Portrait Lighting in a small area - Help Please

Andysnap

Andysnap

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Andy Grant
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Afternoon all,

I'm getting more and more into portraits and have just recieved a softbox, reflective umbrella and flash ring to which I have attached a Nikon SB600. Below is a diagram of the space I have to work with, can anyone shed any light (ha, ha) on how best to arrange things.



Cheers

Andy
 
just one quick thing I would say - move your subject further away from your backdrop, make use of that 9 ft, having a look at your flickr I assume your shooting against black - moving your subject away will allow you to get a better black background due to the light fall off and it not hitting your background :)
 
oh, also are you just using the 1 flash? I think maybe a normal reflector or piece of white foam board would be better than trying to use an umbrella? - give it a try
 
I am also experimenting with lighting, I would suggest rotating the model slightly so that the lit side (short side) ear just disappears from view; this I find gives the face a little more depth. As mentioned to darken the background bing the model forward from the background, and if upstairs, mind your step that first step is a big one
 
Thanks guys, all taken on board. The model is due home from school in 1/2 hour so I'll bribe him to pose for a bit.

Cheers

Andy
 
I'm far from an expert, but perhaps moving the desk to where the 'model' is currently, getting a good blind for the window and shooting diagonally across the room?

This would give you more room camera to model and model to backdrop, as well as giving you a little more room either side for lighting.

Just a thought :shrug:
 
Simmotino said:
I'm far from an expert, but perhaps moving the desk to where the 'model' is currently, getting a good blind for the window and shooting diagonally across the room?

This would give you more room camera to model and model to backdrop, as well as giving you a little more room either side for lighting.

Just a thought :shrug:
Click to expand...

And a good thought indeed, however She Who Must Be Obeyed has stated that no furniture should be moved or injured during the making of these portraits. I am working on getting some leeway in the dining room which is bigger.

Andy
 
LOL SWMBO

need a t-shirt with "I'm with SWMBO" on it noW!!

I was going to suggest diagonal or usage of the natural light from the window and the reflector for some portraits
 
DizMatt said:
LOL SWMBO

need a t-shirt with "I'm with SWMBO" on it noW!!

I was going to suggest diagonal or usage of the natural light from the window and the reflector for some portraits
Click to expand...

:lol::lol::lol:

Andy
 
looks like an attick setup to me very similar to my layout that i had but i had the backdrop on the wall opposite the window.I went with a black backdrop and a black sheet pinned to the wall so i could shoot diagnoally for space.

Luckily i managed to convince the wife to move the bedroom to the attick and now i have the studio in the master bedroom :)
 
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