Getting rid of Shadows

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nikonuser

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Dave
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I use a white vinyl backdrop which is lit with 2 flash heads either side of the drop.
I have a main light over my shoulder slightly left of centre to the model.
If the model is sitting, kneeling or lying i'm getting shadows beneath the arms, legs, dress etc on the floor of the vinyl.
Can this be avoided and or is there any way to reduce the extent of shadows, do I need a fill light on the right hand side or a different lighting set up.
Thanks for your help
Dave
 
So it's just the shadows on the background that you're trying to avoid I hope - shadows on the subject definitely shouldn't be avoided.

The real answer is another light near the background and pointing forward, but of course this will create a shadow coming forward.

You can make the shadows on the background bigger/softer with less clearly defined shadow transfer edges simply by placing your subject light as close as possible, but really light placement for the main subject should suit the subject rather than just reduce problems on the background.

The real answer of course is not to have a beautiful white background chavground in the first place:)
 
Garry Edwards said:
So it's just the shadows on the background that you're trying to avoid )
Click to expand...

Thanks for your helpful comments, Garry it is shadows on the vinyl floor not the background - if a model is sitting down on the floor and say rest her arm on the floor then it is shadows under the arm, hand, legs
Thanks
Dave
 
Don't angle the lights down on them, move the lights to their level.
 
nikonuser said:
Thanks for your helpful comments, Garry it is shadows on the vinyl floor not the background - if a model is sitting down on the floor and say rest her arm on the floor then it is shadows under the arm, hand, legs
Thanks
Dave
Click to expand...
But the shadows are natural and make the shot look natural - if you totally removed them it would look completely false.

Surely the trick here is to make them larger and softer? Use a large softbox and move it as close as you can, as long as the lighting on the subject isn't then too soft for the job.

Don't angle the lights down on them, move the lights to their level.
Click to expand...
Except of course that if the light is too low it will produce a very unflattering effect on the face.
 
Garry Edwards said:
But the shadows are natural and make the shot look natural - if you totally removed them it would look completely false.

Surely the trick here is to make them larger and softer? Use a large softbox and move it as close as you can, as long as the lighting on the subject isn't then too soft for the job.

Except of course that if the light is too low it will produce a very unflattering effect on the face.
Click to expand...

I didn't mean light UP. He says he's shooting with the light over his shoulder...if he's also shooting down this is just going to be a whole lot of shadows.
 
Thanks all will give your suggestions a go
Thanks again
Dave
 
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