PROBLEM...New lighting set and pic's TOO BRIGHT!!!

13photography said:
It was the 1/25 factor lol, thanx to u lot discovered it should be 1/125 ;)
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Try pushing it up further, to 1/160 or 1/200. It might be OK at higher speeds, but it's possible your lighting gear won't sync properly, so try it and see. The faster the shutter speed the more ambient light you exclude, which will give you more control over how you light your subject with flash only. Of course, drawing all the curtains or shooting in the evening will help on that scrore too, but faster shutter speeds are still a good choice for the studio, if you can use them without causing a shadow from the camera's shutter dragging across the sensor.
 
Right then, another question for ya,

Does anyone know where i can find a pictured example of how a basic studio with lighting should be set up to eliminate shadows?
 
There are some lighting schemes here - http://uk.fotopunto.com/articulo-explained-lighting-schemes_60. Usually, though, shadows are good. They create depth and shape to your subject. It's the quality of the shadows (hard or soft edged) and the amount of contrast (rate of falloff, as well as fill ratios) that you should be looking to refine, rather than simply eliminating shadows altogether.

IMHO. :)

Oh, and if you have some annoying shadows, but have run out of lights, then you can use a reflector to bounce some light back into the shadowy areas. This can be a "proper" reflector, or something improvised, such as a bit of white sheet.

If you're new to lighting there is a good series of educational videos on YouTube, starting with Episode 1.
 
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he was right about learning manual ;) You need to know what the camera is doing all the time as it will get confused.

you don't want to eliminate shadows, that would give flat boring dull light, shadows add depth and shape to an image

I would recomend learning manual and then reading the strobist 101 how to guide on strobist.com it relates to hot shoe flashes not studio lights but the principle is the same.

Start with one light and build from there until you know how its all working
 
Right then Guys!
Bearing in mind all thats been said..
I have a glamour shoot tomorrow, and was just wondering what settings to use on my camera to gain a great depth of field! I want everything to be of sharp focus...

Shutter speed-?
Aperture-?
Iso-?

1 softbox on the model
2 spotlights on the backdrop
White Vinyl Backdrop...

Excuse my basic info, not very technical when it comes to equipment!
 
13photography said:
Excuse my basic info, not very technical when it comes to equipment!
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Then you need to get technical Hannah! :)

I really don't mean to be rude but you need to know shutter speed/aperture and ISO and what they do to an exposure before you go adding the complication of studio lights. David is right, you need shadows to add shape and texture but you need to know where to put the shadows and how strong to make them too.

Forget glamour shoots and studio work and get the basics in place or you will be posting every time you want to shoot because you really have no idea what you are doing. Just learn to walk before you can run, we have all been there but please just slow down, learn the basics and add to it each week and you will get there. :thumbs:
 
AliB said:
Then you need to get technical Hannah! :)

I really don't mean to be rude but you need to know shutter speed/aperture and ISO and what they do to an exposure before you go adding the complication of studio lights. David is right, you need shadows to add shape and texture but you need to know where to put the shadows and how strong to make them too.

Forget glamour shoots and studio work and get the basics in place or you will be posting every time you want to shoot because you really have no idea what you are doing. Just learn to walk before you can run, we have all been there but please just slow down, learn the basics and add to it each week and you will get there. :thumbs:
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What Ali said.

Get someone else to shoot the glamour session for you, and learn from assisting them.
 
13photography said:
Right then Guys!
Bearing in mind all thats been said..
I have a glamour shoot tomorrow, and was just wondering what settings to use on my camera to gain a great depth of field! I want everything to be of sharp focus...

Shutter speed-?
Aperture-?
Iso-?

1 softbox on the model
2 spotlights on the backdrop
White Vinyl Backdrop...

Excuse my basic info, not very technical when it comes to equipment!
Click to expand...

I'm fairly new to lighting but here's what I have picked up so far:

Shutter speed- your sync speed is 1/200 so make it say 1/160 to be safe and avoid black banding which happens to me at the sync speed - see the photo below)
Aperture- F8 is normally a good aperture as lenses are usually their sharpest at this setting.
Iso- Always 100 for studio shooting as you can control the amount of light so keep your ISO at the best level (unlike me who stupidly forgot it was set at 800!)

Then use the power adjustments on the lights to control the lighting. :thumbs: I'm guessing from your setup you won't need much power on the lights.


Main points to remember:

  • Shutter speed effects the ambient so keep it fast at 1/160
  • The flash effects the subject (and background if you've got flash light hitting it).
  • It's the flash duration which freezes the motion of the subject when it comes to studio photography because it doesn't matter how long your shutter is open for, your sensor only gets an exposure when the flash fires and lights up the subject.
  • Try and use a focal length of at least 50mm (on a cropped body) and if you are finding that some of the subject isn't in focus then increase the aperture value.

