What size for fill?

[joel222]

I currently use a 120cm octabox for kids photoshoots, but struggle sometimes with babies as need a fill and find that a reflector sometimes isn't enough. Shooting from above with the main light at 45 degrees up and to the side leaves a shadow on oppopsite side that I plan on filling with a second light. What size softbox would be best for this?

 

[Garry Edwards]

Well, if you place the light on the opposite side then it isn't a fill, it's a second and conflicting 'sun'.

But if you do use a fill, then 90+% of the time it will be directly in front of where the face is pointing, and if the face is pointing towards the camera then that is where the fill goes, it's called an on axis fill because it's on axis to the camera lens.
Different sizes of fill light will produce slightly different results, but it really makes little difference, the position is far more important than the size.
I frequently use a very large softbox, or a shoot through umbrella, directly behind me. That's because either is plenty big enough for most of the light to reach the subject, regardless of my body partially blocking it.
But it also works with an on camera flashgun or a pop up flashgun acting as fill

 

[TG.]

Just to reiterate what Garry said, I tried his method after attending his studio day, and I was happy with the results, I used to think a bit like yourself having a light the other side, but the results can be cross shadowing which is awful, I now have a large umbrella behind me on axis, me being in the way doesn't effect it as the light spreads evenly enough over the subject, resulting in below

 

[joel222]

Thanks for the replies. Although I get what you mean, I think that I may need a different set up for what I'm trying to do (or maybe not). I'm doing the baby in a basket, shot directly from above, what would be the best way to light this? I've been watching YouTube vids of very succesfull newborn photographers and the set up they use is how I described earlier in the thread. I've also been using that set up but with a reflector instead of a second light just to lift the shadows. Is this incorrect ?

 

[Phil V]

Thanks for the replies. Although I get what you mean, I think that I may need a different set up for what I'm trying to do (or maybe not). I'm doing the baby in a basket, shot directly from above, what would be the best way to light this? I've been watching YouTube vids of very succesfull newborn photographers and the set up they use is how I described earlier in the thread. I've also been using that set up but with a reflector instead of a second light just to lift the shadows. Is this incorrect ?

If you look at it logically (trying not to sound like a twit) the only shadows you're interested in softening are the ones your camera can see, so shining a light from the camera position is the perfect place. And as you're not planning to overpower or compete with the key light, it's not that important how hard the shadows would be from your fill light, because you're hoping to not create any visible shadows.

A couple of other points:

Just because someone posts videos on the internet, doesn't mean they know all the answers

Just because we've answered your question, doesn't mean we're right either.

 

[Garry Edwards]

Just because someone posts videos on the internet, doesn't mean they know all the answers

VERY true

Just because we've answered your question, doesn't mean we're right either.

Also true, but this time we are
Garryedwardsism definition of a fill light: a light source which illuminates ALL of the subject seem by the camera lens

 

[joel222]

So how would you personally go about lighting a newborn shot taken directly from above shooting down?

 

[Garry Edwards]

So how would you personally go about lighting a newborn shot taken directly from above shooting down?

So the camera is directly above the newborn looking down at it?

How about having the key light directly in front (but maybe angled a bit downwards) of the baby, lighting the side, and the fill light above the camera?

Which is pretty much what my starting point would be for a portrait, with the same relative positions if the subject was sitting or standing.

Just try it. Use a still life subject for practice.

 

[Phil V]

As Garry, looking at it in relative terms, I'd use a big softbox above the camera clost to and angled towards the baby.

In portrait terms, think beauty lighting or clamshell with a reflector, less shadow than a portrait for a child.

But that'd just be a starting point.

Caveat; I've never shot a newborn.

 

[joel222]

Yeh looking down at it. Do you think that a speedlight on camera turned right down would work ok, just I'd be moving around a lot getting different angles so to have a light set up would be difficult to keep changing around to be above camera on every shot?

 

[Garry Edwards]

Yes, an on camera hotshoe flash will work fine for fill.
My approach is always to have the fill light as low as possible and just experiment, turning it up a bit at a time, until I'm happy with the result.

It's all a question of style and I certainly don't have the monopoly, but I tend to prefer a lower level of fill than a lot of people, and starting with it very low is the right approach for me.