the left by 90deg and then could put one of the umbrellas opposite them, facing the doors for some fill. Then use the other two lights on the white wall.

My other thought was to shoot with the bifolds behind me, use one umbrella to light the subject, then use the reflector for fill and the two lights on the background. An other option would be to shoot them in the corner of the room, so to use one of the lights as a reflector!

The bifolds let in a huge amount of light and the room is very well lit with natural light.

I'll be honest, I'm totally a beginner here. I'm only just getting to grips with shooting in manual but hey, everyone has to learn somewhere. If it wasnt for my wife pushing me, I'd happily learn a little slower just taking some shots of our daughter and her. Asking me to take some pics of someone else so they are happy with the results is a different kettle of fish all together!

Is it worth me buying another trigger in the long run? If I need it, I can see I can get one tomorrow from Amazon Prime!

 

[connersz]

Ok Phil, thanks for that, that makes some sense. Apologies, no further use of high key

I did wonder about using window light. I'll be shooting in my outdoor building which I use as my gym at the back of my garden. Its pretty much a square 8x5m shell, with a big set of bifold doors across the front. Every wall is painted pure white. If I move my treadmill and rowing machine out of the way, I think I would have a big enough space on the wall to get the 3 of them in with the bifolds to the left by 90deg and then could put one of the umbrellas opposite them, facing the doors for some fill. Then use the other two lights on the white wall.

My other thought was to shoot with the bifolds behind me, use one umbrella to light the subject, then use the reflector for fill and the two lights on the background. An other option would be to shoot them in the corner of the room, so to use one of the lights as a reflector!

The bifolds let in a huge amount of light and the room is very well lit with natural light.

I'll be honest, I'm totally a beginner here. I'm only just getting to grips with shooting in manual but hey, everyone has to learn somewhere. If it wasnt for my wife pushing me, I'd happily learn a little slower just taking some shots of our daughter and her. Asking me to take some pics of someone else so they are happy with the results is a different kettle of fish all together!

Is it worth me buying another trigger in the long run? If I need it, I can see I can get one tomorrow from Amazon Prime!

If you're using flash and presumably a fairly typical setting of 1/125 shutter and f9 aperture, you're not going to capture enough light coming in from the window for that to work.

To me it all sounds far to over complicated. You're going for a type of shot which is quite difficult to setup when you've never done it before and those white background photos are overrated anyway. If I was you I wouldn't worry about lighting the white background, just go with it and it will come out as a variation of grey which can look good.

For individuals I would do this: Single umbrella a little more than 45 degrees on the right, shouldn't need a reflector for this.

For the group shots I would do this: Two flash guns in a single white reflective umbrella almost right behind you as far back as you can get it. The light source size will amplify the further back you go and reduce those shadows behind the subjects.

Those are a couple of safe setups which are easy to get to grips with.

 

[JohnBoyUK]

Yes Connersz, definitely complicated for me, not for you guys. You're right though, I'm trying to run before I can walk and I should keep it simple.
The wife and daughter and a doll have been pulled in for a practice session on Saturday so at least I should know what I'm dealing with by then!

Does anyone know whether the normal eneloops are good enough? Or do I need to go for the pro versions?

 

[connersz]

Yes Connersz, definitely complicated for me, not for you guys. You're right though, I'm trying to run before I can walk and I should keep it simple.
The wife and daughter and a doll have been pulled in for a practice session on Saturday so at least I should know what I'm dealing with by then!

Does anyone know whether the normal eneloops are good enough? Or do I need to go for the pro versions?

Any of them will do. I use the boring standard 7 day shop ones in my flash guns and they've been fantastic for the past two years I've been using them.

 

[Phil V]

Yes Connersz, definitely complicated for me, not for you guys. You're right though, I'm trying to run before I can walk and I should keep it simple.
The wife and daughter and a doll have been pulled in for a practice session on Saturday so at least I should know what I'm dealing with by then!

Does anyone know whether the normal eneloops are good enough? Or do I need to go for the pro versions?

Nope.
Complicated! not for you but for everyone.

Everyone jumps to that look because it's so common. But it has challenges that are unnecessary.
And I take 'necessary' as being 'important to a good photo'.

With your building, I'd open the doors and shoot from just outside them. Or just in front if the weather doesn't allow.

You have a great natural light studio, and you're looking for ways to complicate matters.

We shoot portraits in available light all the time. We only use additional lights for specific effects or where it's totally necessary. You're complicating matters for no good reason.
The difficult thing you have to master is getting s relaxed subject looking good.
If you're struggling with lights and stands and ratios and triggers who's going to be relaxed?