Check out this shot, it was done at the equivalent of 50mm on a cropped body (i.e. yours) and at an aperture of F8. See how the depth of field can be seen on his nose to the eyes and then the ears. At that focal length you may have to increase the aperture value to get the whole subject in crisip focus.

I hope this helps things go better tomorrow.

Beau%202%20Studio.jpg



:)
 
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Great Pic, explains alot!
Also, I'v had many shoots, and that comment that i made asking for help did make me sound rather clueless hah!

Those are the settings that i use usually...Just im finding that all isnt in focus :(

But iv taken your comments on board, and will have a practise in the morning..
 
Whatever aperture you use, just make you aim dead on the eyes, you can get away with other parts being out (call it creativity) but you can't get away with the eyes being out! lol
 
I also don't mean to be rude but I find reading this thread heartbreaking.... I would love to be able to afford the kit you are using and to have my own studio set up because I DO understand ISO, Shutter speed and Apertures and I could do so much with access to the right studio set up... this is my business now and I am doing the best with the kit I have.... drives me nuts that the 'competition' might have all the gear and no idea!

I wish you all the best but please.... listen to the advice on here from those with way more experience and grasp the basics..... perhaps I'm being harsh... if I did have the money and bought the kit then I'm sure I would have more questions to add to those I've already asked but I know I would pick up on the fault here right away...
 
13photography said:
Right then Guys!
Bearing in mind all thats been said..
I have a glamour shoot tomorrow, and was just wondering what settings to use on my camera to gain a great depth of field! I want everything to be of sharp focus...

Shutter speed-?
Aperture-?
Iso-?

1 softbox on the model
2 spotlights on the backdrop
White Vinyl Backdrop...

Excuse my basic info, not very technical when it comes to equipment!
Click to expand...

Pleaseee pleaseee, forget i said this, it all came out totally wrong :'(

All the settings are correct to suit the lighting, its just in many circumstances i find everything may not be in focus, even using AF!

And as for competition, I'm nowhere near putting myself 'out there' any time soon, Just using TF models at the mo to get the hang of things as everything is so new to me at the moment, i've only been taking photos for 2 months!

Hope to get to your positions one day though!

Thanks for all your advice...Not sure i can take the harshness of asking for help though :(
 
Even AF will not get you depth of field if your aperture is too wide

You can lock focus at f/1.8 and get sharp areas but could not cover a whole person stood at an angle
However, at f/8 you will easily get the whole person in focus

Somewhere in between is where I normally end up

A good read would be the vBook and at under £10 it is a bargain too
 
Hi Hannah,

nice photo of your set up at home, but surprised you are having such a problem when your web site suggests you can professionally deal with portraits etc. Is it a new set up and camera, or was the web set up prior to present knowlegde?

Malcolm
 
13photography said:
Pleaseee pleaseee, forget i said this, it all came out totally wrong :'(

All the settings are correct to suit the lighting, its just in many circumstances i find everything may not be in focus, even using AF!

And as for competition, I'm nowhere near putting myself 'out there' any time soon, Just using TF models at the mo to get the hang of things as everything is so new to me at the moment, i've only been taking photos for 2 months!

Hope to get to your positions one day though!

Thanks for all your advice...Not sure i can take the harshness of asking for help though :(
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Turn off all but one of the lights, forget trying to light the background. Set that light at minimum power. Put camera on manual. reduce your ISO to the minimum your camera allows (often 100). Set your shutter speed to 125, set your aperture to the highest number available (e.g. 22). Use a brolly on your flash, and make sure it is not right on top of the subject. Make a test shot - it should be pretty dark. Start opening up the shutter, look at the screen, look at the histogram, soon you will find that you will find an optimum exposure

Investing in a light meter will also help

Now you have the optimum exposure for one light, learn how to position it, and what the modifiers do for it. Note that as you move it about, you may need to adjust the exposure on your camera
___

Now you can think about balancing all the elements in the exposure equation. if you want to change the DOF, you need to change the aperture of your camera, or shooting distance. If you do this, you need to compensate by doing something else - increasing or decreasing flash power etc.

The trick here is to only change one thing at once, not everything. eventually you will begin to figure out the relationships between one setting and another
 
13photography said:
Thanks for all your advice...Not sure i can take the harshness of asking for help though :(
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Hannah, the thread became harsh for a couple of reasons that I can see.

1. You don't seem to have the basics of Aperture / Shutter Speed / ISO sorted
2. You've got a shoot booked in under 24hrs and you don't have a clue where to start.

