single light setup for baby shots

  • Thread starter Thread starter stupar
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stupar

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I've searched this thread and found plenty threads where people say they have used a single light setup but I can't find anything that shows the setup used and layout etc.

Basically I have a 28" softbox, a white and silver reflector and a Canon 430 ex II gun.
I'm looking for recommendations for positioning of the softbox and reflector to obtain nice even lighting around the subject.

What recomendatioms can you give based on the equipment?
 
Personally, I'd get the soft box really close to make the light source as big as possible in relation to the subject and have it coming in from 30-45 degrees from camera axis to not make the light too directional. It'd probably have it abut the level of the baby or slightly raised, although don't go too high because you'll cart to put shadow under the eye brows and the eyes may look a bit lifeless. Then I'd have the reflector at 90 degrees to the camera, out of shot again, so it fills in the shadow a bit and lifts them slightly.
 
specialman said:
Personally, I'd get the soft box really close to make the light source as big as possible in relation to the subject and have it coming in from 30-45 degrees from camera axis to not make the light too directional. It'd probably have it abut the level of the baby or slightly raised, although don't go too high because you'll cart to put shadow under the eye brows and the eyes may look a bit lifeless. Then I'd have the reflector at 90 degrees to the camera, out of shot again, so it fills in the shadow a bit and lifts them slightly.
Click to expand...

Cheers for that pat, appreciate you taking time to respond.
What your saying sounds familiar to how I've used the softbox before and it makes sense to bring the softbox down to the same level as the baby.
 
Someone will probably be along to correct me, but I see it as you don't want a moody, gritty look that's associated with lighting coming from a narrow angle and/or coming from a high angle. Babies have nice, soft skin and you want them to glow so a soft box as close as you can get it should create that glow. The drop off will be nice too - the reflector should just kill the density of the shadows. It'll be worth playing around to see what works best, the silver or the white side and maybe set your colour balance a bit warm :)

I wouldn't say it's anywhere near a revolutionary set-up but it works.

BTW, you have some stunning images on your flickr stream - just going to have a proper butchers. Loving the shot from Calton Hill :)
 
Last edited:
specialman said:
Someone will probably be along to correct me, but I see it as you don't want a moody, gritty look that's associated with lighting coming from a narrow angle and/or coming from a high angle. Babies have nice, soft skin and you want them to glow so a soft box as close as you can get it should create that glow. The drop off will be nice too - the reflector should just kill the density of the shadows. It'll be worth playing around to see what works best, the silver or the white side and maybe set your colour balance a bit warm :)

I wouldn't say it's anywhere near a revolutionary set-up but it works.

BTW, you have some stunning images on your flickr stream - just going to have a proper butchers. Loving the shot from Calton Hill :)
Click to expand...

Cheers pat, I will have a few dummy runs using your suggested method using some still life objects just to see what the results are like.

Thanks also for the Flickr compliment :D
 
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