Looking to make my Outside Portrait shots POP

rljutter

rljutter

Suspended / Banned
Messages
146
Name
Rich
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi all, looking for some advice here regarding outside portrait type photos looking for my subject to POP. I believe the following to be correct.

Slightly under expose the ambiant light and add fill flash, i can do this on shoe but looking to take this off camera, already have wireless triggers but wondered if i'd be best to use a shoot through umberella or reflecting one ?

Any ideas welcome :)
 
Last edited:
rljutter said:
Hi all, looking for some advice here regardinging outside portrait type photos looking for my subject to POP. I believe the following to be correct.

Slightly under expose the ambiant light and add fill flash, i can do this on shoe but looking to take this off camera, already have wireless triggers but wondered if i'd be best to use a shoot through umberella or reflecting one ?

Any ideas welcome :)
Click to expand...
I usually use a shoot-through, as it can get closer to the subject and therefore "makes" my speedlights more powerful. If the light-spill bothers you, there is probably no way around a softbox.

Don't forget to take an assistant or sandbag, unless you want your equipment to sail off.
 
Wait till i tell the Mrs i need her to be a sandbag ...... Yikkes.

My flash is a speedlite 430 ex so i'm guessing i'll have to use this on manual, what settings to you recommend zoom and power etc, i know every situation is different but a starting point i can work from would be great
 
It's all a compromise.
The best light is large and close to the subject
A modifier will soak up some power, maybe 1-2 stops of light
More power= longer recharging times between shots and more batteries
Time of day depends on the amount of power, so mid day will need a McNally 5 odd guns to control the sun

But your right, you wana expose the background by maybe 1- 2 stops to make the subject pop without it looking too weird.
 
If you need the light to be soft, then as [user]DannyDMR[/user] has already said, use a shoot through brolly.
However, if you need the power, and the power output is going to play a big part in an outdoor portrait unless shot at twilight, then a reflective brolly is going to be more effective.
 
So as in most things i'm finding in photography there's many ways to do the same thing.

Going to do some shopping but thought i'd sk just 1 more related question, i know how to use each of the umbrellas and i know that reflecting ones come in various colours white gold silver etc, my question is what do i look for in regards to differences between a white shoot through and a white reflecting embrella. I.e. dont want to buy a shoot through and be using it as a reflector or visa versa.

Thanks
 
seen some good outdoor flash stuff, with an off camera to the subject's narrow side ( i think) and one behind them which acted as a hair-light more or less
looked good!
 
rljutter said:
So as in most things i'm finding in photography there's many ways to do the same thing.

Going to do some shopping but thought i'd sk just 1 more related question, i know how to use each of the umbrellas and i know that reflecting ones come in various colours white gold silver etc, my question is what do i look for in regards to differences between a white shoot through and a white reflecting embrella. I.e. dont want to buy a shoot through and be using it as a reflector or visa versa.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Okay, reflective brollies first: white gives a softer light, but silver is more efficient. Both have a place.

Shoot throughs are almost always white. They aren't as efficient and you waste a lot of light, but they can get closer to the subject without stabbing eyes out! When they're close the light is lovely and soft but you have much more contrast because of the quicker falloff.

Buy both and try them out as they're dead cheap. It's worth spending a little extra on well built ones though of using on location. Combined with hard lights and snoots you can get some cool effects.
 
Also my favourite Calumet brollies are both reflective and shoot through and come with removable back covers.
 
problem solved :)

brolly_150x154.jpg
 
Not sure if it's already been mentioned but a reflector can be essential whilst shooting portraits outside ~ just a suggestion :}
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top