Lighting a white background

[mattchewone]

I have just received a pop up background with a white overlay and train.
I am going to have a go tomorrow at some portraits and wonder what's the best way to remove as many of the creases, are you able to iron these sheets? I assume so.

Also I have two flashguns and two studio flashes, what would be the best setup in terms of lighting the background and the subject? Should I use the flashes to light the background and one studio light with soft box to light subject?

Thanks in advance

 

[HappySnappy1977]

[

I have just received a pop up background with a white overlay and train.
I am going to have a go tomorrow at some portraits and wonder what's the best way to remove as many of the creases, are you able to iron these sheets? I assume so.

Assuming its a cotton background then yes you can iron them although you could just try hanging them and spraying it with water so the creases drop out.

Also I have two flashguns and two studio flashes, what would be the best setup in terms of lighting the background and the subject? Should I use the flashes to light the background and one studio light with soft box to light subject?

Depends on the type of shot your going to take. You night be able to get away with just using the 2 Studio Flashes (strobe), one on the background and one on the subject. Unless you have attachments for the flashes you definitely want to be using at least one of the strobes on subject. That being said, you can get some pretty dramatic shots using speedlights without attachments!

One last bit of advice. If this is your first time using lighting then do yourself a favor and just use 1 strobe. Sit your subject down and play with different lighting with that one strobe moving it around your subject. I tried to run before I could walk when I got my first setup and ended up with some OK but a little flat results, but didn't really learn anything from it. learn how to use one first then add another.

Have fun!

Dean

 

[bboy]

I think using a strobe to light the white background will not show the creases.
Otherwise let the background hang in a warm place.

 

[HappySnappy1977]

I think using a strobe to light the white background will not show the creases.
Otherwise let the background hang in a warm place.

While you are correct that the strobe should blow out the creases it's always nice to have the flexibility of being able to use the background without lighting it which would require it to be crease free.

Dean

 

[stratocaster72]

I think I have this same backdrop, its a big popup thing with an attachment that goes over and extends to a train.
its good.... but....... the wrinkles are a nightmare, even ironed
I have pix on my flickr I took with it, lots of smoothing with ps to get rid of the worst of the creases.
I'm thinking a paper roll on stands would be better for me.
pm me if you want my flickr shots.

 

[mattchewone]

I did ok with ironing it. The flashes got the rest of the creases out. I found it most hard to get the flashes to light up the background enough to cover it all.