how do i light up photo backdrops..

blinkerz

blinkerz

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Tristan
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I have only done one day in the studio with a group of people from here, as such didnt really get to play around too much with the lights / backdrops. I know with high key (white backdrops) the background light is overexposed by around 1 stop. But what is the trick to seemlessy match up a photo backdrop such as a forest etc.. without causing distracting shadows yet exposed properly.

If someone could give a bullet point to get me up and running with a 3 light scenario it would be appreciated incase im forgetting anything:(.:help:

Im basically very new to studio and need crash course guide from someone :)
 
Someone told me, a good starting point, is to light the background as a separate set. If your not ontop of it (with the model) and your main lights are close to the model you shouldn't get harsh shadows.
 
In an ideal world you want the model 6-8 feet away from the backdrop and then light it seperate.

So 3 head kit-use either 1 on model 45 degree angle with maybe a fill card or reflector on other side to fill shadows-then 2 lights maybe on the background from about 5 feet away just behind and out of sight of the model.

Or use two lights on the model and 1 on background-but unless you centralise the light which means hiding it behind the model or at ground level on a short stand you will get uneven lighting.

Ideal setup if youask me is at least 4 lights 2 for background and 2 for model-then choose what you want the 2 to do for the model main light and fill or main and snoot on hair.

Its like a mechano set-build it as you like to get the desired effect.
 
Have you tried any slaves for the background, for example those portaflash thingys?
 
It's very simple.
You are lighting two separate scenes, the main subject and the background and so you need to light them separately, and you need enough distance between the two for the lighting from one not to affect the other.

The exposure for the background needs to be identical to the exposure for the main subject, to get it right.

The suggestion (above) that you put one light on the subject say at 45 deg will only be right if the background scene is lit from the same direction, and as for putting another light or a reflector on the opposite side for fill - well, fill should come from either immediately above or immediately below the camera, not from a different direction. If it comes from a different direction it acts as a second sun, and doesn't fill all of the scene seen by the camera.

Hope this helps
 
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