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01/11/2015 09:17:54 AM · #1 |
Ok, so I'm still trying to figure out portrait photography. I have a very small room in which I do my indoor photography. It's supposed to be my dining room. At the moment my full dining room table and chairs are smack dab in the middle of my front room. (what my poor husband puts up with!!)
Anyway, I just don't seem to have enough space to get anything accomplished.
I was looking at lighting tutorials, and I'm amazed at how different photographers do it. I kept trying to have my model a bit away from the background, and there was no way I could do a full length shot.
But in the tutorials, some photographers really pull there models out and put the lights out even farther. Some, even though they have a huge amount of space are all in one teeny tiny space. Model right in front of the backdrop, lights right up to the model (I can see the purpose of that), and they must be using a very wide angle lens, because they're extremely close to the model and yet doing 2/3s body shots.
So what do you do in a small space? I really assumed that I shouldn't use a wide angle lens, but I can't get a full body shot with my 28-105 in my room.
What's the widest angle you'd use in portraiture? Do you put your model against the backdrop? Do you skip the whole thing and go fishing because it can't be done in a small room?
Thoughts, opinions, etc., would be greatly appreciated. |
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01/11/2015 10:33:39 AM · #2 |
| I wouldn't go wider than 50mm and I prefer to shoot between 80-100mm. But I am lucky even though the space I have is pretty narrow it is fairly long so I can usually get my models at least 8 feet away from the backdrop (farther is better so that the light that lights your backdrop doesn't spill onto the model, of course sometimes you want it to, so it all depends) and then for a full length I would need to stand about 15-20 feet away. Sometimes I have to edit out a bit of a soft box depending on how I have my lights positioned. If anything I would try to find a spot where you have more space lengthwise than wide even if you have to shoot diagonally across two rooms. If I didn't have my unfinished basement I would probably have to shoot across my dining room and living room and move a couch and a table out of the way. Mostly I do head shots though and with those none of this would be a problem. |
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01/11/2015 11:39:37 AM · #3 |
Do you have a garage that could be used as a studio?
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01/11/2015 12:56:41 PM · #4 |
I do have a garage, but unfortunately in Virginia, the winters are still cold and the summers are unbearable. (plus, umâ€Â¦ it's overflowing with junk. There are no cars in the garage. I probably should do something about thatâ€Â¦)
So I'd really like to be able to figure out the space I have. Which is really small. I do have a bigger room with a vaulted ceiling, but that's our main room, and I think even Jeff, as sweet as he is, would put his foot down at me converting that to a studio.
Oh for Minnesota and basements!!!!! |
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01/11/2015 01:39:02 PM · #5 |
i feel your pain with small rooms, i usually shoot in my basement because its about 30ft long and i can use a longer lens but the ceilings are only 7' and that's a problem with my plm umbrellas.
as far as using a wide lens, i prefer an 85 and on a full frame i can stand back far enough. the problem with wide lenses is distortion and your crop isn't helping you at all. you using an 85mm would be almost like me using a 135, which would be impossible indoors for me for full body. a 50 for you would be like and 85 which is really pushing it. any wider than 50 and you start getting distortion especially if you stand close.
if i were you, i'd get myself a nice 35mm if you aren't doing headshot you probably won't see too much distortion provided your subjects isn't too close to your lens or parts of the body much closer than others.
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01/11/2015 03:24:31 PM · #6 |
My original studio is a very teen 8x9 room with a slanted ceiling, no less. I can do small stuff like headshots in it with the 50mm, but can only do full-length if I use the 18 end of the 18-200! Not really the ideal lens or setup. I have been known to do selfies with the w/a, but wouldn't dare inflict that on a paying client without using lens correction.
My *new* studio is on the main level and is approx 12x12, so I will still have to get creative with the lens - though I'd rather not have to buy a 35mm I may need to. My main room is approx 30 ft long so I can do full-length but it eats up just about all of my living space.
Seriously, I've been thinking of investing in something like a couple of those PODS containers, laid end-to-end, for use as an outdoor studio. Would be hellishly tough to heat though! |
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