Please comment on this Studio Portrait

[Steven S]

Did she get all dressed up just for papa to take her pic? Saw this pic before, but wanted to now say what a cutie she is. Can you tell me how you point a hairlight towards the subject's head?
--
Steve S
http://www.pbase.com/sshyone

 

[Zolton Cohen]

Steven,

When I do studio type photography in tight spaces and need a hair light, I just erect a light stand with one of my White Lightings on it behind the background and let it hang over the background. I equip it with a honeycomb grid to keep the light from spilling into the my lens, and that also helps to direct it to only one specific spot. You can do the same with barn door attachments, but the grid is a bit easier to use in my opinion.

If my subjects are facing a bit to the left, I put the light over the far right hand side of the background - the opposite for subjects facing the other way of course.

When shooting a portrait like this, it's hard to remember all the little details. It's only because some of us have too much time on our hands that we have the opportunity to nit pick. Not in a mean way of course (at least this time out!), but don't get down on yourself because things didn't turn out "perfectly." Working with a squirmy young child is difficult at best. I think you did very well for your first time out. Yes, you could have done a bit of this and a bit of that, but generally you've created a pleasing portrait for your clients. The good thing about digital is that you get instant feedback, so you can check on all the background lighting/hair lighting stuff before the subjects arrive.
Z-man

 

[JBP]

Make a trip to your local theatre lighting supply or pro camera shop and get yourself a sheet of Rosco 3402 and 3403. These are ND gels, the 3402 is a 1 stop ND and the 3403 is a 2 stop ND. You can cut them to fit your flash heads so they'll reduce the output accordingly. They are also stackable so you can customize the ND level to suit your situation. This way you could have used a back light. I'd also like to see a hair light. A set up such as this for ideal light would require 4 lights, a main, a fill, a background light, a hair light.

Make sure when attaching gels to strobe heads that you do not completely seal it off. As the model light and strobe fire, excessive heat build up needs to escape or you'll melt a hole in the gel. I cut mine so that it creates a U shape when taped to both sides of the head, heat can then escape out both sides of the U. If you have fan heads, you still need to provide ventalation.

You might also find some cool light design gels to add effects too, Rosco make over a hundred different colours and effects gels.

This is 1 of 2 poses I like best. Was wondering what y'all thought
of the lighting, composition, and choice of crop. This is just an
intial proof. Do not hold back on my account Please be open and
speak your mind, my skin is like a Rhino's ;c) But do also keep in
mind, I am a rank amatuer.
--
Steve S
http://www.pbase.com/sshyone

--
35 to 4 x 5

 

[Dave Beaman]

I think it would have been better to not broad light the gal. Move the light over to the left side. It would have given more light on you(Is that you in the back?)

Try having her tilt her head toward her right. There as a "plane" problem. The gentler man in the back might be better to twist around and have his body more forward. You probably can accomplish this by just moving the Camera to its left more. This would have the gal and guy in the same plane

You are going to want to do something with the bottom of the gals shoe. We don't want to see the bottom of the shoe.

All this is hard and still keep the baby's attention

dave

 

[gho]

Did she get all dressed up just for papa to take her pic?

Actually, no... we just got back from the mall where we bought her this summer dress. She really like to dress up and look "pretty"

Saw this pic before, but wanted to now say what a cutie she is.

Thanks!

Can you tell me how you point a hairlight towards the subject's head?

Well, you have 3 options, depending on the effect you want.

1) angled from back to front: this will highlight loose strands and give a bit of an edge definition to the hair. You have to be careful not to point it too much toward the camera, or you will get lense flare. Barn doors or a grid will help with this. I think this is the most popular arrangement.

2) directly overhead. This is pretty much what I did with this shot. I had it angled slightly back (very slight).

3) toward the back. This helps provide extra ligthing in the front and gives the hair that nice sheen in the front. You dont have to worry about lense flare. It won't provide as much seperation from the background though.

--
Gregory

http://www.imagestation.com/members/ximina
You need to create an account, but its free!

 

[Steven S]

These are all excellent tips to remember and implement for the next shoot, this weekend. I'll bookmark this page for future reference.
--
Steve S
http://www.pbase.com/sshyone

 

[Jim R. Cheseborough]

wow
http://www.pbase.com/image/25400005
pic of BAre asses....

 

[Steven S]

My 2 sons yelled at me, "Hey Dad!" when I was out on the end of the pier, at the lake, shooting Gulls & Jet Skiiers. So, I turned to find THIS image. A priceless captue in 20 more yrs! Did you see the title? "Moons over (lake) Wawasee"
--
Steve S
http://www.pbase.com/sshyone

 

[shudderbug2]

WIthout reading all 47 responses....I see shadows on his face and the BG could stand another 2/3 stop of lighting.

Other than that, nice shot!

Kind Regards,

David Anderson

This is 1 of 2 poses I like best. Was wondering what y'all thought
of the lighting, composition, and choice of crop. This is just an
intial proof. Do not hold back on my account Please be open and
speak your mind, my skin is like a Rhino's ;c) But do also keep in
mind, I am a rank amatuer.



--
Steve S
http://www.pbase.com/sshyone