Studio Lighting - portraits

TIM SMITH - FdA in Applied Photography (100257578)


29th October 2012

This studio session was taken by Steph RUSHTON.
Steph is a photographer with over 20 years experience in the Fashion and Editorial Industries.

Steph began by discussing her background and photographic knowledge / skills, which was plentiful to say the least.

We then got started on creating the 'set up'.

We began by creating the backdrop / background using a role of black material (which was later found to be rolled up the wrong way - lesson ONE - check and clean background material prior to use !) which was suspended from a frame .... which was required to be quite high ... higher than I had expected, at about 10 - 11 feet. This was to ensure we did not have the top of the material 'in shot'.
As mentioned earlier... the material was not very clean and appeared scruffy.... so more care and attention next time.

We then moved on to the lighting type / style.

We used two soft boxes - one to either side at the rear. (see below image)

The subject (Kirsty) was positioned on a chair.

Kirsty ... ready for a modelling shoot

To prevent the two soft boxes from being 'in shot' we used two large polystyrene 'screens' .... these have been painted black and have the effect of blocking out the light. (see above and below image)

Richard takes a pic of Kirsty ... supervised by Steph

Photoshop image of studio 'set up'

To the front we used one light source and then altered the head attachment to suite (on a Profoto head) ... we used  an umbrella, a beauty dish (also known as soft light reflector) and beauty dish with grid.

The two soft boxes at the rear were set 1 stop higher than the front lighting system.

Kirsty

In the above image of Kirsty, her blonde hair is too white (or blown out at the edges) so less light from behind was required.

We tried having the model in both a seated and standing position.

In both the above and below image .... notice the dark shadow under the chin. later in the session / lesson, a reflector was used to remove / lesson the dark shadow.

Kirsty 

The below image of Bea was taken using the 2 soft boxes to the rear and the Profoto (with beaty dish) to the front - the  main / stronger light, being to the rear, but using a hand held reflector to the front .... notice the lack of a dark shadow under Bea's chin :-)

Bea

Kirsty - head and shoulders

Kirsty

Richard

Bibliography / References

STOPPEE,B., & STOPPEE, J., 2009, Stoppees' Guide to photography & light, what digital photographers, illustrators, and creative professionals must  know: Burligton, MA: Focal Press.