Number 1 is made apparent by your shooting at ISO 1000 not 100, and talking about turning dials on lights when people are advising you as to where your camera settings should be.

Your lighting layout is very odd too. Assuming you're going for a blown white background, the lights need switching out with 2 on the back and one on the front. You also need a bit of distance to make it work well, which you don't have in that room.

As for number 2, whether this is a paid shoot or simply TFP both should be treated equally, and trying to learn these techniques "on the job" is an express route to a bad reputation. You need to at least be able to handle the basics until you shoot anyone that's not a patient friend or family member, or a stuffed toy. It's not as if you're fine tuning your technique, you're pretty much starting from scratch. This is what I would suspect the majority of us have reacted harshly to.

Put away the lights until you're able to shoot manual comfortably.
Then get one light out at a time, going straight to 3 is asking for trouble.
 
Ok my shoot today went amazingly well!..
I never have a problem on a shoot, and make that a certainty each time!
I'd be perfectly happy to upload some pics...

And as for the person who commented about my website, I'm sure if you take a look at the pictures on there aswell as what i have said about myself, you will see that they are all of professional quality...

I know longer have any trouble on this subject, So thanks to all of those that did help me...Much appreciated...Advice was all i asked for...not critisism!!

I wont ask for no more, fortunately for you guys!
 
13photography said:
Ok my shoot today went amazingly well!..
I never have a problem on a shoot, and make that a certainty each time!
I'd be perfectly happy to upload some pics...

And as for the person who commented about my website, I'm sure if you take a look at the pictures on there aswell as what i have said about myself, you will see that they are all of professional quality...

I know longer have any trouble on this subject, So thanks to all of those that did help me...Much appreciated...Advice was all i asked for...not critisism!!

I wont ask for no more, fortunately for you guys!
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if it helps, on this laptop, the text is illegible on your website - way too small
Do post some images up
 
13photography said:
Advice was all i asked for...not critisism!!
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Whilst people are sounding harsh here it is for a good reason, I was amazed you had a shoot booked when you were using studio flash at ISO 1000.

Most of us here are concerned you don't (or didnt!) have a solid enough understanding of the basics to ensure that you can churn out quality photographs on every shoot.

For example knowing why not everything is in focus and what you can do to achieve it is essential!

I look forward to seeing how you did on your shoot, just remember that all the advice that's being given is to help you. :)

Apologies if this sounds a bit patronising, it's always hard to get across the tone of speech over a forum.
 
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I don't want to sound negative, and I don't feel that any of the comments that you seem to consider to be negative were meant to be negative.

Consider this:
1. People don't have to offer advice, they do it because they're trying to help you. Either you accept their advice or you don't, that's your choice - but throwing advice back into people's faces isn't particuarly helpful.
2. You've demonstrated that you don't even understand the basics of camera operation, let alone the basics of studio flash, yet you're setting yourself up to be a professional photographer (i.e. you're charging for your products)
3. You're using what appears to be an 'Ebay special' lighting kit. And you not only don't know how to use it, you also don't seem to know that the legs on lighting stands need to be spread out, otherwise they'll fall over.
4. The few photos on your site are all well below the standard of the people who come on the various lighting workshops that I run. Every single one of those people is capable of turning out far better work with just a day of basic instruction. If you're happy with them then fine, but are they really the standard that's likely to impress potential clients?

The only advice I can give you is to take careful note of the comments that other people have made to you. If I was in your position I'd be grateful for those comments.
 
Not at all, i pretend i can hear tone of speech over a pc...silly really!
Right il just upload them and get them sorted on here,
Il pop them in a post on Nude and Glamour..
I was'nt ever using ISO at 1000 though :S Maybe that was i while ago when i started this thread...but have never shot with that setting..

Pics will be up in Nude and Glamour very soon...yes...FOR CRITISISM!

And as for the website ... (again!) It is not completed yet as i think it looks very empty and minimal...anyway the site is besides the point, i feel like this subject has been distracted on to other things not relevant...
 
I HAVNT CHARGED FOR A SINGLE SHOOT YET!! Where are you getting this information from!
The people based on my site are models...helping me out..

I'm done! This has got rediculous! Yes i admit, i'm a little lighthearted...I asked one question and you critisise me on EVERYTHING ELSE!!..Its like your sat there, looking for faults! And i'm sorry if my lighting equipment isnt expensive enough for you, but it was a starter pack to get me up and running...JESUS CHRIST!
 
13photography said:
I HAVNT CHARGED FOR A SINGLE SHOOT YET!! Where are you getting this information from!The people based on my site are models...helping me out..

