Lighting problem

TW25

TW25

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I`v been asked to shoot a family portrait in one of the family`s home, the problem is the walls are a chocolate brown colour, the only light unit I have is a Speedlight 430EX, will this be enough to light the subjects, or would I be better using no flash at all i.e. high ISO (800 or so), any advice would be appreciated.
 
Not sure I can be particularly helpful, but these are the things I would be considering at this stage:
Is this the only room available
What do I have in the way of opportunities to make the most of natural light

Depending on the size of the group I'm not sure one speedlight will do it. :shake:

I am however not an expert!:lol:

PS you might want to ask for this thread to be moved to talk lighting
 
Thanks Mark, there will be ten people in the group, and there is only the one room available, Maybe this thread could be moved to Talk Lighting.
 
Hit the report post button then and ask a mod if they would be so kind;)
 
Colour of the wall doesn't really matter, but if the ceiling is white, fit a simple bounce card and just point the flash straight up.

If you are not confident with flash, set the camera on P and the flash on E-TTL. Should be okay :thumbs:

Bounce card demo here www.abetterbouncecard.com You only need a small one.
 
make this for free
3578770102_df64877ba1_o.gif
 
That's great idea Chaz if you haven't got a nomal height white ceiling - it softens the direct flash by making the light source bigger.

However, you get better light with the card as the bounce part off the ceiling will flood a large area with nice soft light, then the card pops in a dash of fill-in light to brighten faces and put a sparkle in the eyes. Best of both really.

It's also free :)
 
TW25 said:
I`v been asked to shoot a family portrait in one of the family`s home, the problem is the walls are a chocolate brown colour, the only light unit I have is a Speedlight 430EX, will this be enough to light the subjects, or would I be better using no flash at all i.e. high ISO (800 or so), any advice would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

I'm no expert but what about setting the speedlight behind the group aimed at the walls and try and "nuke" the chocolate brown.

Use the on board flash with a small makeup mirror to bounce it off the ceiling
 
Hmmm I'm not a fan of the Nuke the Chocolate Brown idea. Also remember there is only one speedlight too! How could you light the front. With only one speedlight you wouldn't get an even coverage of a back wall- it would suit no purpose other than looking odd.

If one light is all you have, ceiling bounce it the only way in this situation I think. Try and keep your group central to the room and away from the walls as much as possible, the walls will change the colour of that bounced light and make it "muddy?"
 
Forget the chocolate background - with 10 people you're not going to see much of it - and it could look ok anyway. Bounce off a white ceiling or reflector as above,
 
TW25 said:
Got a bounce card made and tried, seems to work well, If all goes well at the shoot I wil post the results for comment.
Click to expand...

:thumbs:
 
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