Lighting advice

[Mark8303]

I am very new to strobe lighting off camera and would value any advice regarding head shots with my lighting setup. I dragged Sarah in from the garden so don't need telling about composition or the state of the 'models' hair/makeup. This test shot was taken using a 580EXii in a 450 x 450 soft box about 2 feet from Sarah's left and about a foot above her eye line with a gold reflector just to her right. I used a 430EXii behind her to blow out the cream wall. I used all manual settings (5D mkii and both strobes) and adjusted until I felt I was going in the right direction. I am happy with the lighting generally but feel I am missing something. Any thoughts?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/markgwatson/8871373101/

 

[Danzaroonie]

Hi Mark

First off I'm no pro so might want to take what I say as a pinch of salt...anyhoo I would say your subject is lacking punch/pop to the shot. I would start with just one light and look how this can add shape to your subject...this means moving the light up high and shifting it around the subject on 180 deg platform. You can then also look up different types of lighting like short side lighting, broad side and Rembrandt. Once you nail down the one light you can add reflectors or others lights to add more shape...

Hope that's helps but keep practicing is also key (no pun intended).

Dan

 

[Mark8303]

Now, off to Youtube

Hi Mark

First off I'm no pro so might want to take what I say as a pinch of salt...anyhoo I would say your subject is lacking punch/pop to the shot. I would start with just one light and look how this can add shape to your subject...this means moving the light up high and shifting it around the subject on 180 deg platform. You can then also look up different types of lighting like short side lighting, broad side and Rembrandt. Once you nail down the one light you can add reflectors or others lights to add more shape...

Hope that's helps but keep practicing is also key (no pun intended).

Dan

 

[Phil V]

The picture and description don't appear to match, unless the reflector was very close, left / right mixup?

After looking on Youtube, make a start with what it is you're trying to achieve, the lighting pattern you have is a little haphazard, particularly the bright area on the left chin which creates a distraction.

 

[HoppyUK]

Main problem with your linked pic is the background is far too bright and the large area of brightness inside and outside the frame has caused a lot of flare, reducing contrast. Take the same shot with and without the background light and you'll see.

Pure white backgrounds are difficult. Lots of threads on this but it's never easy to do well.

 

[Mark8303]

The key light 580EX was in a soft-box on the left and the reflector on the right each about 2 feet from subject. I was trying to blow out the rear wall to make it look like it was taken against a studio white backdrop. Practice, practice

 

[Phil V]

The key light 580EX was in a soft-box on the left and the reflector on the right each about 2 feet from subject. I was trying to blow out the rear wall to make it look like it was taken against a studio white backdrop. Practice, practice

Camera left? That's how it looks, but in the OP you said "580EXii in a 450 x 450 soft box about 2 feet from Sarah's left" which would be camera right
It might sound pedantic, but miscommunication is the father of all c0ckups.

As Richard said, the bright background light is spoiling the image with glare, the bright line on her jaw line is also spoiling the light pattern.

I personally don't understand the 'white background' obsession, it's a bit like amateur chef's not bothering to learn to cook an omelette and going straight for the souffle.