I'm done! This has got rediculous! Yes i admit, i'm a little lighthearted...I asked one question and you critisise me on EVERYTHING ELSE!!..Its like your sat there, looking for faults! And i'm sorry if my lighting equipment isnt expensive enough for you, but it was a starter pack to get me up and running...JESUS CHRIST!
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Your website.
 
Hannah, calm down please.

You cropped up only last month with your first ever shoot. Since then we have had questions on how to focus a camera, in this one you have demonstrated a very basic lack of understanding of even the most basic settings on a camera. In between are questions on pricing and now a website with some pretty confident claims on the home page and a pricing page.

That indicates to me that you have set yourself up in business without having the tools to operate that business properly Now we could all walk off and leave you to it. My bet is that you would be having problems within a week. You could sink or you could swim.

By taking the time to answer this thread some of us who have been doing this for some time are actaully trying to get you to slow down and not mess up. If you wish to rush headlong into disaster territory then please carry on, but don't have a strop at those trying to help you.

In short, the one piece of advice I would give you is to listen to those who have walked in these steps before you. If you don't want their wisdom you can make your own mistakes and good luck with it.
 
13photography said:
I'm not set up as a business!! Nobody can see that site apart from yourselves
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Business/google/tax 101

1. You posted the link on here (or its in your signature)
2. Google reads this site
3. Google will list your site http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=thirteen+photography&aq=f&aqi=g-m2&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=
4. Taxman finds your site on google, and according to them.. advertising a business means you are open for business see http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/guidance/selling/tax.htm
 
Thankyou, i actually appreciate that message..until the 'strop' part..

Right this is my story...
I have been studying Digital Photography and image manipulation for 5 months,
In that time, iv had around 15 shoots with various models...All with their positive and negative sides...

In the meantime, i come on here to ask 'real' people their advice as to reading up a problem as i have trouble understanding certain wording...Also my tutor is now away until mid november...so needed that little bit of extra help!

The website - I got a little over excited about this whole career path that i wanted to take and made a website myself...No one can see it unless i show them and ask them what they think..

The equipment - I have the basic equipment..yes, but in my eyes it does me proud! And im proud of all of the images that i have produced, even the bad ones, As i still know i tried and can only learn from them...and thats also where you come in to it..Experienced photographers with the knowledge to tell me what you think of my images..

But ... for this thread, i asked a 'very' simple question, which got answered in some cases...but then many wished to carry on with subjects that wernt relevant..

I hope that has answered all of your questions about what i'm about..and why i asked such a silly question!

Even to the commenters that i didnt agree with, i'm very sorry...and thankyou for trying to help.. :)

Guess il just study harder before i ask such simple questions..

x
 
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Your Facebook page clearly states in the education and work section:
Employers
Thirteen Photography
Owner
Loughborough

It used to be that you could advise HMRC within 100 days of starting that you wish to register as a Sole Trader (recommended at this point). The tax forms are easy to fill in. You will need to do this even if bartering (as bartering items are mostly taxable) or not charging.
If portraying yourself as a business in any way you could be liable for prosecution if you do not register.

You may not need to pay tax on a low income from your hobby and may be able to offset any losses against income from other sources.

If getting business cards done and you put down an address and the name 13 photography or thirteen photography then you are a business as well.

This link will set you on the right track
http://www.startups.co.uk/6678842909349483663/registering-as-a-sole-trader.html
 
...hmmph

Have already done this, just incase i do start to earn anytime soon...All relevent info was sent off around 10 days ago...

I apologise, and it just carries on...Totally different subject again!
 
13photography said:
No one can see it unless i show them and ask them what they think..
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Sorry, you are wrong
Your site is listed on Google - see my previous post

I do this (websites) day in day out, i do know what I'm talking about

If you are advertising, you are in business. If I (or the tax man) contacted you from the site, you for sure would try to take my booking. On that basis, you are in business. Being in business isn't defined as "when you have taken money" it is defined as when you started operating (or opened the doors for enquiries). By that definition, the tax man would say you are trading as a professional photographer
 
Therefore post 71 can be disregarded and people can get back to giving you advice about the photos...
 
13photography said:
you will see that they are all of professional quality...
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I disagree.

Actually looking at your fees, you don't value them either.

13photography said:
I'm not set up as a business!! Nobody can see that site apart from yourselves
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And anyone else with internet access.

You're advertising rates of business and are therefore effectively self employed.

AliB said:
In short, the one piece of advice I would give you is to listen to those who have walked in these steps before you. If you don't want their wisdom you can make your own mistakes and good luck with it.
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You're being given pearls here, Ali's advice is golden.

Hmm, golden pearls.
 
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