I've been abducted!!! - DPChallenge Forums

11/27/2007 10:11:13 AM · #1

By Alien Bees!!!! They're finally here (busy bee package if you're wondering)... just intime for me to attempt my first corperate Christmas party (doing a booth $12.00/ pic type of thing) and tips out there on ideal set up? I've got a fair amount of space to work with, I was planing on taking 2 lights and 2 umbrella's... thoughts

also I've been asked to do some group pics for a school's jr hight band at their concert, each grad will be doing their selections then I'll be taking the pics there, any thoughts on setup for that I've never done a space quite that large.

11/27/2007 11:17:27 AM · #2

bump

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

11/27/2007 02:55:46 PM · #3

hummm... nobody???

fotomann_forever

11/27/2007 03:15:37 PM · #4

Two lights will be fine for the Christmas party. Simple left-right setup with low key/fill ratio. Meter your light before the party starts (or do test shots if you don't have a meter), set it and forget it.

BTW, I think your thread title is probably counter-productive to getting lots of answers. Might should ask SC to change it to Boobs or Nude pics!

Message edited by author 2007-11-27 15:17:14.

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

11/27/2007 03:16:36 PM · #5

Congrats on the new Bees! I adore mine, all 4 of them!! lol

For quick portraits in a praty setting I would set the 2 lights pretty high on each side of you. It will create a fairly flat light (which while not the most flattering, is the most universal for all people-types, group sizes). Crank the power on one of your lights just a bit more than the other so you get some shaping of the features. I would use the same type of set-up for the band students. If you had a 3rd light, I would suggest using it for background separation.

Keep in mind you want as much space as possible between the subject & the background (most people tend to stand right against the backdrop, you'll need to move them forward atleast 5 or 6 feet so you don't get harsh shadows).

Hope that helps. Good luck with the gigs.

fotomann_forever

11/27/2007 03:18:33 PM · #6

Put an x with masking tape on the floor and tell them to stand here :-)

11/27/2007 03:26:15 PM · #7

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Put an x with masking tape on the floor and tell them to stand here :-)

I'm thinking of setting up a fake tree and some stools for people to sit on.. that way I can control exactly how far away they are from the BG

11/27/2007 04:33:22 PM · #8

Originally posted by idnic:

Congrats on the new Bees! I adore mine, all 4 of them!! lol

Thanks... I'm loving all 4 of mine already too... and I've only really unpacked them... they're about 100 steps above what I had before! and any light that comes in Green is AOK with me!!! can't wait to get them all hooked up and see what they're capable of (other than beeing really bright :)

11/28/2007 11:16:38 AM · #9

finally got to play with them and I love them so much now... they're about 1000 steps above what I had before (2 160ws strobs that had settings for full power or half... and that was it)! Here are some of the first pics I took with the new lights last night... I would apreciate comments
[thumb]617532[/thumb] [thumb]617533[/thumb] [thumb]617534[/thumb] [thumb]617535[/thumb] [thumb]617536[/thumb]

11/28/2007 11:37:22 AM · #10

Hoping this will be moved to Photography discussion so that it'll be in the right place :)

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

11/28/2007 12:11:31 PM · #11

nothing? appearantly these are perfect pictures??? I mean, I know I'm getting better but I'm not that good yet :)

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

11/28/2007 12:33:51 PM · #12

Hey Michael. Looks like you'll have the hang of ABs in no time. One tip though - to keep the backdrop from being such a major subject in your images (thus distracting from the models), you need a bit more space between subjects & backdrop - 5 or 6 feet minimum, more is better. I understand in smaller spaces that isn't easy. The lighting overall is rather straight on, try moving it to one side or the other for more drama. :)

Elmakias

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

11/28/2007 12:40:39 PM · #13

I agree with idnic. The lighting looks a little striaght on and flat, almost like its an onboard flash. Try moving the lights around, and not having them so bright, I cant see the detail in the skin of any of your models, its all blown out and looks unnaturally bright/white.

hope that helps, keep up the good work Michael