Mini fashion shoot advice please - clueless!

A

Aledafis

Suspended / Banned
Messages
368
Name
Aled
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi, I've been asked by a colleague (Textiles teacher) to take photos of her students GCSE projects next week. All students will be modelling their dresses, so what she has in mind is a mini "fashion" photoshoot. The thing is, I only have one speedlight, softbox, a reflector and very little knowledge in this area. Setting up a "seamless background" shouldn't be much of an issue as she has rolls of white and black fabric that I could rig up.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Kind Regards
Aled
 
Aled, the background may well be an issue if you don't light it separately to your subject. (Background and model are two separate subjects requiring lighting). An unlit background becomes dull and lifeless.

If you are to rely on a single speedlight, I wouldn't use a backdrop. You would do better using an "interesting" scenic background, and throw it out of focus. "Interesting" could be a brightl;y coloured wall, or graffiti covered brick wall. A wooded area etc etc
 
Thanks for your advice guys, that Zack Arias tutorial was great, but it would seem that I still need to light the background seperately.

Michael, yes you may be right, I might just ditch the seamless idea and shoot them outdoors in the "orchard" (a few old apple trees).

If I were to stay with the seamless idea though, could I get away with lighting the BG with say a halogen lamp, or even a couple of fluorescent tubes?

Another idea I had was to light the BG with my strobe situated directly behind the model and then light the model with a couple of fluorescent tubes. Having said that, white balance may be an issue?? I mention Fluorescent tubes as I was offered a couple by a work colleague this morning as he was about to put out with the rubbish monday morning.

Thanks again
Aled
 
Last edited:
i would have thought your biggest issue there would be white balanace with using different light sources.
easiest way with one light would be using a wall. If outside use the trees in the background and the flash as fill.
 
Aledafis said:
Thanks for your advice guys, that Zack Arias tutorial was great, but it would seem that I still need to light the background seperately.

Michael, yes you may be right, I might just ditch the seamless idea and shoot them outdoors in the "orchard" (a few old apple trees).

If I were to stay with the seamless idea though, could I get away with lighting the BG with say a halogen lamp, or even a couple of fluorescent tubes?

Another idea I had was to light the BG with my strobe situated directly behind the model and then light the model with a couple of fluorescent tubes. Having said that, white balance may be an issue?? I mention Fluorescent tubes as I was offered a couple by a work colleague this morning as he was about to put out with the rubbish monday morning.

Thanks again
Aled
Click to expand...

Besides the mixed white balance, the fluorescent tubes won't put out enough light, and the halogens are going to get very hot if they're powerful enough to give sufficient light.
 
Thanks again for your advice guys, I'm hoping for a nice day tomorrow so that I can take the photos in the orchard. If it rains as it is today, I'll just have to make do with what I have and have a go inside. These photos aren't critical, they're just intended to be put in the girls GCSE portfolios and aren't actually awarded any marks, I was just hoping to take some nice photos so that they could have something to remember and to show off their really, very impressive work.

However, I've ordered a couple of Yongnuo strobes so that I can have a go at a bit of strobist stuff in the future. I hope to get it right for next years group...

Rgards
Aled
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top